By A sore throat is one of the most common reasons children feel unwell. Your child may cry when swallowing, refuse food or wake up with a fever. Most of the time a virus is to blame and it settles in a few days. Sometimes it is strep throat, which needs antibiotics. A child throat infection doctor in Dubai can help you tell the difference and keep your child comfortable.
This guide explains common throat infections, testing, antibiotics and the warning signs that need urgent care.
Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. At Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, he treats children as well as adults.
Is my child's sore throat a virus or strep throat?
Most sore throats in children are caused by viruses, the same germs that cause colds and flu. Your child's immune system clears these by itself, usually within 5 to 7 days. Antibiotics have no effect on a virus.
A viral sore throat often comes with other cold signs:
- A runny or blocked nose
- A cough
- A hoarse voice
- Red, watery eyes
- Small ulcers in the mouth
Strep throat is caused by bacteria called group A streptococcus. It is most common in children aged 5 to 15 and is less common under the age of 3. It tends to start suddenly. Typical signs include:
- Fever and a very painful throat when swallowing
- Swollen, tender glands at the front of the neck
- Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Headache, tummy ache or vomiting, especially in younger children
- Usually no cough and no runny nose
These signs overlap, so a doctor cannot always tell strep from a virus just by looking.
Scarlet fever and hand-foot-and-mouth: two rashes to know
Two common throat infections come with a rash, and they need very different care.
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is caused by the same strep bacteria. In most children it is strep throat plus a rash. The rash feels rough, like sandpaper. It often starts on the neck and chest, then spreads. Your child's cheeks may look flushed while the skin around the mouth stays pale. The tongue can look red and bumpy, often called a "strawberry tongue".
Scarlet fever is treated with antibiotics. With treatment, most children feel better within a few days.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a viral infection. It is most common in children under 5 and spreads easily in nurseries. Your child may have painful blisters and ulcers in the mouth and throat. Small spots or blisters also appear on the hands, feet and nappy area.
Antibiotics do not help. It usually clears in 7 to 10 days. The main worry is that mouth sores make drinking painful, so watch closely for dehydration.
Does my child need a throat swab test?
If your child's symptoms point towards strep, the doctor may gently swab the back of the throat. It takes a few seconds. It can feel uncomfortable and may make your child gag, but it is over quickly.
- Rapid strep test: gives a result within minutes, during the visit.
- Throat culture: the swab is grown in a lab. It takes one to two days but can pick up cases a rapid test misses.
Testing is not always needed. If your child has a clear cold with cough and runny nose, a virus is very likely. Children under 3 are tested less often, because strep is uncommon at that age, unless someone at home has it.
When do antibiotics help a child's sore throat?
Antibiotics help when a bacterial infection, most often strep, has been confirmed or is strongly suspected. Penicillin or amoxicillin is usually the first choice. Other options are used if your child has a penicillin allergy.
For strep throat, antibiotics can:
- Shorten the illness a little
- Reduce the chance of passing it to others
- Lower the risk of rare complications, such as an abscess near the tonsil or rheumatic fever
Most children start to feel better within a day or two. Please give the full course, even when the pain has gone, as a shorter course may not clear the bacteria. If your child is no better after 48 hours, call your doctor.
For a viral sore throat, antibiotics will not speed recovery. They can cause diarrhoea, rashes and, over time, resistance.
Fluids, soft food and pain relief for children
Whatever the cause, comfort and fluids come first. A child who is drinking well is usually coping well.
- Offer small sips often. Cool water, milk, diluted juice or ice lollies are often easier than hot drinks.
- Choose soft foods. Yoghurt, soup, porridge or ice cream go down more easily. Skip crunchy, salty and spicy foods.
- Give pain relief. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease the pain so drinking is easier. Use the dose for your child's weight shown on the pack.
- Skip aspirin. It is not safe for anyone under 16, as it is linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
- Try honey in warm water for children over 1 year. Babies under 1 should never have honey.
- Avoid lozenges for young children, because of the choking risk.
Your child may be getting dehydrated if you notice fewer wet nappies or toilet trips, dark yellow urine, dry lips, crying without tears or unusual sleepiness. If so, see a doctor today.
Red flags: when to go to the emergency department
Go to the nearest emergency department, or call 998 for an ambulance, if your child:
- Has trouble breathing, noisy breathing or is working hard to breathe
- Is drooling because they cannot swallow their saliva
- Refuses all drinks, or has passed no urine for 12 hours
- Has a swollen neck, a swelling on one side, or cannot move the neck normally
- Has a muffled "hot potato" voice or cannot open the mouth fully
- Is very drowsy, floppy or hard to wake
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it
- Is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C or higher
Keep a child with breathing trouble calm and sitting up, and do not try to look in their throat. These signs can point to a throat abscess, a deeper neck infection or another serious problem. Our ENT emergencies in children page lists more warning signs.
When to see a child throat infection doctor in Dubai
Book a visit if the sore throat lasts more than a week, keeps coming back or comes with very swollen glands. See a doctor within a day if your child has a high fever or a scarlet fever rash, or is drinking less.
Dr. Jabbr will first ask how long the pain has lasted, about any fever and how well your child is drinking. He will then look in the mouth and throat, check the ears and nose, and feel the glands in the neck. A throat swab may be taken if strep is likely.
His qualifications are MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS, and he has carried out more than 3,000 ENT procedures. If you want one of the best doctors in Dubai for your child's throat infection, his training and long experience can give you peace of mind.
If your child gets throat infections again and again, read about recurrent tonsillitis in children. You can also read about our pediatric ENT doctor service and wider pediatric ENT care.
Book an appointment
To see Dr. Jabbr at the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital, Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1, Dubai, book a visit online or phone +971 52 751 7811. For any red flag sign, go to an emergency department instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child go to school with a sore throat?
If it is a mild cold with no fever, your child can often go to school. With strep throat or scarlet fever, keep your child home until they have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours and the fever has gone. Check your school's own rules too.
Is strep throat contagious?
Yes. It spreads through coughs, sneezes and shared cups or cutlery. The risk of spreading drops quickly once antibiotics are started.
My child has a sore throat but no fever. Should I worry?
Usually not. A sore throat without fever is often a mild virus, or a dry throat from breathing through the mouth at night. Offer fluids and watch for a few days. See a doctor if it lasts more than a week or new symptoms appear.
Should my other children be tested for strep too?
Not if they feel well. Testing children without symptoms rarely helps. If a brother or sister develops a sore throat or fever, see a doctor, who may swab them.
Is hand-foot-and-mouth disease dangerous?
For most children it is mild and settles within 7 to 10 days. Seek help quickly if your child stops drinking, seems very unwell, is unusually drowsy or has a stiff neck.
Why does my child keep getting sore throats?
Young children catch many viruses, especially in their first years at nursery or school. Several sore throats a year can be normal. If infections are frequent or severe, an ENT check can help find out why.
Conclusion
Most sore throats in children are viral and settle with rest, fluids and pain relief. Strep throat and scarlet fever need antibiotics. Keep your child drinking and know the red flags. Not sure what is causing it? Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can check your child and talk you through the next step.
