A child's throat can be sore for many reasons. When a sore throat is caused by an infection, the most common cause is a virus. In most cases, the soreness goes away as the infection does and almost always causes no further problems. These germs cause strep throat , an infection that affects school-age children who develop a sore throat. Furthermore, strep-caused glomerulonephritis can damage the kidneys.
Rheumatic fever can damage the heart, joints, and sometimes the brain.
Damage from these poststreptococcal diseases can be life-threatening and even permanent. Timely antibiotic treatment can dramatically decrease a child's chance of developing rheumatic fever and many of the other possible complications of a strep infection. Although a strep infection may come to a doctor's attention because of a skin infection, such as impetigo , the most common complaint is a sore throat. To determine whether a sore throat is caused by strep, either a strep screen or throat culture can be performed. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.