Strep throat is a common, highly contagious bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacterium. While anyone can get strep throat, it is most common among children between the ages of five and 15. A few common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sudden sore throat
- Red, swollen tonsils and throat
- White patches or spots on tonsils and throat
- Fever and chills
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
If your child has recently come down with strep throat, you know it can be hard to watch them feel miserable. Let’s take a look at a few ways you can help manage their condition to minimize discomfort and prevent further cases.
Management Strategies
Your child’s ENT provider will likely prescribe antibiotics to minimize the severity of symptoms, prevent complications and reduce the spread of the infection. In addition to antibiotics, a few home remedies can help ease your child’s discomfort, including:
- Rest. One of the best things about being sick is staying home and sleeping. Encourage your child to nap more than usual to help their body fight off the infection.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Water or juice can help hydrate the throat and prevent pain or irritation.
- Eat soft foods. Your child may find crunchy foods challenging to eat while their throat is inflamed. Instead, try feeding them soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, soup and Poppies popsicles.
- Honey. Honey is a common sore throat remedy. Try mixing it into hot water or decaf tea to minimize inflammation. Don’t give honey to children younger than one-year-old.
- Saltwater gargle. Gargling with salt water a few times daily can relieve throat pain—though it is only recommended for older children and adults.
- Humidifier. Although humidity in North Carolina is generally high, running a humidifier can give the air your child breathes an extra moisture boost to soothe their throat.
Prevention Strategies
Strep throat is highly contagious and may spread easily among students at your child’s school. The best way to prevent the condition is to encourage good hygiene practices, including:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing or shaking hands with others
- Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available
- Don’t share cups or utensils
You may not be able to prevent strep throat completely, but with antibiotics and home remedies, you can minimize its impact on your child’s well-being. For more information on caring for their ENT concerns, contact Blue Ridge ENT today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.