Is there a sore throat in a one-year-old child? This question is often asked by parents. This disease practically does not affect infants under the age of 8 months, since they have not yet formed tonsils. As for children older than 1 year, they are often infected with tonsillitis from sick peers or adults. How to recognize and treat this disease in babies? We will consider these issues further.
What is angina
Angina is an inflammation of the tonsils of an infectious etiology. The disease is accompanied by severe sore throat and a sharp deterioration in well-being.
Tonsils in the body play the role of a protective barrier. They consist of lymphatic tissue that neutralizes infectious agents coming from the air. This prevents the entry of pathogens of various diseases into the trachea, bronchi and lungs. But with a decrease in immunity, bacteria settle on the tonsils and cause inflammation - tonsillitis. Most often, the causative agents of the disease are streptococci, staphylococci, less often - pneumococci.
Angina in a one-year-old child is a common occurrence. After all, the baby's immune system is not yet fully formed. In addition, such a disease is highly infectious and can be transmitted in several ways:
- airborne;
- contact (through toys, dishes, as well as when playing with infected children).
Angina in a one-year-old child often proceeds in an acute form. However, in the absence of proper treatment, the disease can become chronic and worsen with any hypothermia.
Doctors distinguish three main types of the disease:
- catarrhal;
- purulent;
- ulcerative membranous (necrotic).
In turn, purulent tonsillitis is divided into follicular, lacunar and phlegmonous. In young children, a catarrhal form of pathology is more common. However, with insufficient treatment, the disease can turn into a more severe purulent form.
The ulcerative-filmy form of angina practically does not occur in one-year-old children. This pathology is most often the result of caries, and at such an early age, the child’s teeth are just beginning to appear.
Features of pathology in young children
The general symptoms of angina in a one-year-old child do not differ from the manifestations of the disease in adults. The incubation period lasts from 12 hours to 12 days. Then the first signs of pathology appear:
- temperature increase to +38 - +39 degrees;
- pain in the tonsils, worse when swallowing;
- headache;
- general malaise, weakness;
- Ear ache.
However, a small child is still unable to speak and is not able to complain about feeling unwell. Therefore, parents can not always understand: what is happening with the baby. It is necessary to pay attention to the following manifestations:
- moodiness;
- tearfulness;
- restless sleep with frequent awakenings;
- redness of the tongue;
- bad breath;
- refusal of food and drink due to sore throat.
These are the most characteristic signs of angina in a one-year-old child. With such symptoms, it is necessary to measure the baby's temperature. At the age of one year, tonsillitis is accompanied by rapidly increasing fever. Against the background of high temperature, a child’s refusal of water can be dangerous. This quickly leads to dehydration. Therefore, a sick baby must be watered, at least in small sips.
It is also necessary to examine the child's throat. If the tonsils have redness or plaque, then you need to urgently contact a pediatrician.
Angina in a 1.5-year-old child is somewhat easier to determine. At this age, the baby can already point to the throat and make it clear that it hurts. If the child has only recently reached the age of one, then he has to focus solely on changes in his behavior.
Young children quite often become infected with tonsillitis. During teething, they pull dirty objects into their mouths, which leads to infection. Nowadays, many children attend development groups for the smallest. There, they can get infected from other babies by airborne droplets. Often children get an infection through toys used by a sick child.
Of course, it is impossible to completely protect the baby from the danger of infection. However, doctors do not recommend parents to take one-year-old children with them on trips and to crowded places.
Hypothermia leads to a decrease in immunity and increases the risk of sore throat. Often, children get sick after eating cold baby food or juices. It is necessary to ensure that the temperature of the food is not lower than room temperature.
Next, we will examine in more detail the symptoms and treatment of tonsillitis in a one-year-old child, depending on the form of the disease.
Catarrhal form
Catarrhal tonsillitis is characterized by redness and swelling of the tonsils. Their surface becomes loose. Lymph nodes under the jaw and neck can increase. Body temperature rises to +37 - +38 degrees. In this case, purulent plugs are not found in the throat. On the tongue, you can notice a film of mucus, which is easily removed.
The baby becomes moody, often cries, refuses to eat and drink. If treatment is done on time, then after a few days the condition of the child will normalize. In this case, it is very important to contact a pediatrician as soon as possible and carefully follow all the doctor's recommendations. The lack of treatment is fraught with suppuration of the tonsils and the development of dangerous complications.
Purulent form
Purulent tonsillitis in a one-year-old child proceeds more severely than in older children and adults. Usually this pathology occurs due to untreated catarrhal sore throat.
The initial stage of the purulent process is follicular tonsillitis. The temperature in the child rises to +40 degrees. The general state of health sharply worsens in comparison with catarrhal sore throat. The kid looks lethargic and apathetic, he has a strong weakness. Pustules of white or grayish color appear on the inflamed tonsils.
With follicular tonsillitis, a one-year-old child has not only a sore throat, but also a neck and a head. Muscle aches are felt. However, the baby can not talk about his feelings and does not understand what is happening to him. The child cries when touching the head and neck, as well as when trying to feed him. Due to poor health, his sleep is disturbed.
With insufficient treatment, this type of sore throat becomes lacunar. The condition of the child becomes even worse. Pus covers the entire surface of the tonsils with a thin film, as well as the throat and palate. When eating, purulent discharge enters the body, which leads to the spread of infection to other organs. The child develops chills, fever is constantly kept, a large amount of saliva is secreted. There is an unpleasant putrefactive odor from the oral cavity.
If there is no treatment, then phlegmonous tonsillitis or paratonsillar abscess occurs. A large abscess forms inside the tonsil. It becomes difficult for a child to open his mouth. The baby's head is slightly turned towards the diseased tonsil. This disease requires immediate hospitalization and surgical opening of the abscess. Fortunately, in young children, such a severe form of the disease is very rare.
What is herpes sore throat
There is a disease that is called “herpes sore throat” in everyday life. It is not like all other forms of pathology. Unlike other types of tonsillitis, this disease is caused not by bacteria, but by a virus.
Very often, people mistakenly believe that the causative agent of this disease is the herpes virus. But this is far from the case. This pathology received this name for bubble rashes on the throat. They are very similar to a herpetic rash. But the causative agent of the disease is enterovirus. This microorganism lives in the intestines, but does not cause stomach upset, but general intoxication of the body.
In medicine, this disease is called enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis. It is highly infectious and can be transmitted in several ways. You can get infected by airborne droplets, through dirty hands, as well as through objects that the patient used.
Herpes sore throat in a one-year-old child begins with a sharp increase in temperature. Deterioration is always sudden and quick. At the same time, a rash appears in the form of small red spots on the tonsils. These formations also cover the tongue and sky. After a few hours, the rashes brighten and look like bubbles with liquid.
The child has severe pain in the throat and in the oral cavity. It becomes very difficult for him to eat and swallow. After 2 to 4 days, the bubbles open. In their place, ulcers form that heal on the 5-6th day of the disease.
Some children may experience dyspeptic symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting), as well as an itchy rash on the skin.
Let us dwell in more detail on the treatment of this disease. In this case, a completely different treatment is necessary than with other types of tonsillitis.
With enteroviral vesicular pharyngitis, only symptomatic therapy is necessary. The child should be given as much fluid as possible at room temperature, antipyretic drugs, as well as lozenges and lozenges for sore throats. There are no special drugs for enterovirus. All symptoms of the disease disappear within 7 to 12 days.
With herpetic sore throat, in no case should the baby be given antibiotics. These drugs do not affect enterovirus and can only do harm. Antibacterial drugs reduce the immunity that the body needs to fight the virus.
Complications
Angina is well treatable. But this disease can give serious complications. Inflammation can go to the deep parts of the throat. This leads to the formation of a pharyngeal abscess - an abscess located on the back of the throat. This disease is practically not found in adults, children from 2 months to 1.5 years old most often suffer from it.
Launched forms of purulent tonsillitis can be complicated by sepsis. This is a severe and life-threatening pathology for the baby.
Often, complications do not occur immediately after the disease, but after some time. The most dangerous late consequences of tonsillitis are rheumatism and glomerulonephritis. Manifestations of these severe pathologies occur only a month after the inflammation of the tonsils. Therefore, children who have had tonsillitis, it is recommended for some time to be observed by a pediatric rheumatologist and urologist.
When hospitalization is required
If the disease is severe, then the treatment of tonsillitis in a one-year-old child must be carried out in a hospital. Hospitalization is required in the following cases:
- In severe forms of purulent tonsillitis.
- If the child has difficulty breathing or signs of asphyxiation due to swelling of the tonsils.
- In the presence of complications from the joints, heart or kidneys.
In the past, the treatment of angina in a one-year-old child was carried out exclusively in a hospital. Currently, thanks to the use of effective antibiotics, home therapy has become possible. Hospitalization is necessary only in severe cases.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of this disease is usually straightforward. An experienced doctor can detect sore throat already at the stage of examination for the appearance of inflamed tonsils. In a general blood test, an increase in ESR and leukocytosis is determined.
If it is necessary to determine the shape of a sore throat, then a detailed examination of the throat is carried out with the help of a pharyngoscope. In rare cases, PCR diagnostics are prescribed to identify the type of pathogen.
Sometimes it is required to differentiate purulent tonsillitis and diphtheria. In this case, the doctor runs a spatula along the tonsils. With angina, plaque is easily removed.
Treatment
How to treat sore throat in a one-year-old child? First of all, it is necessary to influence the causative agent of the disease. Since bacteria cause the sore throat, antibiotics are needed:
- Amoxiclav.
- "Sumamed."
- Ceftriaxone.
- "Azithromycin".
- Chemomycin.
It is usually difficult for babies to swallow pills. Therefore, antibiotics in the form of syrups and suspensions with a pleasant taste are produced for children of one year of age. Antibacterial drugs should be taken with probiotics to avoid intestinal dysbiosis.
It is very important to complete the course of treatment. You can not stop taking antibiotics at the first sign of improvement. Untreated angina is often complicated by rheumatism.
With fever, it is necessary to take antipyretic drugs. But if the temperature does not exceed +38 degrees, then it should not be knocked down. At higher numbers, it is recommended to take paracetamol and ibuprofen preparations in the form of syrups or suppositories. These medicines should be immediately withdrawn as soon as the child’s temperature has returned to normal.
How to treat sore throat in a one-year-old child with local drugs? After all, children at this age still can not independently gargle. You can make tea with raspberry or blackcurrant berries, as well as chamomile and linden berries. The drink should not be made hot, the water should be at room temperature.
When treating a one-year-old baby, do not use sprays for irrigation of the throat. Small children are still not good at holding their breath when applying the product and may choke. It is also not recommended to use Lugol's solution for lubrication of tonsils. This drug is too aggressive on the mucosa.
How to treat a sore throat in a child of 2 years? In this case, you can already use rinses. If the baby’s age is close to two years, then the child can already gargle on his own. It is useful to use decoctions of herbs (chamomile, calendula), they well relieve pain in the tonsils. You can also give your child throat lozenges. But we must remember that they do not treat the cause of the disease, but only relieve pain.
In the video below, you can find the advice of the famous pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky on the treatment of angina.
Folk remedies
Parents often ask: "How to cure a sore throat a year-old baby without antibiotics?" Doctors say that it is impossible to do without antibacterial drugs in this case. This is an infectious disease that cannot be treated with folk remedies. It is necessary to act on the causative agent of the disease with special drugs. Failure to give antibiotics can lead to serious complications on the joints, heart, and kidneys. An exception to this rule is only herpes sore throat, which has a viral etiology.
How to treat sore throat in children at home? You can use folk remedies only as an addition to drug therapy. Before this, it is necessary to consult with a pediatrician about the admissibility of such treatment.
You can rub the baby's chest with eucalyptus oil. This will help ease breathing. However, it must be remembered that essential oils of plants cause allergies in some children.
Many parents give children with sore throat honey. However, this product in its pure form is contraindicated in a small child. It is better to make a drink of warm water with honey and lemon. This remedy will help relieve sore throat.
Treatment Reviews
Parents leave positive reviews about the treatment of angina with modern antibiotics. Thanks to antibacterial drugs, the child's health quickly normalizes, and the disease goes away without complications.
You can find reviews about the use of antipyretic drugs with ibuprofen and paracetamol. These drugs not only bring down the temperature, but also stop the pain syndrome. Many parents recommend using them in the form of candles, in this form they have a longer effect.
How to prevent the disease
To prevent sore throat infection, you need to limit the child from contact with sick adults and children. It should be as rare as possible to visit crowded places with the baby. It is important to remember that in a one-year-old child, immunity is much weaker than in an adult.
If a child has a sore throat and fever, you should not treat it with folk remedies. Such symptoms are far from always a sign of a common cold. With redness of the tonsils and manifestations of malaise, you need to show the child to the pediatrician. Unlike viral infections, tonsillitis can only be cured with antibacterial drugs.