A child also can get a sore throat from irritants in the environment, such as dry air, or even from sleeping with the mouth open, breathing through the mouth, and talking or shouting excessively. The majority of sore throats are caused by viral infections, for which there is no cure. The doctor may do a strep test and-or a throat culture to confirm the diagnosis. Children who complain of sore throat or have fever for more than 24 hours should be seen by a pediatrician. It can be caused either by bacteria or by a virus.
Bacterial meningitis is more serious and potentially fatal.
A vaccine given during infancy has drastically reduced the number of cases of meningitis. In a young infant, the only symptom may be fever and irritability. In older infants, the soft spot at the top of the head may be bulging. In addition, children may have a stiff neck when trying to move the head forward and will complain of headache. Some strains of bacterial meningitis are highly contagious, and a child who's had contact with a child who develops meningitis may be given an antibiotic as a precaution.