Treatment of acute pharyngitis in children - Protect your baby your way

The article was professionally consulted by MSc Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Acute pharyngitis in children is a disease that accounts for a high percentage of respiratory diseases today. For children, it is necessary to detect and treat acute pharyngitis early to limit possible complications due to the immature immune system. Understanding the causes and symptoms of acute pharyngitis helps parents identify and treat the disease effectively.

1.1. Due to living conditions

The weather changed suddenly, rainy and humid. Changing weather causes sore throats and fussiness. Car smoke, cigarette smoke, pipe tobacco, coal, dirt, ... New children going to kindergarten, kindergarten... New children weaning or changing their habits weaning diet. 1.2. Caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi Viruses: flu, measles. Bacteria: pneumococcal, staphylococcus, streptococcus... The most dangerous of which is group A hemolytic streptococcus, which can lead to complications such as acute arthritis (progressive rheumatic heart disease), acute glomerulonephritis. Fungi: Candida.

Runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough. Cough at first, then cough with sputum. The initial manifestation of acute pharyngitis in children is a dry cough. Mild fever or high fever can reach 39-40 degrees Celsius. The child is fussy, anorexia, has trouble sleeping and often breathes through the mouth due to stuffy nose. Vomiting, loose stools. Complications of acute nasopharyngitis: otitis media, Lower respiratory tract infection: bronchitis, pneumonia, Arthritis (progressive rheumatic fever), acute glomerulonephritis if the causative agent is streptococcal bacteria group A (S.pyogenes).

Parents should take the child's temperature and cool down with warm water. Keep the child warm: keep the child's throat, chest, and nose warm to prevent sore throat.
Ensure the living environment is dry, clean, regularly clean the place to stay. Give children oral hygiene and gargle with warm salt water to protect their throat and respiratory tract. Regularly take care of children's teeth. Give children extra water and fruit juices such as oranges, lemons, etc. .. to cool down anti-inflammatory. Avoid giving children cold drinks, hot spicy foods, greasy foods. Use a humidifier to regulate the air, always keeping the room temperature between 25-27 degrees. Keep the child in a comfortable mood, limit crying and make the illness heal for a long time. Supplement vitamins, zinc, iron, ... to keep the child's immune system healthy, helping to quickly repel the disease. Do not bathe your child as soon as he or she sweats a lot, bathe them with warm water and wash their hands often with soap. You can use water mixed with 1-2 drops of ginger and eucalyptus essential oils to keep the child's body warm. Limit your child's contact with strangers to avoid infection. Do not share furniture with others. Have children fully vaccinated according to the vaccination schedule. If the child has a high fever above 38.5 degrees, it is necessary to immediately take the child to the doctor for timely examination and treatment. Do not self-medicate with antibiotics without the consent of your doctor.
Acute pharyngitis , especially acute pharyngitis in children is a disease that can recur every year. Parents need to provide their children with a nutritious diet and healthy activities to create resistance and strengthen immunity.
Above all, children should be re-examined every 6 months to detect and prevent pathogens from developing.

Absolutely do not arbitrarily use the drug without the guidance of the doctor. Indiscriminate use of drugs will affect the digestive system and reduce the child's liver and kidney function. When the temperature is lowered and taken home for treatment, the parents still have to monitor and care carefully. Take your baby's temperature regularly. If the child is anorexic, divide the feed into small portions so that the child's body is always provided with adequate nutrition, creating resistance to help heal quickly. For children to alternately drink water with a sufficient dose, to help cool down and purify the body. Keep children in a cool, clean environment with sufficient humidity. Avoid lying in the air conditioner without a humidifier. Regularly use 0.9% physiological saline to wash the child's nose to reduce inflammation and disinfect the respiratory tract. Clean the child's nose with physiological saline 0.9% Give the child enough sleep, create a quiet and comfortable space for the disease to heal soon. Clean nasal secretions with a specialized suction device to avoid acute purulent pharyngitis in children. After the illness is over, it is advisable to have regular check-ups to make sure the child is cured. Acute pharyngitis in children is a common disease, but parents can fully recognize and have appropriate treatment when their children get sick. If treatment at home does not improve the disease, it is necessary to take the child to a medical facility for examination and treatment, to prevent possible bad complications. Parents can take their children to Vinmec International General Hospital.

In addition, in order to prevent diseases that young children often get, parents should pay attention to a diet 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.