For a toddler with strep throat, focus on soft, cool or warm, easy-to-swallow foods like yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, soup, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs, while ensuring plenty of fluids (water, diluted juice) to prevent dehydration. Avoid acidic juices (citrus), crunchy foods (crackers, chips), spicy items, and very hot liquids that can irritate the throat, and offer cold treats like popsicles for soothing relief.
Natural remedies for strep throat include cool drinks and soft foods to help soothe sore throat and encourage kids to eat. Warm drinks like tea and broth can also relieve pain and provide nutrition for kids when they're sick.
Easy-to-swallow foods include broths, soups, applesauce, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, soft fruits, yogurt and soft-cooked eggs. You can puree foods in a blender to make them easier to swallow. Cold foods, such as sherbet, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit pops also may be soothing.
Treatment with Antibiotics
If your child has a positive strep test, they will start to take antibiotic medicine right away, by mouth or by injection. Tell your child's doctor or health care provider if they are allergic to penicillin. If they are, they will need to take a different antibiotic.
Foods to Avoid when You have Strep Throat
DOs and DON'Ts in Managing Strep Throat:
DO avoid contact with someone with a strep throat. Don't share personal items such as drinking glasses. DO eat soothing foods such as soups, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, and yogurt. Very cold foods such as sherbet or frozen yogurt also may be soothing.
Yogurt's creamy, cool texture is soothing for a sore throat. In addition, it's packed full of immune system-friendly ingredients like protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and probiotic bacteria, all of which help fight disease and offer nourishment to speed up the healing process.
It is also the reason for 2.8 million antibiotic prescriptions annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But strep throat is most common among children 5–15 years old. Meanwhile, strep throat is rare in children younger than 3 years old.
“It may help reduce certain types of bacteria in the mouth and throat.” But honey isn't a replacement for medical care. If you're dealing with strep throat or another bacterial infection, honey might help make your throat feel a little better — but it's not a cure.
Strep throat typically goes away in three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. However, if you don't take antibiotics, you can remain contagious for two to three weeks and are at a higher risk for complications, such as rheumatic fever.
Potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 are some of the many nutrients in bananas that can help heal and soothe a sore throat. Plus, bananas are soft and can be mashed so they glide easily down your throat. Add mashed bananas to yogurt or oatmeal to boost the flavor of these foods and experience relief from throat pain.
Strep throat is highly contagious and you're contagious for 2-5 days before symptoms, but if treated with antibiotics, you're usually no longer contagious after 24-48 hours (1-2 doses) and can return to school/work, while untreated, you can spread it for 2-3 weeks. To prevent spread, wash hands often, cover coughs, don't share items, and stay home until fever-free and 24 hours on antibiotics, say Healthline, Northwestern Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and KidsHealth.
Tea with Lemon
Chamomile tea and peppermint tea are ideal warm drinks when you are suffering from a sore throat. They have anti-inflammatory compounds, and chamomile will help you fall into a peaceful sleep, making it the perfect night time drink when you're sick.
Foods to eat when you have strep throat include popsicles and sucking candy. They will help to numb your throat and minimize the pain. Other soft foods are good such as applesauce, broths, yogurt, mashed potatoes and sherbet.
A sick child may have a poor appetite, so serve up mini meals based on their favorite types of foods. Frequent small meals are easier to digest and will help meet their energy needs. Steer clear of rich, fried, greasy foods and lean toward simple starches such as rice and noodles, as these are easy on the stomach.
Unfortunately, you can't cure strep throat overnight. A type of bacteria causes strep throat. Therefore, you need an antibiotic to clear it up. After starting on an antibiotic, you should start to feel better within a day or two.
To quickly soothe a sore throat, drink warm liquids like honey lemon tea, chamomile, or broth, which coat and calm irritation, or try cold drinks/popsicles to numb the pain and reduce inflammation, with warm saltwater gargles (for adults/older kids) also offering fast relief by breaking down secretions and killing bacteria.
Since honey is safe for people over age 1 year, it might be worth a try. Children ages 1 and older can be given 0.5 to 1 teaspoon (2.5 to 5 milliliters) of honey to treat a cough. The honey can be given as is or added to other liquids, such as juice, to lessen its strength.
No, strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection. However, maintaining good hygiene can help reduce the risk of transmission.
When to Call for Strep Throat Exposure
Eat Foods That Are Easy on Your Throat
Eating popsicles and sucking on candy will help to numb the throat and lessen the pain. Throat lozenges are also good, especially if they are mentholated.
Strep throat can spread to others until 24 hours after you begin taking antibiotics. During this time, avoid contact with other people at work, school, or home, especially infants and children. Do not sneeze or cough on others, and wash your hands often.
Your Athens ENT doctor recommends the following foods when you have a sore throat. Chicken soup. This favorite grandma go-to isn't only good for the soul, it helps rejuvenate the body, too.