5 Best Natural Sore Throat Remedies for kids – First Aid
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Natural Sore Throat Remedies for kids!
A sore throat is an irritated, inflamed throat. It may come with fever, cough or a scratchy feeling, and the pain usually gets worse when swallowing.
Many simple sore throat remedies for kids are safe and easy to do at home. According to the CDC, viruses like those that cause colds and flu are the most common cause. Most sore throats get better on their own within about a week.
Some sore throats are caused by bacteria, such as strep throat. Strep needs a test from a healthcare provider and is treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics don’t help sore throats caused by viruses.
Kids get sore throats often because they catch many colds at school and daycare. When germs infect the throat, the immune system responds with inflammation. That causes the swelling, pain and sometimes fever.
In most children, the immune system clears a viral infection within a few days. Comfort measures help while that happens.
Sore Throat Remedies For Kids
There are medicines that ease sore throat pain. There are also many Natural sore throat remedies for kids that are cheap and easy. Here are some that have been used for generations.
1- Gargle With Salt Water
A salt water gargle is a traditional remedy that can soothe a scratchy throat. It is only for children old enough to gargle and spit without swallowing, usually school-age kids.
Mix about half a teaspoon of table salt into 8 ounces (one cup) of warm water. Stir until the salt dissolves. Have your child gargle for a few seconds, then spit it out. This can be repeated a few times a day to ease discomfort.
2- Sip Warm Liquids
Warm drinks can soothe an inflamed throat. Good choices include warm water, warm milk or broth, served warm rather than hot so they don’t burn the throat.
Plenty of fluids also helps prevent dehydration. Cold treats like popsicles can soothe too. Lozenges and hard candy are not safe for children under 4 because they are a choking risk.
3- Honey
Honey can soothe a sore throat and ease coughing in children 1 year and older. Mix half a teaspoon to one teaspoon into warm water or a caffeine-free tea.
Never give honey to babies under 1 year old, because it can cause infant botulism, a serious illness.
Skip green tea and other caffeinated teas for young children, since they contain caffeine.
4- Raised Head Of Your Kid
If a stuffy nose makes your child sleep with an open mouth, the throat can dry out and feel worse. For older children, an extra pillow can help them breathe more easily.
Do not put pillows in the crib of a baby under 1 year old, because it raises the risk of suffocation. A clean, cool-mist humidifier in the room is a safer option for babies.
5- Medication For Kids Sore Throat
Call your pediatrician before giving any medicine to a baby under 6 months. For older children, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease pain. Use the dose on the label for your child’s weight and age, and don’t give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months.
Never give aspirin (Bufferin) to children or teenagers, because it is linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
When to Call the Doctor
Call your child’s doctor or get care right away if your child has:
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Excessive drooling (in young children)
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
- Signs of dehydration, such as little urine or no tears
- A rash, or joint pain and swelling
- Symptoms that don’t improve within a few days or get worse
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months
HP Thoughts: Are you familiar with celiac disease? Proceed to our post to gain insight: Celiac Disease Symptoms in Children.
Sources
- Sore Throat Basics, CDC
- Acetaminophen Dosing Tables for Fever and Pain in Children, American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
