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My Daughter Is 5 And Has Complained About A Sore
Question: My daughter is 5 and has complained about a sore throat for 3 weeks now. She has been tested for Covid and it is negative. Her throat does not look sore or red and she has no fever. But she can not swallow her favorite foods and if she eats anything that will hurt her she saves it in her mouth and then spits it out in the garbage. I can get pancakes and soup in her but not much else. She'll eat icecream but only once in a while. My biggest problem is the she will not open her mouth for the doctor and since it's been 3 weeks since her test they want a new one before they will see her again. I really do not want to put her through that again if it's not nessacary. She complains that there is a lump futher down in her throat and not at the back.
Brief Answer:
Need not worry about COVID
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to Ask A Doctor service
This is Dr Aslam, Pediatrician here to assist you
I have gone through your query in detail and understand your concern.
I would like to confirm the reports of blood tests done if any, and the drugs she already has taken. Also check for any tender swellings(enlarged lymph nodes) over the neck.
A sore throat persisting for 3 weeks with no associated fever, cough, or cold is very unlikely from an infective cause like COVID. In my opinion, a second COVID swab test is not necessary. If they are insisting, you can request for antibody testing in blood, which is less cumbersome and will be positive by this time if at all infected(although the chance is remote as I mentioned).
Now regarding her condition, this might be from a small ulcer or mucosal tear down there. Rarely, a pus collection near the throat(retro-pharyngeal or para-pharyngeal abscess) can also present like this, but here the pain will be severe and we expect some fever.
We can try giving an anti-inflammatory/analgesic drug for 5 days to see the response. You can give Mefenamic acid suspension(100mg/5ml) 6ml 2-3 times daily for 5 days. If no improvement by then, we will have to get her throat examined with an ENT specialist. Depending on the situation, an endoscopic examination and an X-ray of the neck may be needed then.
Meanwhile, feed her with semi-solid food items that are easy to swallow. Include fruit juices, kichadi, and curd.
I hope this answer will help
Let me know if I can assist you further
Regards,
Dr Aslam
Need not worry about COVID
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Welcome to Ask A Doctor service
This is Dr Aslam, Pediatrician here to assist you
I have gone through your query in detail and understand your concern.
I would like to confirm the reports of blood tests done if any, and the drugs she already has taken. Also check for any tender swellings(enlarged lymph nodes) over the neck.
A sore throat persisting for 3 weeks with no associated fever, cough, or cold is very unlikely from an infective cause like COVID. In my opinion, a second COVID swab test is not necessary. If they are insisting, you can request for antibody testing in blood, which is less cumbersome and will be positive by this time if at all infected(although the chance is remote as I mentioned).
Now regarding her condition, this might be from a small ulcer or mucosal tear down there. Rarely, a pus collection near the throat(retro-pharyngeal or para-pharyngeal abscess) can also present like this, but here the pain will be severe and we expect some fever.
We can try giving an anti-inflammatory/analgesic drug for 5 days to see the response. You can give Mefenamic acid suspension(100mg/5ml) 6ml 2-3 times daily for 5 days. If no improvement by then, we will have to get her throat examined with an ENT specialist. Depending on the situation, an endoscopic examination and an X-ray of the neck may be needed then.
Meanwhile, feed her with semi-solid food items that are easy to swallow. Include fruit juices, kichadi, and curd.
I hope this answer will help
Let me know if I can assist you further
Regards,
Dr Aslam
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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