Inflammation of the pharynx and tonsils caused by infection by a virus. It frequently appears between 3 and 5 years of age.
It begins as a catarrhal picture with a cough and later is accompanied by slight pain when swallowing. It is rare that it is accompanied by fever, pus in the tonsils or lymph nodes in the neck.
Diagnosis is clinical, by interrogation and physical examination. In some cases, a laboratory analysis is requested to differentiate it from a bacterial infection.
As it is a viral infection it is not necessary to treat with antibiotics. It is advisable to reduce the local pain with usual analgesics and home remedies such as gargling with warm water and salt can be used.
See your pediatrician for assessment if there is prolonged or very high fever, if the pain prevents proper feeding or if there are problems in the mobility of the neck.
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