Sore throat in children 1-3 years

Sore throat in children 1-3 years: Causes and diagnosis

A sore throat (pharyngitis or tonsillitis) is a symptom that makes the baby fussy, disrupts their appetite and sleep. The child may refuse food and drink because swallowing hurts. In the overwhelming majority of cases the cause is a viral infection. However, sometimes a sore throat can be caused by bacteria, which requires a completely different treatment approach.

Viral vs. Bacterial infection: What’s the difference?

This is a key question that the doctor must answer, as it determines the treatment strategy.

• Viral pharyngitis (about 90% of cases):
  • Causes: Adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, enteroviruses, and others.
  • Symptoms: Usually the sore throat is accompanied by other signs of an upper respiratory infection: runny nose, cough, sometimes eye redness. Temperature may vary.
  • Treatment: Antibiotics are NOT needed. Treatment is symptomatic: plenty of warm fluids, analgesics (ibuprofen/paracetamol).
• Bacterial tonsillitis (most commonly streptococcal):
  • Cause: Beta-hemolytic group A streptococcus.
  • Symptoms: Very severe pain when swallowing, high fever, often without runny nose or cough. The throat is bright red, and the tonsils may have a white coating.
  • Treatment: Mandatory prescription of antibiotics to prevent rare but serious complications (rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis).

Other causes of sore throat may include enteroviral infection (hand‑foot‑mouth syndrome "hand-foot-mouth" with mouth ulcers) or eruption of later teeth, when gum inflammation spreads to the throat.