Sore throat

Sore throats happen all the time in childhood and are often nothing to worry about. Most of the time they are simply part of a common cold and will get better without any treatment.

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, found at the back of the mouth – they will become swollen and painful. It is a common childhood illness, and it is most commonly caused by a viral infection, but some are caused by bacteria.

What are the signs and symptoms of tonsillitis?

Common symptoms:

A sore throat
Pain on swallowing
Pain may be referred to the ears
Small children may complain of abdominal pain
Headache
Cough
Changes in the voice
High temperature (fever)
Feeling sick
Feeling tired

Other symptoms can include

The tonsils may swell and become red
Pus may appear as white spots on the tonsils
Swollen painful glands in your child’s neck. This feels like lumps on the side of the neck
Bad breath

Symptoms typically get worse over two to three days and then gradually go, usually within a week.

Treat at home and visit your community pharmacy

Sore throats (including tonsillitis) usually gets better on their own after a few days. You can treat at home with support from your community pharmacist by:

giving your child paracetamol or ibuprofen to help relieve pain and fever
encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids
using a throat spray which may help with pain.
ensuring your child rests and gets plenty of sleep
encouraging your child to drink plenty of cool drinks to soothe the throat and eating a diet of soft foods if they are having difficulty swallowing

Your community pharmacy team are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such. You do not need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call if you need some additional advice. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Antibiotics make little difference to how long symptoms last. When antibiotics are given, it is because the doctor or practitioner suspects a bacterial infection.