What is Streptococcal pharyngitis (aka. Strep. throat)?

• Caused by bacteria and leads to a sore throat
• About 3 out of 10 children with a sore throat have strep. throat.
• Most common in school-age children.

• Severe throat pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Babies with strep throat might act fussy and have poor feeding.

• A doctor or nurse can easily check for strep throat by running a swab along the back of the child’s throat and testing it for the bacteria that cause strep throat.

• When the laboratory testing confirms strep throat, antibiotics is required.
• Please make sure the child takes antibiotics as directed.
• Administer soothing food and drinks, e.g. honey* (if no allergy to honey and older than 12 months of age), soup or lollipop (for those older than 5 years who can manage lollipop without choking), can help.
• Avoid exposure to smoking.
• Gargling with saline (salt water prepared by adding half teaspoon of clean table salt into 8 oz of clean warm water) might help for children older than 6 to 8 years who can manage to gargle.

*Around 0.5 – 1 teaspoon of honey (from a reliable source), which could be taken directly or diluted in water. Patient needs to be above 1 year of age.

Paediatric & Adolescent Centre
Address: 15/F, HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre, 8 Yan Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Telephone：2339 8461
WhatsApp inquiry and appointment: 2339 8100