Duration
How long the sore throat and fever last depends on the disease causing it. While a simple cold usually lasts no longer than a week, a flu (influenza) can also cause discomfort for longer than a week. However, fever and sore throat usually occur in the early stages of the illness and become less in the course of the illness. For most diseases, a significant decrease in fever and sore throat can be expected after 3-5 days at the latest.
Special features for children
In children – compared to adults – relatively high fever is quite common. Mostly viral infections are the cause.Sore throat and fever will then last for a few days and disappear by themselves. Symptomatic measures such as calf wraps and gargling also work well for children.
However, if the fever is high, additional antipyretic medication should be used. Paracetamol or ibuprofen in particular are used here. For smaller children, usually in the form of suppositories or juice.
In children who have a sore throat and fever, the presence of tonsillitis (angina tonsillaris) should always be considered. If such angina is present, antibiotic therapy must be initiated. This can be done in children with a penicillin juice.
If a skin rash occurs in addition to fever and sore throat, it is very likely to be scarlet fever, which is relatively common in children. It must be treated in the same way as tonsillitis. In general, if you have a high fever, you should always consider consulting your pediatrician. He or she can examine the child and decide whether and which therapy is necessary.
