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Those miserable scratchy sore throats that make your child miserable. What is a parent to do? Sore throats often accompany the common cold, viral upper respiratory infections or the flu. 

Other causes of sore throats may include allergies, inhaled irritants, gastroesophageal reflux or  bacterial throat infections such as strep throat. Most viral related sore throats, which are the most common cause of sore throats in children, can be managed at home.

However, if your child has a prolonged or severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, a prolonged high fever, or a rash accompanying the sore throat, they should be evaluated by a medical provider.

So what are some ways you as a parent can reduce the symptoms associated with a viral sore throat? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends gargling with warm salt water for children old enough to gargle. Most children are able to gargle around 6 years of age. Options for relieving symptoms of viral sore throats may include:

-Salt water gargle using 1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of warm water for children ages 6 and older to help reduce swelling and pain.

-1-1/2 tsp of honey for children 1 year and older (honey has antimicrobial properties and is soothing to the throat). 

-Encourage plenty of warm fluids to soothe the throat and keep the child well hydrated.

-Homemade 100% juice popsicles may used to help soothe the throat.

-A cool mist humidifier may be used at night-time for moisture relief to the throat.

​Most viral sore throats improve within a few days of illness onset. With a little extra care and loving support, children will be on the road to recovery soon.

Other natural options for viral sore throat relief:

*Reference: ​https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1292560/

How do you manage your child’s nasty cough triggered by an upper respiratory viral illness? Coughs are a frequent companion to a child’s viral illness. They can be disruptive to sleep and make your child miserable. Most coughs are viral in nature. Therefore, antibiotics are not useful for treating viral coughs.

However, occasionally coughs can be associated with a bacterial infection which is usually accompanied by a higher prolonged fever or lasts beyond a week without improvement. Some children may experience viral induced asthma in association with a viral infection. In either of these situations you would need to contact your health care provider for further treatment. In addition, if your child has breathing or swallowing difficulties or vomiting accompanying their cough, they need to be evaluated by a health care provider.

So what can you as a parent do to address a viral cough? The recommended at home treatment by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children over one year of age is 1-2 teaspoons of honey at bedtime depending on age of the child (younger children a smaller dose, older children the larger dose). Honey has natural antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and helps to coat an irritated throat. The honey can also be mixed with warm freshly squeezed lemon water to provide extra vitamin C and immune enhancing properties.

For cough and chest congestion, doTerra Breathe Vapor Stick may be applied to the chest for children older than 2 years to help soothe coughs and congestion.

There are also homeopathic natural options for treating coughs. 

Reminder: For your child's safety, it is recommended to purchase products directly from the manufacturer or a healthcare professional company, not third party e-commerce sites due to recent research and reports of products being tampered or adulterated on those sites.  Reference: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35947382/

Finally, always remember that if you as a parent are concerned about your child’s cough, please contact your health care provider.