- Knowledgebase: Cough, Congestion, and Ears
- Questions about the managment of coughs and congestion, as well as ear infections.
- 5. My child has a sore throat. Why didn't he get antibiotics? - Top
- Q: My child had a sore throat last week and we went to the doctor. They did a test and said it was not strep and they did not give him any medicine. Can you explain that?
A: In children, sore throats are primarily infectious in cause with approximately 80% being viral and 20% bacterial (almost all of them being streptococcus). Strep can be treated with Penicillin or other antibiotics if your child is allergic. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics and will resolve on their own in a short period. One particular virus that can result in a longer illness is the one causing infectious mononucleosis (Mono). Noninfectious causes of sore throats are usually irritants much as allergies or cigarette smoking.
Strep throat itself is not a serious illness, but if left untreated can result in Rheumatic Fever which is a serious illness. This is why we emphasize determining whether your childs' sore throat is strep or not. The severity of a more throat, presence or absence of fever, or the appearance of the throat cannot always distinguish between a strep throat and a viral throat. This is where either a strep test or throat culture helps us.
So if your child has a sore throat, they should be evaluated for possible strep and if strep is not found, they most likely have a viral sore throat which does not require any medicine.
- Updated: March 23, 2001
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