According to Dr. Nguyễn Minh Đức from the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department at Viet Phap Hospital (Hanoi), the cold weather in Northern Vietnam has led to an increase in hospital admissions for young children. Among these cases, throat infections are the most common, with many severe cases admitted with bacterial throat infections.
When Should You Take Your Child to the Hospital?
The doctor advises that if a child has a high fever between 38-40 degrees Celsius, appears fatigued, and has pus in the tonsillar crypts, there is a high likelihood that the child has a throat infection.
Children with throat infections often cry, have poor appetite, and may be mistaken by parents as simply teething. This can lead to incorrect treatment.
Dr. Đức warns that if a child aged 3-6 months has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius and exhibits mouth pain, the severity of the throat infection has likely escalated.
For children over 6 months old who have a fever of 39 degrees Celsius, signs such as swelling, redness in the throat, inability to open the mouth due to pain, labored breathing, poor feeding, and continuous crying necessitate urgent measures to safely reduce the fever and immediate medical examination.
“Absolutely do not wait for the child to become severely ill with a throat infection, unable to eat, breathless, with a high fever, and continuous drooling before taking them to the hospital. The best approach is to have the child examined immediately, without forcing them to eat or drink,” Dr. Đức advises.
In children, particularly those aged 5-15 years, acute throat infections can lead to complications such as acute glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and acute arthritis. Therefore, parents should not be complacent.
Acute throat infections can lead to complications such as acute glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever, and acute arthritis. (Image: Seoarticlelibrary).
4 Guidelines for Managing Throat Infections in Children
During cold weather, throat infections are quite common. However, Dr. Đức believes that parents need not worry excessively. In some cases, a child may only have mild throat pain, good immunity, and may not require medication, as their immune system can combat the virus within a few days to a week.
During this time, parents should ensure their child gets plenty of rest, eats soft, easily digestible foods, and boosts their immune system.
Additionally, when a child has a throat infection, parents should adhere to the following principles:
- If the child is at the weaning stage, they can be given warm tea or broth to soothe the throat.
- Do not give honey to children under one year old.
- Encourage the child to drink plenty of water or apple juice.
- If the child has a severe throat infection, absolutely do not give Aspirin.
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