It’s often the first sign that your child’s coming down with
something -- a scratchy throat that hurts when she swallows.
Medically known as pharyngitis, sore throat is usually caused by
a viral infection like the cold or flu. It often gets better on
its own as the body fights off the virus, but if it persists you
should see a doctor to get a throat culture for strep throat, a
common bacterial infection. Sore throat can also be caused by
tonsillitis, coxsackie, scarlet fever, or more rarely,
epiglottis. Read more about the various causes of sore throat:
Common in kids, strep is caused by the bacterium Group A
streptococcus. The tonsils often become very sore and swollen.
Strep is extremely contagious and should be treated with
antibiotics. If left untreated, it can lead to rheumatic fever,
which can damage heart valves. This common illness is caused by
the inflammation of the pharyngeal tonsils, or those fleshy pads
at the rear sides of your kid’s throat that you can see when he
says “ahh.” While most cases o