Correctly identify the symptoms of sore throat in infants

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Le Thanh Cam - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. Dr. Cam has 15 years of experience in the diagnosis & treatment of pediatric diseases. He used to work at the Department of Pediatrics - Da Nang Hospital and Da Nang Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology. His strength is in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric pathologies, resuscitation, pediatric emergency.

Young children and infants with pharyngitis, if not detected and cared for, treated promptly can lead to many serious complications. With the symptoms of a sore throat in children listed below, parents need to follow up to prevent the disease in the most scientific way.

Summer with hot weather is the main reason why young children and infants get sore throats because they sweat a lot, reducing the body's resistance. Pharyngitis in infants, if not treated, can easily lead to complications such as acute pharyngitis, when the pharyngeal mucosa quickly swells. This phenomenon can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or environmental influences. Besides, improper use of fans or air conditioners also makes children susceptible to diseases. Acute pharyngitis can also be caused by children using a lot of cold foods and drinks. The mucous membranes are dehydrated, the throat and nose are dry due to sitting a lot in air-conditioned rooms, making the child's respiratory system weaker. For older children, activities, running and jumping in the sun, sweating a lot will make them catch cold.

When a child has a sore throat, a child may have a sudden high fever (39 - 40 degrees Celsius), accompanied by other symptoms such as cough, stuffy one or both nostrils, sore throat, sore throat. These symptoms make children feel uncomfortable, or fussy. For young children, they may stop eating, reduce breastfeeding,... For older children, symptoms of sore throat are headache, painful swallowing. sore throat, sore throat, stuffy nose, tinnitus. In some cases, children may experience pain in the ear, accompanied by a runny nose, dry cough, soft hoarse voice, dry lips, dirty tongue, making children tired, ... Children and infants are affected. Acute pharyngitis if left untreated can cause complications such as tonsillitis , laryngitis , bronchitis , sinusitis , ear infections , purulent lymphadenitis , VA (in young children), and most dangerous lead to sepsis.

In the summer and hot weather, it is necessary to limit running activities or going out in the sun and also do not wear too many clothes to avoid sweating. Due to sweating a lot, the child will catch a cold and easily lead to a sore throat. Children should wear cotton clothes to help absorb sweat. For young children, after activities, running, being outdoors in the sun and sweating, it is important not to give them a bath right away. For older children, avoid taking long baths or bathing in the sun, which can easily cause sore throats or colds due to sudden changes in body temperature. When the child sleeps, the fan should not be turned on directly to the child's face, so the fan should be directed towards the wall, towards the child's feet. In addition, the fan can be turned slightly outside the curtain, avoiding direct contact with the wind direction from the fan. When using the air conditioner, it is necessary to limit the child's access to the room because the temperature difference will make the child susceptible to illness. When sleeping, it is necessary to avoid letting the baby lie in a place with direct wind from the air conditioner. Note, for rooms with air conditioning, the appropriate room temperature for children is from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius. Besides, parents should also pay attention, need to limit children's use of cold foods and drinks such as ice cream. , ice,... At the same time, ensure a scientific and reasonable diet, fully balanced with 4 groups of nutrients including protein, starch, fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is necessary to increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges, lemons, ... to help increase the body's resistance. Maintaining oral hygiene by regularly brushing and rinsing your mouth daily also helps prevent disease effectively.

For young children and infants with sore throat will make them tired, fussy, lazy to feed, and anorexic. These symptoms are often confused with the signs of teething. Therefore, for children from 3 to 6 months old, when there are signs of fever, parents need to take them to the doctor immediately.
In older children, if the above symptoms persist and the sore throat is increasing, accompanied by a high fever, the child should be taken to an ENT specialist soon for a reasonable treatment, avoiding prolonged delay. lead to complications.

To prevent diseases that babies often get, parents should pay attention to nutrition to improve children's resistance. At the same time, add supporting foods containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, B vitamins,... snacks and less digestive problems.
Parents can learn more:
Why do you need to supplement Lysine for your baby?
The role of zinc - Guidelines for reasonable zinc supplementation
Please visit the website Vinmec.com regularly and update useful information to take care of your baby and family.