During the fall and winter, flu and other respiratory viruses spread around the United States, making millions of people sick. Learn what these respiratory illnesses have in common so that you can protect yourself and your family.
If you have questions, talk to your doctor today!
Image  | If your child has any of the following symptoms, call their provider or seek urgent care:
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During the spring and summer, pharyngitis/sore throat and strep throat are common respiratory illnesses that spread around the United States. Learn what they have in common so that you can protect yourself and your family.
A sore throat, or “pharyngitis,” is a scratchy, painful feeling in the back of your throat when the tissue lining your throat becomes inflamed. It is caused by viral or bacterial infections, allergies, or even sleeping with your mouth open.
Viruses, like those that cause colds or flu, are the most common cause. These viruses are not strep throat. Only around 1 in 10 adults and 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms may start with a raspy feeling in your throat or pain when you swallow or talk. Most symptoms go away with home care within a few days, but be sure to call your provider if it lasts longer than a week.
If an infection is causing your sore throat, some other symptoms include:
Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by the group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is most common in children aged 5-15 years old. A sore throat can be mistaken for strep throat, so it’s good to be checked out by your provider if you have symptoms of either illness.
Strep throat is contagious, can be spread through close contact with others, and is treated with antibiotics. If you or your child are prescribed antibiotics, it is important to finish the entire course of the medication even if symptoms start to improve.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms include pain when swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, white patches on the tonsils, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes on the front of the neck, or a sore throat that started quickly and may look red. It usually takes 2-5 days after exposure to become ill with strep throat.
During the spring and summer, seasonal allergies—also called hay fever and allergic rhinitis—affect many people. Pollen is the most common seasonal allergen, and is made up of the grains or tiny seeds from flowering plants, trees and grasses.
If you have asthma, please note that pollen exposure can also cause asthma attacks if pollen is asthma trigger for you. Click here for more detailed information on how to manage asthma.
To treat allergy symptoms, you can use some over-the-counter remedies like oral antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays, and oral decongestants. If home remedies are not helping your symptoms, you can speak to your provider to have skin or blood tests to find out which allergens trigger your symptoms. They may then recommend treatment like allergy shots (allergy immunotherapy).
If you have hay fever or allergic rhinitis, you may see symptoms like:
Not sure if you’re sick with the cold, flu, or something else?
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Going to Well-Child Checkups is one of the best ways to ensure your child gets the care they need to be and stay healthy. Visit our Infant and Child Health Care webpage to learn more about these important visits.