When the baby begins to complain of a sore throat, not many parents rush to seek help from a specialist. It seems that treatment can do with the use of special antiviral sprays. Meanwhile, it can be a herpes infection, which requires a completely different approach. If the child is naughty, refuses food, you should definitely consult a pediatrician.
What is herpes?
Herpes infection can affect any tissue of the baby. Most often, transparent vesicles appear on the mucous membranes. Ailment can develop in various forms. The most difficult of them is herpes meningitis. If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, you can lose a small patient. Less scary is a child's cold sore throat. What to do with pathology, can only be told by a qualified specialist.
Statistics indicate that the disease is most often encountered by children aged 6 months to three years. In infancy (before the age of six months), herpes in the throat of a child can hardly appear. Komarovsky argues that this is due to the presence of antibodies to the virus, which are transmitted by the mother at birth. Closer to a year, the baby’s immune system begins to work with less force. The likelihood of infection increases. Ways of transmission of infection - contact and airborne. In this case, you can get infected both from the carrier of the virus, and from the patient. The absence or presence of antibodies in the body of a child is not the only factor. Children who live in poor sanitary conditions, eat poorly, have reduced immunity are more susceptible to infection.
Why is the infection manifested?
So, the main cause of the disease is the lack of appropriate antibodies in the body of the crumbs, reduced immunity. Experts say that if once already had to face the herpes virus, the disease will not be completely cured. You can only remove the unpleasant symptoms. With hypothermia, stress or other factors affecting the immune system, the ailment may reappear.
The following factors are favorable factors for the development of herpes sore throat in a child: the presence of wounds in the mouth, a recent cold-related illness, chickenpox. Often,
type 6 herpes in children in the throat appears after meningitis. The likelihood of complications is usually considered by pediatricians. Therefore, therapy includes antiherpetic agents.
What happens during infection?
The virus enters the body, usually through damaged mucous membranes. It is no accident that herpes in the throat of a child manifests itself immediately after a cold. The causes are inflammation of the glands. Damaged tissue easily passes infection. Further development of the disease depends on the work of the immune system of a particular baby. In some cases, the disease manifests itself with only a few vesicles that disappear without additional therapy. However, it should be borne in mind that if the virus is already in the blood, the disease can occur again at any time.
Relapse can occur due to weakening of local immunity due to overheating, hypothermia or stress. Even a heat stroke in the summer period often provokes the reappearance of bubbles in the throat. In addition, the herpes virus has the ability to infect other organs and systems. Once the disease manifests itself as herpes stomatitis, the other time unpleasant vesicles appear on the genital area.
Symptoms of a cold sore throat
Initially, a child may complain of discomfort in the glands. Most parents decide that once again they had to face ARI and begin treatment without consulting a pediatrician. In fact, it turns out that this is a cold sore throat in a child. How to treat it, can only suggest a qualified specialist. The following symptoms will speak about the fact that I had to face this disease: rash in the throat (small transparent vesicles), pain, fever.
In some cases, the temperature may rise even before the bubbles in the throat begin to appear. The kid sharply becomes lethargic, drowsy, begins to act up. However, other symptoms of the disease are completely absent. Parents do not even realize that a child develops a cold sore throat. What to do in such a situation? Be sure to call an ambulance! Self-treatment can lead to the development of complications.
Diagnosis of the disease
Correct diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. At the same time, it is not enough to determine what disease was encountered. It is imperative to identify what type of virus caused the disease. The first thing that a qualified specialist will do is to examine the baby. Small transparent vesicles will indicate a herpetic infection . Most often, such a symptom appears only on one of the glands. Next, laboratory tests are prescribed. The child has to pass urine and blood. Additionally, a smear may be prescribed.
The specialist must determine if he had to deal with a recurring virus or if the disease is local in nature. In the first case, the treatment will be longer and more expensive. It will not be possible to completely get rid of the herpes virus. With local infection, the outcome will be more favorable. The most difficult is congenital herpes in the throat of a child. How to treat such a pathology? The main task is to maintain strong immunity of the crumbs. Thus, it will be possible to get rid of the manifestations of the virus.
Drug treatment of the disease
Herpes stomatitis, which manifested itself for the first time, is easily eliminated with the help of topical preparations. Acyclovir ointment gives a good effect. Using a cotton swab, the affected areas are treated several times a day. After the acute phase of the disease passes, the vesicles will turn into sores, they can be treated with an antiseptic. A brilliant green solution will do . An excellent effect is also given by the tool "Stomatidin". It can be used even at the stage of bubble formation.
Elevated body temperature is a symptom that manifests itself even before the appearance of a rash in the throat. You can improve the condition of the crumbs with the help of such means as "Interferon", "Panadol", "Nurofen". These products are available in the form of tablets and syrup. The latter option is more suitable for children under three years of age. With the help of antipyretic drugs, it is possible not only to bring down the temperature, but also to remove pain, eliminate the symptoms of general intoxication of the body.
The relapsing course of the disease requires more attention. The pediatrician can prescribe a course of the antiviral drug Viferon, vitamin therapy. In the most severe cases, you have to seek help from an infectious disease specialist, who can prescribe a special antiherpetic vaccine.
Traditional medicine against herpes
Along with medicines from the pharmacy, you can use traditional medicine recipes. However, here you can not engage in self-medication. At first glance, harmless plants can cause serious complications. Any actions should be discussed with the doctor. Chamomile has an excellent antiviral effect. You can purchase a ready-made alcoholic infusion or prepare a remedy yourself. To do this, dry the plant is poured with hot water and kept for half an hour. The resulting fluid must be wiped off the affected areas.
Infusions of burdock, white oak, meadow clover also have a good effect. With the help of these plants, you can not only defeat the symptoms of the disease, but also generally strengthen the child’s immune system. This is especially important with a recurring form of herpes infection.
If the child has a herpes virus in the throat quite often, treatment should be based on strengthening the body's defenses. It should be understood that the virus cannot be completely “kicked out”. You can make it so that it does not appear. The kid’s menu should include more seasonal fruits and vegetables. Vitamins are the enemy of any infection.
A little bit about type 6 virus
Difficulties will have to be encountered if during the diagnostic process it was possible to find out that the disease is caused by a type 6 virus. Types 1, 2 and 3 are characterized only by rashes on the mucous membranes, as well as mild malaise. In most cases, the temperature rises to 38.5 degrees (no more). Herpes of the 6th type is very dangerous. In addition, the following symptoms may appear in the child: a red-pink rash throughout the body, an increase in lymph nodes, and swelling of the throat. Body temperature rises to 40 degrees, is difficult to stray.
Often you have to go to hospital if herpes appears in the throat of a child. How to treat type 6 virus? The nature of the therapy is the same as with other types of infection. Antiviral drugs, vitamins, antipyretic drugs are used. The only condition is round-the-clock medical supervision. High temperatures can cause seizures. In addition, there is a risk of complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, etc.
Prevention methods
Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to protect against infection with the herpes virus. Especially if the infection was transmitted to the baby at birth. But to protect the child from the manifestations of the disease is real. Even if the herpes virus lives in the body, you can never encounter an ailment. All you need to do is regularly strengthen your immune system. It is necessary to temper the baby, regularly spend time with him in the fresh air, monitor his nutrition. The diet should consist of foods rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for the full development of the child.
If a woman is a carrier of the herpes virus, it is necessary to reduce the likelihood of infection of the fetus during pregnancy. This is done by administering immunoglobulin after the 30th week of gestation. When genital herpes is detected immediately before childbirth, fetal extraction occurs through cesarean section.
Summarize
There is no reason to panic if a child has a cold sore throat. How to treat the disease, a qualified pediatrician will tell. Trying to overcome the disease yourself is undesirable. Self-medication is fraught with serious complications. In addition, a local infection can trigger the development of a relapsing form of the disease.