SORE THROAT.....WHAT IS IT?

A Sore Throat is usually a symptom of an infection of the respiratory tract. While a baby or young child may not be to tell you about the new feeling in his throat, you will notice that he has difficulty in swallowing. It can occur because of inflammation of the tonsils (Tonsillitis), caused by the Streptococcus bacterium, or more usually by a virus such as the common cold or influenza virus. Sometimes an inflammation elsewhere, as in the larynx (during laryngitis), can also give a raw feeling in throat. If the glands in the neck are swollen with MUMPS, for example this may be felt by your child as pain in the throat.

IS IT SERIOUS ?

Mostly Sore Throat is not serious. However, if your child is allergic to the streptococcus bacterium and he has a streptococcal infection in the throat, this could have effects elsewhere in his body. Occasional more serious complication that can occur includes illnesses such as nephritis and rheumatic fever.

Most childhood illnesses are minor and often preventable through inoculations. In a baby, however, seemingly minor illness can cause complications, like a simple cold may sometimes cause breathing difficulties.

Parents and family become anxious if the child’s sickness does not respond quickly to the medications. Even if the child’s symptoms appear commonplace, one may worry that they are indicative of something more serious. Below are enlisted some likely diagnoses worth giving a thought when the child suffers from sore-throat.

1. TONSILITIS

Positioned at the back of the throat, the tonsils are the body’s first line of defense. They trap and kill bacteria, preventing them from entering the respiratory tract. In the process, they can become infected, causing tonsillitis. The adenoids at the back of the nose are usually affected as well.

Babies under the age of about One rarely suffer from tonsillitis, it occurs mainly among school-age children, when the relatively large tonsils and adenoids are exposed to infectious microbes. As resistance to infectious microbes increases, attacks should lessen. Most children do not get tonsillitis after the age of 10. It is not serious unless repeatedly accompanied by infection of the middle ear.

Possible Symptoms :

2. LARYNGITIS

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx or voice box. Many minor viruses and occasionally bacteria, can enter the body through the throat and quickly infect the laryngitis are hoarseness and a dry cough and sometimes fever.

Laryngitis is rarely serious and lasts less than seven days, even if it is part of a more serious infection, such as tonsillitis or bronchitis. However, in young children a swollen larynx can obstruct the passage of air, causing breathing difficulties and croup, which is a serious complication. If laryngitis develops into croup one should seek urgent medical treatment.

Possible Symptoms :

3. MUMPS

Mumps is an infectious childhood disease, less common since routine immunization was introduced and mostly affecting children over the age of 2 years. It is caused by a Virus and has an incubation period of 14 to 21 days. Your child will seem generally unwell for a day or two before the major symptoms appear. The salivary glands in front of and beneath the ears and chin swell up and there may be FEVER. The swelling can appear first on one side of the face, then the other, or on both sides at once and cause pain when swallowing. He will complain of a dry mouth because the salivary glands have stopped producing saliva.

It is a very mild disease. However, if before, during or after swelling, your child has a severe headache and a stiff neck, this could be encephalitis or meningitis, which is a serious complication.

Possible Symptoms :

Be inventive with liquid foods, such as egg-enriched milk shakes, soups and yoghurt, which slip down easily.

4. GLANDULAR FEVER

Glandular fever or Infections mononucleosis is a viral infection that starts in much the same way as influenza possibly with a rash similar to that of RUBELLA. It is fairly common affecting mostly teenagers and young adults, children can also contract it, but they tend to be less severely affected. There is no known cure for glandular fever and it has to run its course usually about a month. In reaction to the infection the glands become swollen and the spleen may become enlarged. This does not in itself give rise to unpleasant symptoms and the infection has gone.

Possible Symptoms :

5. BRONCHITIS

Bronchitis is inflammation of the membranes that line the airways leading to the lungs. It arises when a minor infection, such as a common cold and reduces resistance to infection. The lining of the airways swell and mucus builds up, making breathing difficult. A hacking cough produces phlegm which if the child swallow may make him vomit. In children over a year old bronchitis is not usually serious but in some cases it may require hospitalization.

6. WHOOPING COUGH

Whooping cough is one of the most dangerous childhood diseases, especially in babies under 1 year. It begins as an ordinary cold with a cough. The coughing becomes severe, with spasmodic bouts which make it difficult to breathe. When your child manages to draw breath, there is a “whooping” sound as air is drawn in past the swollen larynx. Breathing difficulties and even greater for babies, who may never develop the technique of whooping to get air into their lungs. Sometimes vomiting occurs after a coughing bout. The coughing phase of whooping cough can last for up to 10 weeks. The risk of developing a secondary infection, such as bronchitis is high after this disease.

Is it Serious ? Whooping cough is a serious disease, especially in babies. If vomiting is severe, there is also the danger of dehydration. A severe attack can damage the lungs and cause recurrent bronchial infection.

7. CHOKING

Choking is the way of dislodging a foreign body that has entered the airway instead of the passage to the stomach. If there is enough air getting through to the lungs, the object should be able to be coughed back up into the mouth.

If the child is coughing and gasping the breath, or turning red then blue in the face, this is an emergency and one should call for medical help. If the airway is totally blocked he will lose consciousness and stop breathing, if this happens call for help and give mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

8. CROUP

Croup is the name given to the sound mode when air is breathed in through a constricted windpipe, past inflamed vocal cords. It usually occurs in young children up to the age about 4, most commonly because of Virus or an infection such as bronchitis. In rare cases croup can be caused by an inhaled foreign body. In older children the condition is less serious and is known as Laryngitis. The first attack of croup can come on quickly, usually at night and it may last a couple of hours. The child will have a croaking, barking cough and labored breathing.

If the child has a severe attack of Croup he could develop breathing difficulties. This should be treated as an emergency.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN SUCH CASES ?

CAN HOMEOPATHY BE OF ANY HELP?

Children frequently develop Sore Throats or even tonsillitis during the winter. Most of the time their immune system handles it and within a week they are better, without any treatment. There are some cases which do not easily respond to medications and give many a sleepless nights to parents.

HOMOEOPATHY is excellent in most cases of Sore throat and can often prevent the need for surgery. Children with throat and tonsil problems usually respond very quickly and successfully to Homoeopathy treatment . Not only it reduces the severity and frequency of attacks but also helps in building up the child’s own natural resistance to disease.