Raising babies can be a joy but also a challenge. They cannot express themselves or what they are going through. Their only mode of communication is through crying, whether they are hungry, irritated or unwell. It is up to the parents to decode what actually is bothering the baby and try to find out a solution. Additionally, babies have an immature immune system which leads them to fall sick frequently. Sore throat in babies is one such frequently occurring condition.
A sore throat can be due to many reasons. Bacterial and viral infections are the most common cause for the occurrence of sore throat in babies. Just like adults. babies can experience sore throat when they contract the infection through the air or from another person who is carrying the virus or bacteria and transmits it to the baby through sneezing via air droplets. In this article, we take you through the different reasons that sore throat can happen in babies and what you as parents can do about it.
In This Article
- What is Sore Throat?
- 4 Major Causes of Sore Throat in Babies
- Top Signs and Symptoms of Sore Throat in Babies
- Diagnosis of Sore Throat in Babies
- How Can Sore Throat be Prevented?
- Best Home Remedies For Sore Throat in Babies
- When Should You Consider Seeing a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
What is Sore Throat?
A sore throat is a frequent illness in which the mucous lining of the throat becomes inflamed or swollen. This causes the baby to experience pain and irritation in the throat. Sore throat can occur on its own or can be accompanied by other symptoms such as cold, runny nose and a cough. Sometimes, fever is also possible. If you find that your baby has these symptoms and is unusually cranky, crying, clingy and is uncomfortable, you may need to take your baby to the pediatrician for further evaluation.
4 Major Causes of Sore Throat in Babies
Sore throats are caused by two separate germs: viruses and bacteria. They are both infectious and quickly communicate with others.
The bacteria gather in the nose and throat. When an ill person sneezes, coughs or speaks, germs are spread into the air and others breathe them in. Germs can also settle on objects and be picked up by touching them.
Here are the common causes of sore throat in babies.
1. Common Cold
Catching a cold is extremely common in young babies, especially since their immune system is still at a developing stage. But that doesn’t mean that you keep them within the confines of your home. They need exposure to help them build resistance.
Common cold often has a sore throat as one of its symptoms. Along with a sore throat, babies may also experience symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, difficulty breathing due to a blocked nose and general crankiness. A common cold may or may not be accompanied by a fever.
[Read : Cold in Babies]
2. Throat Infections
A throat infection is another common and most frequent cause of sore throat in babies. A throat infection can be either bacterial or viral. The organisms take shelter in the throat region affecting the area and causing irritation which results in a sore throat.
3. Tonsilitis
Tonsillitis is a condition in which a rough tissue on both sides of your baby’s back of the throat is infected with a virus or bacteria. Babies with sore throats cough a lot and are often uncomfortable and disturbed.
4. Strep Throat
This is a very painful condition in which eating, swallowing, and talking is tough. This condition is similar to tonsilitis, has a bacterial origin and is relatively rare in children below three years of age.
Top Signs and Symptoms of Sore Throat in Babies
Sore throat in babies can be due to many reasons and the symptoms will depend on the root cause
1. Common Sore Throat Symptoms
Common cold symptoms include
- Nasal congestion and a runny nose
- Sore throat
- Phlegm in the throat and nose
- Headaches
- Temperature of less than 101 °C
2. Sore Throat Symptoms Due to Flu
Symptoms include
- High fever
- Pain in the body and muscles
- Mucous running from the nose and throat.
The fever and muscular pains usually last about 2 to 4 days, but the cough and weakness might last up to a week or more.
[Read : How To Bring Down A Fever In Babies?]
3. Sore Throat Symptoms Due to Strep Throat or Tonsillitis
Symptoms include
- Inflammation throat and tonsils
- Redness in both the areas
- Painful throat
Strep throat is very rare in infants and toddlers while tonsillitis is relatively more common
4. Allergens
Allergies can cause a runny nose and postnasal drip, contributing to a painful throat. Itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion are other frequent allergy symptoms. Baby throat irritation can result from exposure to smoking, chemical irritants, and both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Diagnosis of Sore Throat in Babies
In many cases, the diagnosis of sore throat is not possible, the doctor may do a physical checkup, learn the symptoms and take a call accordingly.
