sore throat 2

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Strep Infection Versus Viral Infection Although not all viral or strep

infections cause identical symptons, there are some general tendencies to

look for when your child has a sore throat. Review the following symptons to

see which match your child's condition. If you suspect a strep throat

infection, contact your child's doctor. Only a throat culture can accurately

confirm a diagnosis of strep.

Sign Strep Infection Viral Infection

Age Most common in children over three years of age. Possibly at any age.

Onset Comes on suddenly. One minute, the child seems fine-the next, tired,

listless, and complaining. Comes on gradually, escalating from a mild

scratchiness to a full-fledge sore throat.

Symptons A very painful sore throat, often accompanied by headache, stomach

pain, vomiting, and/or tender or very firm lymph nodes. There can be much

difficulty swallowing. The child will look and feel very sick. A sore,

thick, or scratchy-feeling throat that may be accompanied by cough,

headache, runny nose, some difficult swallowing, and/or conjunctivitis.

Fever A temperature that escalates to as much as 104oF is possible. Mild to

moderate fever.

Tonsils Most likely red and swollen with white splotches. May or may not be

swollen; may or may not have a white coating.

 

 

Herbal Treatment

For age-appropriate dosages of some nutritional supplements, see Dosage

Guidelines for Nutritional Supplements and Herbs.

 

Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula is important for helping to

clear any kind of infection. Both of these herbs stimulate the immune

system. Give your child one dose, every two hours, during the acute phase.

Then reduce the dosage to one dose, three times a day, for up to one week.

Note: You should not give your child echinacea on a daily basis for more

than ten days at a time, or it can lose its effectiveness.

 

Garlic is antibacterial and supports the immune system. Choose an odorless

form, which will be better tolerated by children. You can give it to your

child in whole capsule form, or dissolve the liquid in hot water or soup.

Follow the dosage directions on the product label and give it to your child

until she is better.

 

Brew a sore throat tea. In 1 quart of water, boil some or (preferably) all

of the following: 1 tablespoon of licorice root, 1 tablespoon of hyssop, 2

tablespoons of slippery elm bark, and 1 teaspoon of sage. Licorice and

slippery elm soothe irritated mucous membranes and ease a sore throat.

Hyssop and sage detoxify the blood. Give your child one dose of tea, three

times daily, for a couple of days or until she feels better. She can also

gargle with this tea when it has cooled.

Note: Licorice should not be given to a child with high blood pressure.

 

At the first sign that your child may be developing scarlet fever, give her

one dose of the Chinese botanical formula yin qiao, twice a day, for two

days. This remedy is not helpful after the third day of symptoms.

Note: The liquid extract-is the preferred form because it contains no

aspirin. The tablet form should not be given to a child under four years of

age.

 

Yarrow maybe helpful because it promotes sweating and helps to lower fever.

Give your child one dose, two to three times a day, as needed, for the first

one or two days.

 

Grapefruit seed extract can be taken internally or used as a gargle. A

highly concentrated form, such as Citricidal, Nutrabiotic, or

Paramicrocidin, is preferred. Place 5 to 10 drops in a glass of water for a

gargle. Or have your child drink 3 to 5 drops of extract in 6 ounces of

water, three or four times daily, for up to three days.

 

 

Homeopathy

If your child has a mild to moderate fever along with a sore throat, give

her Ferrum phosphoricum 6x, three times daily, until the fever is resolved,

along with one of the other symptom-specific remedies recommended in this

entry.

 

Apis mellifica is good for the child with swollen, red tonsils and a sore

throat that comes on suddenly. This child has little thirst, although the

mucous membranes are dry, and there is no coating on the throat. Her tongue

may be red. Give this child one dose of Apis mellifica 30x or 9c every hour,

up to a total of four doses, as long as symptoms last.

 

Give your child Belladonna if her tonsils, throat, and uvula are extremely

red, and the sore throat came on suddenly. This child will have a fever and

possibly dilated pupils. Give her one dose of Belladonna 30x or 9c every

hour, up to a total of three doses, as long as symptoms last.

 

Hepar sulphuris is for the child whose sore throat is accompanied by a

cough that brings up thick white or yellow plugs of mucus, and whose throat

is coated with mucus. This child feels better with a hot washcloth on her

throat. Give her Hepar sulphuris 30x or 9c, three times a day, for two days.

 

Lachesis will benefit the child with a sore throat that is localized on the

left, or one that moves from left to right. The throat and tonsils will be

dark red. This child is understandably in a very bad mood; she is in a lot

of pain and doesn't want to be touched. Give this child Lachesis 30x or 9c,

three times a day, for up to two days.

 

Lycopodium will help the child with a sore throat that is localized on the

right side. The pain may move from the right to left side. This child feels

worse during afternoon and early evening, between the hours of 4:00 and 8:00

P.M. Give this child Lycopodium 30x or 9c, three times a day, for up to two

days.

 

If your child's sore throat is accompanied by hoarseness and worsens in the

evening, give her one dose of Phosphorus 30x or 9c, three times a day, for

up to two days.

 

Phytolacca is for the child with a very dark, red throat and much pain with

swallowing. This child will have swollen glands, with pain that radiates to

the ears. Give her Phytolacca 12x or 6c, four times a day, for up to two

days.

 

 

Acupressure

For the locations of acupressure points on a child's body, see Administering

a Acupressure Treatment.

 

Large Intestine 4 helps to clear infection.

 

Lung 7 moistens a dry and irritated throat.

 

 

General Recommendations

If you suspect that your child's sore throat maybe caused by a strep

infection, contact your physician. The only way to ensure proper diagnosis

and treatment is with a throat culture.

 

Encourage rest. A rested body generally heals more quickly than an active

one.

 

Give your child an echinacea and goldenseal combination formula.

 

Select and administer an appropriate homeopathic remedy.

 

Give your child vitamin C and bioflavonoids.

 

Prepare an herbal tea and gargle as described above. Or make a gargle by

dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 4 ounces of water and adding a small

pinch each of cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and honey.

 

Give your child sugar-free lozenges enriched with vitamin C and zinc.

Lozenges increase saliva production and help soothe a dry, irritated throat.

Avoid lozenges made with unnecessary chemicals and sugar.

 

Use a cool mist vaporizer to humidify the air. Humidified air soothes

irritated respiratory membranes and helps relieve a cough or hoarseness.

 

To decrease the risk of spreading infection, minimize a sick child's

contact with others.

 

Cough or Fever if your child's sore throat is accompanied by these symptoms.

 

Be alert for symptoms of scarlet fever (described in the introduction to

this entry) or rheumatic fever. These are serious complications that can

accompany a streptococcus infection.

 

 

 

 

© Janet Zand, L.Ac., OMD