What symptoms can pharyngitis cause in children

Herpetic pharyngitis in children most often occurs in summer and autumn. It is a relatively common type of viral pharyngitis. When it occurs, it has a strong epidemic tendency. After contracting the disease, herpes may occur in addition to the child's pharynx, the oral mucosa. Sometimes many parents confuse children's pharyngitis with colds, which can easily delay treatment. Therefore, when children become ill, they should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

1. Symptoms

The onset is acute, with symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, irritability, drooling, anorexia, vomiting, general malaise, difficulty swallowing, mental depression and convulsions. If this disease occurs alone, there are often no systemic symptoms. Infants and young children often cry and make noise during feedings and are unwilling to eat.

2. Physical signs

Physical examination may reveal congestion in the pharynx. Several to dozens of grayish-white blisters measuring 2 to 4 mm in size may be seen on the mucosa of the pharyngeal palate arch, soft palate, and uvula. They are surrounded by red halos and rupture after 1 to 2 days to form small ulcers covered with a light yellow or white pseudomembrane. Herpes can also occur in other areas of the mouth. There may be submandibular lymphadenopathy with tenderness. The course of the disease is about 1 week.

Nursing strategies for herpetic pharyngitis :

1. Herpetic pharyngitis causes obvious oral pain, and most children with the disease refuse to eat.

Attention should be paid to nutritional supplements for children. Food should not be overheated and should be light, non-greasy, and nutritious. Intravenous nutritional mixtures can be used when eating is difficult.

2. To prevent secondary infection

Use local analgesics and antiviral drugs, and be sure to pay attention to oral hygiene. The utensils used by the sick children must be disinfected with boiling water to avoid infection.

3. Avoid eating spicy food

Such as sour, sweet, spicy, salty, hot, hard, etc., to avoid irritating the ulcerated area in the mouth and causing pain.

4. Diet therapy

You can take 100 grams of mung beans, 50 grams of bitter gourd, 150 grams of coix seeds and 100 grams of rice to cook porridge. After cooling, give the child an appropriate amount.

Remark :

The Coxsackie virus that causes herpangina is also the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease. Therefore, young children in childcare institutions who develop the disease should be isolated and treated.

Ways to reduce discomfort :

Pay attention to oral hygiene and keep your mouth clean. You can gargle with light salt water, apply 10% silver nitrate to the ulcer, or blow throat pills, Bingpengsan, etc. into the throat to relieve sore throat symptoms. Take vitamin C and B orally. Antibiotics are not effective for viral pharyngitis. However, if fever occurs, antibiotics should be given to control secondary bacterial infection.