Sore Throat
Sore Throat A sore throat can make it painful to swallow. A sore throat can also feel dry and scratchy. Sore throat can be a symptom of the common cold, allergies, strep throat, or other upper respiratory tract illness. Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (also called Streptococcus pyogenes). Infections from viruses are the most common cause of sore throats. The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of the bacteria called group A strep:
Cough
Runny nose
Hoarseness (changes in your voice that makes it sound breathy, raspy, or strained)
Conjunctivitis (also called pink eye) The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
Sore throat that can start very quickly
Pain when swallowing
Fever
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck A doctor can determine the likely cause of a sore throat. If a sore throat is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help. Most sore throats will get better on their own within one week and are not cause for exclusion from child care. Since bacteria cause strep throat, antibiotics are needed to treat the infection and prevent rheumatic fever and other complications. A doctor cannot tell if someone has strep throat just by looking in the throat. If a doctor suspects strep throat, they may test to confirm diagnosis. A child with strep throat should be excluded from care until they no longer have fever AND have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
