Suggest Treatment For Sore Throat While On Zyrtec And Prednisone

Posted on Sat, 9 Sep 2017

Question: First symptom is sore throat (out of the blue). Then, she says she gets hot (like hot flashes) and starts coughing and her breathing gets worse. She is 12. Back in her country she was diagnosed with allergy. Prescribed Zyrtec and Prednisone.
She started developing symptoms yesterday and I gave her Zyrtec in the morning. At night her symptoms worsened ( she began violently coughing) and I gave her 10mg of Prednisone. She stopped coughing in 20 minutes and did not cough during whole day today too. Half an hour ago the symptoms came back and I again gave her 10 mg of prednisone.
Yesterday she visited her aunt who has a cat and we blamed her allergy on it, but today she is at home, in her usual environment.
What else can I do? Why does she feel that hot before the attack?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Allergens are difficult to identify in most of the cases

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for asking on this platform

I have gone through the query and do understand your concern.
Sore throat, getting hot flushes and then breathing difficulty which is episodic is most likely due to some allergy.
Allergens can be house dust, mites, animal furs or poops, pollens,grass or any food.
In most of the allergic cases exact identification of culprit agent is very difficult. Also a child can be allergic to multiple agents.
Although it is said that best way to avoid the allergen but if the inciting agent is not known then it is only the symptomatic treatment which is needed.
After giving prednisone which is a steroid the allergic condition improves but there might be some ongoing allergic reaction inside the body and that is the reason the medicine is given at least for 3-5 days on a regular basis.
I request you to given Zyrtec which is an antiallergic and prednisolone at least fir 3 days to prevent the recurrence.
If breathing difficulty worsens or persists longer please consult your pediatrician.

Wishing for your child's good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (4 hours later)

I decided to ask you because those hot flashes seemed strange for me. Is that normal?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hot flashes are a sympathetic response

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Hot flashes are a sympathetic response and it can be seen with attacks of respiratory distress(irrespective of etiology) and in any kind of stress.

Regards

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. Vaishalee Punj