Simple Tips To Care For Your Child's Sore Throat

S0re throats can be caused by low humidity in your home, not enough fluids, seasonal dryness, smoke and allergies. Sore throats can also be caused by viral or bacteria infections, including strep throat.

Here are some simple tips for caring a child's sore throat:

• Have your child gargle with warm salt water every couple of hours. Use 1/4 teaspoon of table salt in an 8 ounce glass of water. This will help lessen the irritation that is causing his throat to feel sore.

• Have him suck on ice pops or other frozen desserts. They will feel good on his throat and help him get enough liquids. Older children can also suck on throat lozenges (cough drops), hard candy or ice and gargle with salt water.

• Give him a lot of liquids, up to 8 to 10 glasses each day. Juice and water are best. Warm liquids are soothing to the back of the throat.

• Give him paracetamol for fever or other aches. Do not give aspirin to children because it may increase their risk of Reye's syndrome.

• Let him rest. It will help his body get rid of the virus or bacteria that is causing the infection

Tips In Determining the Differences Between Common Colds and Allergic Rhinitis

It is important to distinguish between the common cold and allergic rhinitis, both of which can overlap and may be mistaken for the other.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis include sneezing, nasal congestion, nasal itching, and a runny nose, and thus overlap with those of the common cold. However, these symptoms either occur at a constant level through the year (perennial rhinitis) or only during specific periods (seasonal rhinitis) without a clear cut period of resolution, unless anti allergy medications have been taken.

So while parents may worry that their child is getting more colds than usual, it may only be allergic rhinitis. A trip to the doctor can clarify the matter.

Common Allergies among Children

Atopic dermatitis

The child may develop skin lesions that are red, swollen, itchy, crusty or scaly. In infants, the marks usually appear on the cheeks. Atop dermatitis may be present as early as the first 2 to 3 months of life, disappear, then resurface to around 3 to 5 years.

Allergic rhinitis or hay fever

This refers to an allergic reaction to pollen from trees and grass. Symptoms include sneezing, watery and itchy nose, nasal obstruction and, in some instances, watery eyes. It is often seen in children above 3 to 4 years.

Asthma

This common lung disease is characterized by the irritability of the ling airways to certain stimuli. Children with allergic asthma suffer symptoms of cough and wheezing after exposure to allergens like pollen and dust. A child may have asthma at any age, but majority of children experience their first symptoms at around age 4.

Food allergy

Some children have unwanted reactions following ingestion of different types of foods. Shellfish, nuts and other seeds, cow's milk and wheat are some of the foods that are potentially allergenic. Eating these foods cause some children to have swelling of the mouth or lips, generalized, itchy skin eruptions (wheals) or asthma. Allergy to cow's milk in infants may manifest as gastrointestinal upset (crying and irritability), vomiting or watery, blood streaked stools.