Such as:
Of these, the one most likely to cause serious complications is having a strep throat. If it isn't treated on time, it may lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever.
Let's see what your child is experiencing.
Symptoms alone cannot diagnose strep throat.
Your child will need a rapid test or throat culture to test for strep throat at the healthcare provider's office.
So the earlier we send your child to the doctor's office, the better for you and your family.
Strep is contagious.
Fever associated with strep throat usually starts suddenly and would be at its highest point on the second day.
Have child open the mouth as wide as he or she can and look very near the back of the throat and more towards the tonsils.
Know that, the throat can also appear bright red or dark red with spots on the roof of the mouth.
Here is why:
Let's rule out other things that might cause a sore throat that will require doctor office visit.
He or she may be looking at a cold or flu here.
Cough, laryngitis, and stuffy nose are not characteristic of strep throat infection. Their presence suggests another cause (usually viral or allergic).
If you feel it is a strep throat, have the child visit the nearest urgent care clinic.
Even if it comes out negative and is a flu, he or she can still get started with flu treatment such as tamiflu which has to be started within 48 hours of having a flu for it to be effective.
Would you like to see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you or continue with pharmacist for now?
Let's see which of the two the child is most likely experiencing.
He or she will need a rapid test or throat culture to test for strep throat.
Rapid test or throat culture are the main ways to distinguish between infectious mono and strep throat.
Even, detection of streptococci in the throat area does not exclude infectious mononucleosis. The doctor would have to make sure that your spleen is not enlarged. If it is, then would have to rule in infectious mononucleosis and do some other tests.
Let's take a look at the difference between a strep throat and infectious mono.
Strep symptoms include:
Strep symptoms include:
Strep symptoms include:
If you answered "No" so far, then there is a good chance your child may not be looking at a strep throat infection.
Moving forward, we will assume that the sore throat started slowly or you are not sure how it all started.
This will help us rule out infectious mono.
Symptoms of infectious mono include:
Symptoms of infectious mono include:
Symptoms include:
Symptoms include:
If you suspect any of those two from the discussions above, you should have the child visit the nearest urgent care clinic or the doctor's office as soon as possible.
If the healthcare provider suspects mono, they will need to examine your child and do some blood tests especially what is called a monotest.
This test looks for antibodies that form in the body during the infection, called heterophile antibodies.
If strep is the suspicion, then the doctor would have to do a rapid test or throat culture to test for strep.
This is the way to distinguish between infectious mono and strep throat.
Even, detection of streptococci in the throat area does not exclude infectious mononucleosis.
The healthcare provider would have to make sure that your child's spleen is not enlarged. If it is, would have to rule in infectious mononucleosis and do some other tests.
Would you like to see what is available over-the-counter to give relief for the sore throat or see the nearest children's urgent care clinic to you from the discussions so far?