It’s a common bacterial infection kids mostly get during the winter, but untreated, strep can lead to joint problems or damage to the heart valves. That’s why all kids 2 and older with a sore throat should be screened, especially if they also have a fever, says Nora Esteban-Cruciani, MD, assistant director of the division of pediatric hospital medicine at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City. The rapid test can miss about 10% of cases, so negative results need to be checked by a throat culture.
If it is strep, antibiotics are crucial to prevent complications. To feel better, drink lots of liquids (but not very hot or acidic ones, which can irritate the throat), take ibuprofen and gargle with warm salt water.
If your child has five or more episodes a year, talk to her pediatrician or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor about a tonsillectomy. “Kids with enlarged tonsils are more prone to infections because bacteria can easily lodge inside the tonsils,” says Dr. Esteban-Cruciani.