Do not ignore Sore throat in children

INVC,,

Delhi,,

<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>

In the ongoing dengue problem in Delhi, many respiratory viral infections are presenting with cough and nasal discharge. These patients do not require any antibiotic, said Padma Shri and Dr B C Roy National Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India, BSNL Dil ka Darbar & MTNL Perfect Health Mela.

However, school children with any cough should not be ignored and a local family doctor should rule out bacterial sore throat, which if goes undetected, can cause rheumatic involvement of the valves of the heart, a condition called as rheumatic fever.

Such children invariably will have pain in throat while swallowing, red angry–looking tonsils and painful enlargement of lymph nodes at the angle of the mouth. Immediate antibiotics are needed to prevent future involvement of the heart.

Children also should not be given aspirin indiscriminately as it is known to be associated with fatal liver disease, in susceptible children.

The first attack of rheumatic fever is rare after the age of 35.