Sore throats are a common accompaniment to childhood illnesses. Most often it merely represents the dryness of mucus membranes that comes from breathing through the mouth when your child's nose is congested. This can be best managed by humidifying the air and staying well hydrated. Your child can be encouraged to blow their nose so they can breathe normally and also encourage mild salt water gargling to re-hydrate the throat, especially after sleep. Usually early morning sore throats of this type are gone soon after breakfast. If on the other hand a child has a sore throat associated with fever and swollen lymph nodes (lumps in the sides of the neck) this more likely represents infection and warrants a doctor's attention.

The usual infectious cause of a sore throat is viral. Many ordinary cold viruses also invade the throat and cause inflammation and pain. These sore throats subside with soothing lozenges and throat sprays and occasional use of analgesics such as acetaminophen and when the cold passes so will the sore throat. Uncommonly, sore throats may be caused by viruses that are not primarily respiratory nature, for instance, the Epstein Barr virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis. This sore throat is very severe and the tonsils are often almost "kissing" and block most of the airway along with swelling, pain and exudate (white pus), covering them. The treatment consists of pain relief and fluids for hydration and requires a doctor's supervision. There are times, however, when the severity of the throat pain, and the height of the fever, warrant a trip to the pediatrician for a throat culture - a simple swab of your child's throat that will allow the doctor to determine if the infection is caused by a bacteria, notably by the streptococcus organism. This sore throat is usually quite significant - your child will be in a lot of pain, have difficulty swallowing, maybe have a headache and a stomach ache as well, and not get relief from the ordinary measures just outlined. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics and usually within a few doses your child will begin to feel better. Inhalation of ammonia based cleaning products can cause direct irritation of the lining of the throat. Treatment for irritant inhalation depends on the type of product and whether it penetrated into the deeper tissues or further down the respiratory tree or esophagus - contact the poison control bureau and your doctor.