Throat infections are very common in childhood. There are three main categories of throat infection:

Viral: This is the most common type of throat infection, and can be associated with a high fever. Children with throat viruses have poor appetite due to throat pain, and often remain sick for several days. Antibiotics do not help throat viruses clear up faster.

One particular throat virus, Mono, frequently causes a more prolonged illness, especially in teenagers. Frequently, teenagers will have greatly reduced energy levels, poor appetite, and weight loss with this illness.

Strep Throat: This bacterial infection is seen fairly frequently in children. It causes sore throat, and usually causes fever as well (but not always). Other associated symptoms can include headache, stomach ache, and a red sandpaper-like rash.

Strep throat should be treated with antibiotics in order to treat the infection, clear up the symptoms, and to avoid spreading the infection.

Mycoplasma: This is a germ that usually occurs in children ages 4 and up, and teens, and can cause sore throat as well as cough, bronchitis and "walking pneumonia"

This infection can be treated with antibiotics if after careful evaluation and examination it appears this is the etiology.

Evaluation: Examination and a test to rule out strep throat are the first steps to reach the correct diagnosis and treatment plan.

The Rapid Strep test is a good initial test. If this test is positive, then antibiotic treatment for strep throat can be initiated. If the rapid strep test is negative, then generally a back-up overnight throat culture is done to rule out the rare case of a strep throat that is missed by the rapid test.

Treatment: If strep throat or mycoplasma are diagnosed then appropriate antibiotics are prescribed. For viral sore throats, keep your child comfortable by using acetaminophen or ibuprofen, fluids, popsicles, and food as tolerated.

Contagious Period: With a throat virus, your child is contagious if his temperature is 101 or higher, or if there is still a significant sore throat. A child with strep throat is contagious until he has been on antibiotics for 24 hours or more.

Complications: Rarely, a child with a sore throat will have a complication of this condition. Call if you feel your child is not improving in the way you expected.

Copyright MCM 1998