What Causes Sore Throat, Hoarseness In The Voice And Diarrhea In A Child?

Posted on Wed, 11 Jan 2017

Question: My 10 year old daughter was sent home from school with a fever of 100.2 and complaining of a sore throat on Friday, 12/16. The fever and sore throat lasted through Saturday and then Sunday she became very congested and lost her voice. She seemed fine Monday and Tuesday of this past week and then Wednesday she woke up with a stomach ache. She had diarrhea the whole day and threw up once at 2:30 am Wednesday night. The diarrhea seemed to get better on Friday and then returned on Saturday and has continued. She also woke up this morning at 4:30 am and threw up again. Today, at our family Christmas gathering, she went her pants. She was very embarrassed and said she didn't know what happened, she just suddenly urinated. She has NEVER had an accident before, not even as a toddler when potty training (seriously, she was a breeze to potty train) not even at night! Appetite seems normal and she said her tummy feels better after she eats, but then will have diarrhea shortly after. Activity has been normal, no new foods. Is this all connected somehow? Could it be stress induced? We're moving to a new state at the end of the week for my husband's job, but she has been excited and seems to be okay with the move. Thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Looks like viral diarrhea - but the accident seems to be stress related

Detailed Answer:
Hi... I understand your concern. But what you say - including sore throat and hoarseness of voice (laryngitis) and now diarrhea everything seems to be viral related.

Regarding viral diarrhea - Once it starts it will take 5-7 days to completely get better. Unless the kid's having low urine output or very dull or excessively sleepy or blood in motion or green bilious vomiting...you need not worry.

There is no need to use antibiotics unless there is blood in the motion. Antibiotics might worsen if unnecessarily used causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea.

I suggest you use zinc supplements (Z&D drops 1ml once daily for 14 days) & ORS (Each small packet mixed in 200ml of potable water and keep giving sip by sip) as hydration is very important and crucial part of treatment. If there is vomiting you can use Syrup Ondansetron (as prescribed by your paediatrician).

Regarding the one episode of wetting of pants - this seems to be stress related. solitary issue like this need not be worried about unless it repeats again.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar