What helps ease your child's sore throat?
Soothing drinks
Ice pops/ ice cream
Pain relievers like acetaminophen
Strep throat usually needs treatment with antibiotics. With the proper medical care — along with plenty of rest and fluids — a child should be back to school and play within a few days.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Strep Throat?Symptoms of strep throat include sore throat, fever, red and swollen tonsils, and painful or swollen neck glands.
Not all sore throats are strep throats. Often, kids have a sore throat because of a virus, which will usually clear up without medical treatment.
Kids who do have strep throat might get other symptoms within about 3 days, such as:
- red and white patches in the throat
- difficulty swallowing
- headache
- lower stomach pain
- general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
- loss of appetite and nausea
- rash
How Can I Help My Child Feel Better?Home care can help your child feel better while battling strep throat. Give plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration, such as water or ginger ale, especially if he or she has had a fever. Avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade, or other acidic beverages, which can irritate a sore throat. Warm liquids like soups, sweetened tea, or hot chocolate can be soothing.
Talk to your doctor about when your child can return to normal activities. Most kids can go back to school when they've taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours and no longer have a fever.