Baby has sore throat, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, herpes in throat …… At first glance, this seems to be a symptom of cold and hand, foot and mouth, in fact, not, just after autumn, another round of high incidence came – herpes pharyngitis. Mom should be alert! What is herpes pharyngitis? Herpes pharyngitis is a specific type of upper whistle infection, the pathogen is coxsackie group A virus. It is a common form of viral pharyngitis. It is often secondary to acute rhinitis, pneumonia, influenza, malaria, epidemic meningitis, and can occur alone. It is mainly transmitted by fecal-oral or respiratory route and is highly infectious, but is not an infectious disease. It is more infectious but not contagious. It occurs in summer and autumn. What are the symptoms of herpes pharyngitis? Clinical manifestations include high fever, sore throat, salivation, anorexia, vomiting, etc. Physical examination may reveal congestion in the pharynx, and several to a dozen grayish-white herpes of 2-4 mm in size, surrounded by a red halo, may break down to form small ulcers after 1 to 2 days, and may occur in other parts of the mouth. The duration of the disease is about 1 week. The incubation period is 2 to 4 days and the systemic symptoms usually resolve themselves after 4 to 6 days. Herpes pharyngitis vs. hand, foot, and mouth disease: The current high incidence of herpes pharyngitis has caused many parents to worry. Coxsackie virus, which causes herpes pharyngitis, is also one of the causes of HFMD. However, the location of the herpes is different between the two. Herpes pharyngitis is limited to the pharynx; HFMD appears first in the mouth and then progresses to the hands, feet, legs, etc. The risk of morbidity is different between the two. Although herpes pharyngitis has an acute high fever, it is rarely serious; while HFMD can recover spontaneously in 1-2 weeks in mild cases, it can easily lead to encephalitis and myocarditis in more serious cases. Herpes pharyngitis vs. cold: Herpes pharyngitis is easily confused with the common cold. The common cold is mostly caused by an inhalant virus and is characterized by a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite and fever. In contrast, the fever of herpes pharyngitis has two characteristics: first, a high fever with a body temperature of 39-41°C; and second, a long fever duration, lasting 3-4 days. Although the initial symptoms are not very different from those of the common cold and can easily be mistaken by parents for the common cold, after the onset of herpes pharyngitis, at first the child will have a high fever and poor appetite. Slowly, redness and swelling of the throat and small herpes appear. The child will show irritability, crying, salivation, mild diarrhea, and refusal to eat. The whole process lasts 7-10 days. For the difference between the two diseases, the herpes in the mouth is the most important point of differentiation. How to recognize herpes pharyngitis as early as possible? Many parents may wonder, since the early manifestation of herpes pharyngitis is fever, the diagnosis can only be confirmed when herpes develops in the throat, so it is often mistaken for a cold and treatment is delayed. So how can herpes pharyngitis be recognized from the common cold and fever as early as possible? Generally speaking, in summer, if your baby has a persistent high fever, you should be alert to the possibility of herpes pharyngitis, and if you find that your baby is reluctant to eat after the fever, always crying and drooling, you should pay attention to the changes in your baby’s mouth and throat to see if there is a herpes. If herpes is suspected, it is best to take your baby to the hospital for professional consultation and treatment, rather than treating it as a common cold and fever and continuing to use medication on your own. How is herpes sore throat treated? Herpes pharyngitis seems to be much more serious than a cold, but like a cold, it is still a disease for which there is no specific medicine, and there is no need for antibiotics, Chinese medicine, or so-called antivirals. In about 7-10 days, babies can heal themselves. However, herpes pharyngitis can be very uncomfortable for your baby, such as sore throat and fever, and you still need to take some symptomatic treatment. Herpes in the mouth and throat: Herpes in the throat and mouth can be very painful and can affect the baby’s ability to eat. You can rinse your baby’s mouth with warm or salty water and give him/her warm, cool, liquid or soft food that does not require chewing. Encourage your baby to drink more water. If necessary, you can eat something icy to relieve the pain, depending on the baby’s age and acceptance level. Fever: For mild to moderate fever, physical cooling is the mainstay. For body temperature over 38.5°C, antipyretics may be given. How can herpes pharyngitis be prevented? 1. Do not have close contact with people who have herpes pharyngitis: herpes pharyngitis is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral and inhalation tracts; 2. Parents should not kiss their children, do not share utensils with them, and do not use their mouths to blow cold children’s food; 3. Pay attention to hygiene and develop good habits of washing hands regularly; 4. Parents and family members should also wash their hands when they return home from outside to prevent indirect transmission of the virus to their babies; 5. Do not take your baby 5, do not go to crowded places, as far as possible less contact with public amusement facilities; 6, let the baby drink more water, eat more vegetables and fruits; 7, often open the windows to create a good living environment; 8, to ensure sufficient sleep to enhance the baby’s immunity.