Red throat in a child: causes and treatment

The red throat in a child in most cases indicates an inflammatory process that occurs on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx. This symptom cannot be left without specialist supervision, because depending on the causes of such redness, the clinical picture of the pathology can progress quite quickly, causing a variety of complications. Especially if the child has a red throat and fever.

Causes

Hyperemic phenomena on the mucous membrane of the oropharynx in a child can be caused by many reasons. These include the following:

1. Bacterial infections that provoke microorganisms such as streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci. This is a sore throat, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pharyngeal abscess.
2. Viral infections - laryngitis, herpetic sore throat, ARVI, Coxsackie virus.
3. Fungal infections - stomatitis (with this pathology, not only the larynx is affected, but also all the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx).
4. Allergic reactions - swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, as well as the respiratory tract, increased production of saliva and drainage of mucus along the back wall of the pharynx.
5. Injuries to the throat and pharynx are all kinds of scratches on the mucous membrane of the throat with small bones, as well as improper care of the oral cavity, and accidentally swallowing toys or seeds of fruits and berries.

It is very important to accurately determine the cause of the red throat in the child and begin appropriate treatment. Depending on the reasons for the development of this pathology, the clinical picture will differ significantly.

Symptoms of redness of the throat

The most pronounced clinical signs of throat redness in children are:

1. Refusal of food (even with breastfeeding).
2. Complaints of pain during swallowing.
3. The sore throat.
4. Dryness of the posterior pharyngeal wall.
5. Mild coughing.

A red throat in a child of 2 years is very common.

With a visual examination, you can easily notice slight signs of swelling and sharp hyperemia of soft superficial tissues. On palpation of the lymph nodes in the neck, there is an increase in size and some soreness. Depending on what became the specific cause of the red throat in a child, the symptoms may vary significantly.

Sore throat with sore throat

Angina is an extremely acute infectious disease that can be triggered by beta-hemolytic streptococcus belonging to group A. This disease is very dangerous due to its rapid progression and possible complications. Therefore, the parents of a child with a sore throat are not recommended to self-medicate and fight the disease at home, especially in cases where this applies to children under three years of age.

The main clinical symptoms of this pathology include:

1. The appearance of a pronounced swelling in the tonsils and nearby soft tissues - sometimes the tonsils increase so much in size that the child has difficulty breathing.
2. Pain syndrome is sharp when food and fluid are swallowed - that is why with the development of this disease, excessive salivation is observed in infants, and older children can spit saliva to avoid acute pain when swallowing.
3. The formation of gray or white plaque on the surface of the tonsils - in some cases purulent plugs begin to form in the gaps, which, as a rule, have a yellowish tint.
4. The lining of the tongue with a large amount of gray-white plaque.
5. Red throat and temperature in a child, which rises, as a rule, rapidly and reaches extremely high rates.

When this disease occurs, the child is lethargic, has a strong weakness, he cries all the time and cannot take food and liquid. In the absence of appropriate treatment, the signs of general intoxication in the body are also added to the main symptoms of the pathological process - severe muscle pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and sometimes vomiting.

When the child has 39 and a red throat, he should be treated strictly in a hospital, especially if he has not yet reached the age of three, since the progression of tonsillitis and severe swelling of the tissues of the nasopharynx often lead to stenosis of the larynx and, as a result, suffocation.

Redness of the throat in a child with pharyngitis

In most cases, the red throat in a child is caused by this particular disease. Pharyngitis is a viral infection in which there is a lesion of the mucous membranes of the pharynx. At the initial stage of the onset of such a disease, pharyngitis can strongly resemble a sore throat, however, the clinical picture of the pathology is not so pronounced, and the patient’s condition is not so serious.

The temperature with a red throat in a child (in the photo above) often remains within the normal range or can increase, but slightly - up to 38 degrees. The general condition of the baby is not broken. In the absence of adequate and timely treatment, some complications may develop in the form of a transition of the pathological process into chronic forms, as well as the spread of inflammation to the lower parts of the respiratory system, the development of angina. What does it mean when a child has a red throat and cough?

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an acute inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the larynx, which is characterized by a cough and a change in the timbre of the voice as a result of inflammation of the vocal cords.

Common clinical signs of this pathology in children are:

1. Slight redness of the throat.
2. Swelling of the tissues of the nasopharynx and an increase in the size of the tonsils.
3. The appearance of an obsessive dry cough that resembles a dog barking (it is commonly called a “barking” cough in medical practice).
4. Strong sore throat and pain when swallowing food and water.

Red throat, cough and fever in a child may be accompanied by stenosis of the larynx and asthma attacks, therefore, with the development of laryngitis, it is best to be monitored by a specialist in a hospital, especially in cases when the child first has the disease. In the absence of appropriate medical care during stenosis of the larynx, the child may suffocate and die. A fungal infection can lead to a red throat in a 2-year-old child.

Fungal infection

Redness of the throat in children can be caused by the multiplication and growth of a fungal infection in the oral cavity. This disease is characterized by the appearance of characteristic white spots on the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, which can be easily removed with a gauze swab dipped in soda solution.

The clinical picture with fungal infection of the throat and pharynx is manifested, as a rule, in the following symptoms:

1. Tearfulness and increased arousal.
2. Refusal of food and breast milk.
3. The formation of characteristic white plaques of various sizes throughout the oral cavity.

