Angina in children is a disease caused by streptococci. The first symptoms of angina in children are a sore throat and a rapidly rising temperature. Angina in a child should not be taken lightly, because it can cause serious complications. In the case of angina, the sick child must be checked by a doctor and prescribe antibiotics.

Angina in children is a disease caused by streptococci.They can get into the throat, eg together with stale ice cream. It also happens that in the palatine tonsils themselves there are some "dormant" bacteria that become active under favorable conditions, e.g. when the body is weakened.

It is enough for an unhardened child to bask in the sun for a long time, and then suddenly jump into cold water. After such a thermal shock, resistance decreases, streptococci perform the so-called auto-infections and cause acute angina.AnginaIt is also easy to get infected - it is enough, for example, to use the cup from which the patient was drinking.

What causes angina in children?

Angina in childrenis most often caused by streptococci, less often by other bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Angina in children - symptoms

Depending on the locationanginamay take a different course. The typicalanginapalatine tonsils has symptoms such as:

  • a sore throat making it difficult to swallow. Pain radiates towards the ears
  • high fever (over 38o ) and chills
  • the neck and submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged and painful
  • malaise, headache and general breakdown

In turn, tonsil angina in young children, especially infants, can have quite turbulent symptoms:

  • increase in body temperature to 40 degrees C
  • loss of appetite
  • slimy stools
  • meningeal symptoms
  • convulsions

In older children it appears:

  • pain and burning in the throat
  • obstruction and rhinitis
  • cough
  • body temperature is normal or slightly elevated
  • swelling and redness of the pharyngeal tonsil and the mucosa of the back of the pharynx, down which mucus-purulent discharge flows. In more severe forms, there are also fibrin deposits on the pharyngeal tonsil and enlargement and tenderness of the lymph nodes in the neck.

Angina in a child and the test forstreptococci

As a rule, there is no problem with the diagnosis of angina at first glance. However, if the tonsils are not enlarged and there is no purulent raid on them, it is worth asking the doctor to test for the presence of streptococci in the throat. If he does not have a tester in his office, ask the nearest laboratory for such a service.

The test consists in taking a swab from the throat and putting it on a test strip. After only 20 minutes it is known whether the disease was caused by streptococci. Such an analysis costs about PLN 10 (the price of the test). If the test shows that it wasn't the bacteria causing the inflammation, you won't need antibiotics.

Sometimes pharyngeal pharyngeal culture is also needed, with an antibiogram mark. However, such tests are performed very rarely. If your child has recurrent strep throat, your pediatrician may refer you for blood tests. They are more accurate than a throat swab and allow you to pinpoint what's causing the disease.

Worth knowing

Recurrent angina in a child

Frequent recurrence of the disease is an indication for tonsillectomy, especially in the event of their hypertrophy. Overgrown tonsils do not effectively protect against infection. Not only that, they can even cause relapses! Bacteria hidden between the fibers of enlarged tonsils do not respond to the antibiotic at all.

What is the treatment of angina in a child?

Only an antibiotic can deal with bacterial angina. Remember to give it to your child for as many days as ordered by the doctor. Untreated angina has a tendency to recur and may turn into chronic inflammation. And such a condition can cause serious complications: from hearing impairment to serious diseases of the joints, heart or kidneys.

We can give the sick child additional fever-lowering agents and make sure that he rinses his throat with a summer infusion of sage or chamomile. You have to give him a lot of lukewarm drinks to drink.

The child must stay in bed while he is ill. After about 7-10 daysthe anginashould go away without a trace. But this should be assessed by a doctor.

Home remedies for angina in a child

The sick child may be given an additional drug that reduces fever and relieves pain, e.g. paracetamol suppositories or suspensions. If a child is taking an antibiotic, they should no longer receive non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen)

To prevent dehydration (due to fever, vomiting), give your baby plenty of warm or cool fruit teas, herbal teas or still water.

A sore throat will be relieved by herbal syrups with anti-inflammatory properties. With the exception of elderberry syrup, they can be given even to infants (elderberry canirritate the digestive tract of several-month-old babies and induce diarrhea). Older children should gargle with sage or chamomile tea.

Relief will also bring other rinsing agents or aerosols (eg Tantum Verde, Hascosept). A few-year-old can suck herbal tablets (e.g. coltsfoot and thyme), which stimulate salivation and constrict blood vessels, relieving throat burning. Sucking on a teaspoon of honey with a few drops of lemon juice is also good.

The child should eat semi-liquid or ground food that irritates the sore throat as little as possible. A lightly digestible diet with plenty of protein is recommended, as this speeds up recovery (e.g. chicken broth). However, avoid sour, spicy and hot foods.

It is also better not to give your baby milk and milk products at this time. They contain fat balls that stick to the throat mucosa and hinder the absorption of antibiotics (some antibiotics penetrate the body already in the mouth).

As long as the baby has a fever, he should stay in bed. However, if it doesn't want to lie down, you can put it on - but not too warm so that it doesn't overheat - and let it play in the apartment. After the fever has subsided, the child should stay at home for another 1-2 days.

After that, she can go out, but since she is weakened by illness, she has to avoid exertion. Make sure you don't sweat too much or quench your thirst with cold drinks.

You must do it

How do I protect my child from angina?

Make sure it has he althy teeth. But until the end, inflammation of the sinuses and ears. These are outbreaks of infection located very close to the tonsils, so bacteria can easily spread to them.

Take care of his immunity: prepare meals with plenty of vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, encourage him to play sports, dress appropriately for the weather (preferably on a roll, because then the child can easily take off one thing when he has too hot). Consult your pediatrician and, if necessary, give your child an immunization.

Pay attention not to expose yourself to the so-called thermal shocks. Don't let it jump into the cold water when it's sweaty; do not give him cold drinks to drink on hot days; do not turn on the air conditioning in the car and do not lower the temperature too much when it is hot outside.

Teach hygiene. It is especially about the habit of washing hands, on which microbes accumulate the fastest.

Do not buy ice cream that looks suspicious (e.g. deformed packaging, is soft - which may mean that it has been allowed to thaw and then frozen again) and do not give itbaby to eat. They can contain streptococci.

If someone around you catches tonsillitis, do not let the child come into contact with the sick person.Make sure they do not use the same cutlery, cups etc.

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