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Red throat in a baby
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Reasons why a child's throat turns red
With angina - an acute disease of allergic or infectious nature - the mucous membrane of the tonsils, which are located on the palate, turns red. The palatine arches also turn red.
Another reason for a sore throat may be diphtheria. With this disease, a film may appear on the mucous membrane of the throat, it is called a fibrinous film. The mucous membrane also turns gray, and spots similar to ulcers are visible on it.
Other causes of sore throat in children may include:
- measles
- scarlet fever
- pharyngitis
- inflammation of the tonsils
- throat irritation from tobacco smoke or paint or household chemicals
Different cases require different treatment
If it is definitely established that the child's throat has become red because he has caught a cold or is overcooled, you can treat it by gargling, spraying, steaming the feet, giving the baby raspberry tea - that is, using proven grandmother's methods. If the reason for the redness of the child's throat is unknown, then you must definitely consult a doctor. It is worth knowing that in different cases, the child's throat is treated with different medications. Antibiotics will help well in the case of tonsillitis, but in the case of a viral infection they can be useless and even harmful, because antibiotics do not affect viruses.
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Ways to Treat a Sore Throat in a Baby
Rinses
Gargling is the first and main way to treat a throat that has become red for one reason or another. For gargling, use saline solutions, soda solutions, chamomile, sage, and coltsfoot decoctions. You can make raspberry tea and first gargle with this solution, then make a separate cup of tea and drink it not too hot. If a child has a sore throat, you should not drink anything hot at all - you should give the baby only warm drinks. In addition to gargling, it is important to kill harmful bacteria or viruses in the oral cavity by brushing your teeth frequently.
Lollipops
The baby can also be given throat lozenges and tasty candies. This is very pleasant, although not very effective in acute illnesses – rather as an auxiliary remedy, not as the main one. Candies can be with mint, lemon, chamomile, sage – the same herbs that can be used for gargling. Not all babies can use gargling, and teaching a child to gargle is a long and not always effective process. Therefore, you can use those methods of treating the throat that are available to the child.
Please note that it is better to suck on lozenges and tablets between meals. Keep them on the tongue until they dissolve completely, do not drink anything – this way, lozenges (but not regular ones) will work more effectively. And they will work longer.
Aerosols
Aerosols for children should be used very carefully, only on the advice of a doctor. Before using an aerosol. Read the instructions - many aerosols are not suitable for children under 3 years old.
Throat lubrication
Lubricating the throat can be used if the child has a severe sore throat. This method is also good because it is suitable for older children and for the smallest ones, those who do not know how to treat their throats on their own. In particular, do not know how to gargle. And lubricating a red throat is a good method to disinfect it.
In this case, you need to act carefully and attentively so as not to damage the sensitive mucous membrane of the baby's mouth. Please note that it is better to lubricate the baby's sore throat before eating and drinking. It is better not to give the child anything to drink for about 15 minutes after this, so that the medicine has time to be well absorbed.
What to lubricate a baby's red throat with? The best ones for this are iodine-based Lugol, chlorophyllipt, soda solution, sea buckthorn oil, propolis oil, rosehip oil, which contains many useful vitamins. You need to moisten a cotton or gauze swab in this substance, ask the child to open his throat, hold his tongue with a spoon and lubricate the throat. Also pay attention to the fact that the child is not allergic to the drug or medicine with which you lubricate the child's throat.
A red throat in a child is undoubtedly an alarming sign of some disease. And this disease will not go away on its own, so it is important to provide the child with timely treatment.