The main distinguishing feature of this disease from diphtheria is that white plaque is easily removed with a gauze swab, while with diphtheria it is very difficult to remove such plaques, and wound bleeding surfaces remain in their place. A red throat in a child (pictured below) may indicate the development of an allergy.

Allergic reaction

Redness in the throat of a child can be triggered by allergic reactions. In addition to this symptom, the manifestations of allergies are:

• Swelling of the mucous membranes of the pharynx.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Increased secretion of mucus from the nose.
• Redness and swelling of the eyes.
• Skin rash.
• Nasal congestion, sneezing.
• Lacrimation.
• Coughing and sore throat.

Usually in this case, a red throat in a child without fever.

Allergic reactions can be caused by various factors, among which the most common are:

• contacts with household chemicals (poor-quality washing powder, which washed the clothes of the child);
• house dust;
• contact with animal hair;
• flowering trees and herbs;
• inhalation of mold spores;
• food products, among which honey, nuts, salmon caviar, citruses are considered extremely allergenic;
• the use of certain medications - antibiotics, agents for treating the throat, cough medicines on herbs, etc.

What can the red dots in the throat of a child mean?

Throat injuries

Redness of the throat can occur as a result of injury to the mucous membrane by foreign objects, such as fish bone, toys, toothbrush, and other small parts. If this happened, the child should immediately be taken to a hospital and in no case should he remove the object stuck in his throat on his own.

If there is no foreign object in the throat, but redness due to trauma is observed, this phenomenon can be treated at home with various antiseptic drugs for the throat, including rinsing. This should be done in order to avoid infection of the damaged throat surface with a bacterial infection, which can cause other, more serious diseases. To prevent throat injury, do not leave a small child unattended. When a child is one year old, has a red throat and fever, what should be the treatment?

Treatment

Depending on the main cause of redness of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx in a child, a specialist prescribes suitable therapy, which is aimed at eliminating the foci of the inflammatory process, pain and discomfort when swallowing.

With a red throat in a child, Komarovsky advises taking the following drugs:

1. Antibacterial medicines - are prescribed only in the presence of such diseases of the throat that are caused by infection with a bacterial infection and after only a preliminary examination to identify the variety of the pathogen, as well as its sensitivity to a particular antibiotic. Infants and preschool children are prescribed antibiotics in the form of a powder for the preparation of special liquid suspensions that have a pleasant smell and taste, which greatly facilitates the administration of the medication. These drugs include Zinnat, Amoxiclav, Sumamed and other antibiotics.
2. Antiviral drugs - in most cases, children are prescribed medications based on human interferon. When a child is a month old and has a red throat, the most common medicines that can be used even by children in their first year of life are rectal suppositories Viferon, Laferobion, Interferon, as well as Nazoferon nasal spray.
3. Antihistamines are prescribed to reduce swelling of the tissues of the nose and throat and manifestations of allergic reactions. Children are prescribed medications in the form of drops for oral administration - Zirtek, Zodak, in the form of syrup - Claritin, and also in the form of tablets - Suprastin. With severe local allergic reactions, additional drugs are prescribed in the form of ointments, gels and creams.
4. Glucocorticosteroid medications are prescribed in the form of injectable solutions in some emergency situations, for example, with larynx stenosis, severe swelling of the throat, and asthma attacks.

In addition to the above medicines, various local remedies are also used to treat reddening of the throat in children:

1. Lozenges - “Faringosept”, “Lizobakt”, “Strepsils”, “Grammidin”. These medicines have some age restrictions, so it is recommended that parents read the instructions for their use and get medical advice on the duration of administration and dosage of the drug.
2. Aerosols and sprays for the throat - “Bioparox”, “Orasept”, “Hexoral”, “Ingalipt”, “Tantum Verde”. The listed medications can be used only in children older than three years of age, so the attached instructions should be carefully studied. For children prone to allergic reactions, such preparations should be sprayed onto the inner surfaces of the cheeks, having previously asked the child to hold his breath.
3. Medicinal solutions for rinsing the pharynx - older children can rinse under the supervision of an adult. For such procedures, you can use ready-made solutions that are sold in a pharmacy, or prepare them yourself at home.

According to statistics cited by Evgeny Olegovich, 85% of cases of pain and redness in the throat are acute pharyngitis, and in some cases, tonsillitis. Another 5% are bacterial lesions. The remaining 10% are allergic reactions, external irritants, toxic fumes, toxins, dirty air and mechanical damage to the larynx.

Rinse solutions

The safest and most effective medication for gargling in children are:

• Miramistin;
• "Chlorhexidine";
• "Rotokan";
• "Furacilin."

A good therapeutic and preventive effect is also obtained by gargling with some traditional medicine based on the use of decoctions and tinctures of medicinal herbs. Antiseptic effects have infusions of chamomile, decoctions of sage, oak bark and much more. With the development of purulent infections in the tonsils, rinses with soda solution can be used, in which a small amount of salt and a few drops of iodine are added.

These methods of treating a sore throat in children are not an independent treatment, however, they are excellent for the prevention of such diseases, as well as additional tools for a range of therapeutic measures.