Sore throat home remedies for babies and toddlers This is just one of the many important reasons why you should never smoke around your baby or toddler, as well as take steps to keep the air in her environment as clean as possible. And the same is potentially true for your little one - exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, along with smoke and chemical irritants, can make her throat hurt If you’ve ever started coughing after being somewhere smoky or dusty, you know that environmental irritants can sometimes cause a painful or scratchy feeling in your throat. But keep in mind that allergies are rare in infants and toddlers - most children with allergies don’t develop them until they reach preschool age.
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If your little one has an allergy, her symptoms will flare up after she’s been exposed to the allergen (like going outside on a day when the pollen counts are high). Itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion are other common allergy culprits. Allergies can cause a runny nose and postnasal drip, which can lead to a sore throat. Some of the most common triggers include pet dander, mold, dust, grass and pollen. Seasonal allergies are rare in babies under 1, and most children don't develop allergies until the preschool years - although some can have symptoms sooner. Strep is rare in infants and toddlers, but if your child does come down with it, it can be treated with antibiotics. Some kids also develop a red, sandpaper-like rash on their bodies, but symptoms like coughing and a runny nose are less common. Strep throatĪ bacterial infection, strep is typically marked by throat soreness and trouble swallowing, tonsils that seem red and covered with white dots or pus, fever and swollen glands. Herpangina is most common in kids ages 3 to 10, but younger babies and toddlers can catch it, too. (The ulcers tend to have a white-gray center and a red border.) HerpanginaĬaused by the same virus as hand, foot and mouth disease, herpangina causes ulcer-like sores to form in the mouth and throat (as well as on the feet, hands and buttocks) that can cause pain, as well as a fever and trouble swallowing.
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Other common symptoms include fever, small red bumps or blisters (especially on the hands, feet, buttocks and around the mouth) and fever.
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One of the hallmark signs is mouth and throat pain, which is caused by the formation of tiny blisters or sores that make it painful to swallow. Hand, foot and mouth disease is another viral illness that’s common in young children, especially in the summer and fall. But depending on your child’s age and symptoms, her pediatrician may recommend over-the-counter fever-reducing meds or a prescription antiviral drug. Like a cold, there’s no cure for the flu. The difference? Flu symptoms tend to be more intense, causing a fever, chills, dry coughing, a runny nose or congestion, fatigue and occasionally nausea or vomiting. Like the common cold, the flu is another viral respiratory illness that can trigger a sore throat. You should never give over-the-counter cold medicines to children under 4 - colds simply have to run their course - which typically happens in 10 to 14 days. They’re by far the most common cause of sore, scratchy throats in babies and toddlers - and can also lead to a runny nose or congestion, coughing and a fever.Ĭaused by a virus, colds are respiratory illnesses that can’t be treated with antibiotics unless they lead to a bacterial infection.
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Here’s how to tell what’s most likely affecting your little one.Ĭommon Childhood Illnesses and Solutions Colds But in some cases, they can also be triggered by environmental factors. Most, but not all, sore throats are caused by an underlying condition. She has white spots on her throat or tonsils (a possible sign of strep throat).The back of her throat looks red or swollen.The glands on the sides of her neck look or feel swollen.Crying or seeming in pain when swallowing.Refusing to eat or drink, even foods that are normally favorites.Some clues that your sweetie might be suffering from a sore throat include: Is your little one’s congestion or cough also making her throat hurt? It can be tough to tell for certain when your child is too young to explain what’s ailing her, so you’ll need to do a little bit of detective work. How to tell if your baby has a sore throat Here are some signs that your child’s throat might be hurting and what you can do about it. So if your little one seems uncomfortable, a different symptom may be the culprit.Įven so, it’s worth knowing when a sore throat might be bothering your baby or young toddler so you can do what you can to soothe her - and know when it’s worth calling her pediatrician.