- It’s critical to determine if a virus or strep bacterium is to blame for your baby’s sore throat.
- Your baby will be examined by a doctor or other healthcare professional, who will also inquire about their symptoms.
- They will then take a call if further testing is needed.
- 1 or 2 soft swabs will be rubbed over the back of your baby’s throat to check for the possibility of a strep infection.
- A quick strep test, also known as a rapid antigen test, can yield results in as little as 30 minutes. You’ll stay until the outcome is obtained.
- Sometimes, the doctor will just do a tongue swab to check for strep. The same swab can be submitted to the lab for testing even if your child initially underwent a fast strep test.
- The findings arrive in 1 to 2 days. The lab will inform your baby’s physician or other healthcare professional, who will notify you of the results.
- If a quick strep test or throat culture returns positive, the doctor will start your baby on antibiotic medications.
- If the doctor rules out strep, then they may suggest other medications such as syrups to provide relief from the symptoms so that your baby can start feeling better quickly.
How Can Sore Throat be Prevented?
Here are a few steps you can take to prevent sore throat in your munchkin.
- Use a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s or toddler’s room, or spend some time in the bathroom with a steamy shower in the background to relieve throat dryness.
- To break up mucus, use nasal saline drops. Then, using a nasal aspirator, suck it out to keep mucus from irritating the back of the throat.
- Offer tiny quantities of water to babies who have begun solid meals.
[Read : When Can I Give Water To Baby?]
Best Home Remedies For Sore Throat in Babies
Some home remedies you can follow are also listed below.
- Give steaming with plain water after consulting with your doctor. Since your baby is very tiny, you can sit them in your lap and place the steaming device at a slight distance and your baby is able to inhale vapors. Adding rubs such as Vicks or other additives such as turmeric to the steaming water is not recommended.
- Keep your baby well-hydrated. Allow your baby to feed on demand if they are less than 6 months old.
- For older babies, you can give them lots of warm water and soups regularly to keep them hydrated.
- Allow them to relax and sleep for longer hours. This will help their body heal and recover quickly.
- Keep their food soft and easy to swallow (for babies older than 6 months)Please do not provide ice lollies, ice cubes, or hard candies (because they are a choking hazard).
- Avoid smoking around babies and staying in smoke-filled areas.
[Read : Infant Choking]
When Should You Consider Seeing a Doctor?
At the first indications of a sore throat, such as refusing to eat or being irritable after eating, if your infant is under three months old, call their pediatrician immediately. Due to your baby’s immature immune system, your pediatrician may wish to keep a constant tract if your baby is newborn or under three months old.
But if your baby is older than 3 months and has such symptoms, then you must take your baby to the hospital for a check-up.
You must consider taking your baby to the doctor if they have the following symptoms
- Temperature greater than 38°C (100.4)
- Persistent cough
- An odd or frightful cry
- Lack of regular diaper wetting
- Earaches
- Rash on the hands, lips, chest, or buttocks
If your infant is having trouble breathing or swallowing, it is recommended to take an immediate checkup.
Your pediatrician will judge your baby’s condition and recommend further course of action including medications and home remedies such as plain-water steaming.
Sore throat in babies is common and will resolve with time. But it is important to take medical help, especially if your baby is too young. For babies older than 6 months, you can give small gulps of warm water and other warm liquids such as soups alongside medications that your doctor recommends. Do talk to your doctor before giving herbal remedies to babies. Such concoctions may not be safe as your baby’s digestive system is immature and will not be able to tolerate strong herbs.
FAQ’s
1. Does Teething Cause Sore Throats?
According to some studies, babies frequently drool a lot while teething due to their gums being irritated. Most parents don’t worry about this issue and accept it as a reality.
2. How Long Does a Sore Throat Last in Babies?
It depends on the root cause of the sore throat. Cold or flu-Sore throats brought on by a cold or flu virus don’t often stay for lengthy periods and usually go away within a week, so your child will be back to normal in no time. Tonsillitis often only lasts a few days. Laryngitis might take one to two weeks. Glandular fever may continue for several weeks at a time. With medication, strep throat often goes away in 10 days.
