Dd bad sire throat

[janji]

Dd aged 6 has had a bad sore throat for the past 3 days. Given calpol and the usual liquids etc but she's really not eating very well and looks so pale and unhappy. She's actually a tough little cookie so I know she must really be suffering! Can't get her to gargle as she's too young. We're now on the 4th night of dh on sofa so that she can sleep with me as she's waking every couple of hours. Any helpful advice gratefully received!

Sorry; obviously meant sore throat!!

Take her to the GP! Have you looked in her throat?

Yes, looks slightly red but no noticeable swelling etc. our GP is a believer in avoiding medications for sore throats etc in kids. Just wanted some ideas on easing the symptoms a bit.

Manuka honey and lemon juice in a little hot water for her to sip?

Luke warm chamomile tea with or without honey. Also, several times a day a teaspoon with Manuka honey for its antibacterial properties (Holland and Barrett sells it).

If the throat looks red/inflamed, I would give nurofen/calprofen as it helps with inflammation and gives better pain relief.

Obviously don't give acid drinks like orange juice/fruit juice. Milk is possibly okay. She may also like some ice cream/ice lollies to reduce sore throat.

Are her glands in her neck swollen? Does she have a cold? Does she have fever/

She had a sniffly nose before the throat but that's ok now. Will try the calprofen and other natural remedies suggested. She dies seem a bit brighter today and managed to 'eat' a McDonald's strawberry milkshake (bribe simply because I wanted her to get one thing down her... Not exactly nutritious but she was getting into the habit of almost being too scared to eat cos it was painful)!

A very bad cold can sometimes either cause a severe throat infection or a severe ear infection or if unlucky both, especially in younger children as all the tubes are still so small so block easily.

That is why I think it is a good idea when the cold is quite bad to give a decongestant like Sudafed syrup (there are also others). You cannot give it for very long and also not too often. However, it does work like magic, it narrows the bloodvessels in the nose, so the snot can flow freely and doesn't start accumulating in the back of the throat/ears.

Alternatively you can use salt water sprays (Sterimar or others). They also work as long as you start with the first signs of a cold and use them consistently several times a day. They have no side effects, but most kids find them quite unpleasant.

Hopefully she is over the worst now. However, if you see white threads in the throat I would seek medical advice, same if she starts developing fever as she then may have a secondary infection.

Thank you so much for all f your help. In the daytime she seems much better (though appetite still not so good), but at night it seems to come back. Hopefully it's on it's way out?!!