The leading symptom of inflammatory diseases of the pharynx and tonsils is a sore throat. The child becomes lethargic, capricious, it is difficult for him to swallow. Adults who are nearby take a variety of measures to alleviate the patient's condition - while not always effective and correct. The issues of therapy and prevention of various diseases are covered by Dr. E. Komarovsky - he often talks about how and how to treat a throat. A well-known pediatrician talks about the drugs allowed for children, explains the main mistakes that parents make when caring for a sick child. What recommendations does the doctor give regarding the treatment of throat in children?
Choice of treatment
The name of Dr. Komarovsky is familiar to many today - for the first time, TV viewers, and not ordinary patients, saw Evgeny Olegovich on screens in 2010. Since then, the television "school" that teaches how to care for and help children with illnesses has gained immense popularity. The use of seemingly simple methods as an alternative to numerous drugs is one of the features of Komarovsky therapy. The doctor believes that every parent can learn to cope with difficult situations - of course, by interacting with the child's doctor.
How to start choosing treatment for sore throat? The correct tactic is, first of all, to determine what caused this symptom. According to the doctor, it can be provoked by:
- drying out of the mucous membranes of the mouth, pharynx, tonsils;
- respiratory infections of a viral and bacterial nature;
- the presence of a foreign body, which is caused by damage to the mucous membrane.
The reasons are different - and the treatment will be different. Algorithm of actions for adults with a sore throat in a child:
- Foreign body - medical emergency is required.
- Bacterial infection - urgent consultation with a pediatrician is required.
- ARVI - consultation with a pediatrician is required, but before it, you can take some actions yourself.
In 99% of cases, sore throat is a manifestation of ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection).
ARVI, as a rule, do not require emergency care and are treated quite effectively at home in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. However, when it comes to a bacterial infection, one should be wary of streptococcal sore throat and diphtheria. The key feature of these diseases is the absence of a common cold. The doctor emphasizes: if the throat is red, the body temperature is elevated, and there is no discharge from the nose - no doubt, a doctor is urgently needed.
Sore throat: what to do
Self-acting in case of ARVI or bacterial infection is by no means the beginning of drug therapy. Prescribing drugs is the prerogative of the doctor. He determines the need for them, dosage, frequency of administration. However, tasks assigned to parents or other adults who are near the patient 
equally important is to create conditions in which recovery is possible.
Doctor Komarovsky does not tire of reminding: the main "enemies" of the inflamed mucous membrane of the oropharynx and tonsils are dry, hot air, low humidity, insufficient amount of liquid. If mucus accumulates, it can dry out, forming a film. Such situations are most common in the winter when heating devices are used. Therefore, you need to achieve:
- air temperature 19–20 ° С;
- humidity 50–70%.
For this, the intensity of heating the air by heaters and batteries is reduced, and timely wet cleaning is carried out to eliminate dust. Use of humidifiers is helpful. All indicators should be monitored using special thermometers and hygrometers.
The child needs a plentiful warm drink - tea, fruit drink, compote. When a sore throat hurts, it is better to let the food be liquid and semi-liquid, not crumbly, not spicy and - which is very important - at a comfortable temperature. The nose is cleared of mucus by washing, the nuances of which should be studied before starting the procedure.
Saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride solution) will help moisturize the mucous membrane. This is a saline solution that is used for both rinsing and nasal instillation. The doctor says that the remedy can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepared on your own. It is allowed to pour it into a clean bottle from under the nasal drops and apply it every hour - so the mucous membrane will not dry out.
Should you gargle your red throat? Contrary to popular belief, this method is not able to completely eliminate pathogens. With ARVI, it is used mainly to prevent mucus from drying out - that is, if the child breathes moist air of the correct temperature and drinks enough, you can rinse - but not necessarily. Warm water is suitable as a rinse aid, in which soda and / or salt is dissolved.
It is important to swallow frequently.
When the mucus is moistened, swallowing, the child gets rid of its accumulations and eliminates one of the causes of pain. This principle underlies the use of all throat lozenges (except for local anesthetics).
Do I need an antibiotic
One of the most pressing issues is the need to use antibacterial drugs. While some parents are terrified of these drugs, others cannot think of treating their children without an antibiotic. Such extremes, unfortunately, are not uncommon. Dr. Komarovsky goes into detail on when antibiotics are really needed.
First of all, a red throat is not a reason for taking antibacterial drugs. However, as well as to refuse them. The doctor recommends to parents: when the child is completely healthy, examine his throat carefully (of course, not frightening, but for example, suggesting to play a doctor's examination). Remember what the normal mucosa looks like. It will be much easier to compare and identify changes in illness (plaque, pronounced redness, asymmetry).
High fever is also not a criterion for starting antibiotic therapy. Fever is a reaction to an invasion of a pathogen, not an indicator of its belonging to a virus or bacteria. Moreover, with ARVI, antibiotics are not needed - these drugs have no effect on viruses. However, if the child's throat begins to hurt badly, the likelihood of a sore throat is not excluded.
Streptococcal sore throat is an unconditional indication for starting antibiotic therapy.
Although angina is often called all manifestations of a sore throat, this is a false statement. A provocateur of sore throat is streptococcus, which, if untreated, can cause diseases of the heart, joints, kidneys. Therefore, it is very dangerous to give up antibacterial drugs. All appointments (antibiotics, lozenges, gargles) must be obtained from the pediatrician after an internal examination.
Features of therapy
Since the doctor is often asked how to behave if the child has a red throat, he reminds: the most important thing is to achieve relief from the condition using the most gentle means, to prevent panic. There are no drugs without side effects, there are no absolutely safe, "perfect" drugs. However, for many parents, treatment is unthinkable without medication. It is important to use them correctly in order to get the result without the realization of undesirable phenomena. Today there is a huge selection of drugs for the throat, but it is best to dwell on anti-inflammatory drugs.
Sage and chamomile lozenges work well - but they can be used like any other lozenges, only if you are age-specific. Without a doctor's prescription, the child should not be given local forms of antibacterial drugs (for example, Faringosept, Antiangin, Sebidin). It is undesirable for children under 5 years old to use throat sprays (due to the danger of laryngospasm).
For throat treatment to be successful, you need to know not only the algorithm of actions, but also the means that will definitely not be useful. These include:
- Lugol's solution.
- Streptocide.
- 3% hydrogen peroxide.
The harm of Lugol's solution to the thyroid gland when treating a child's oral cavity cannot be compensated for by its benefits - the effectiveness of this remedy is rather doubtful. Streptocid has lost its ability to act on pathogenic bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is not the best rinse aid, but sometimes it is prescribed - it should be understood that in this case it is diluted in order to get not a 3%, but a 1% solution.
The doctor insists that the child should be treated according to common sense. The main thing in treating a sore throat is not numerous medications, but a combination of methods that will allow the body to cope with the infection as quickly as possible. And, of course, the attentiveness of adults - so as not to miss a situation when simple, home-based methods are indispensable.
