Use a cool mist vaporizer to humidify the air. Humidified air soothes irritated respiratory membranes and helps relieve a cough or hoarseness.

To decrease the risk of spreading infection, minimize a sick child's contact with others.

Cough or Fever if your child's sore throat is accompanied by these symptoms.

Be alert for symptoms of scarlet fever (described in the introduction to this entry) or rheumatic fever. These are serious complications that can accompany a streptococcus infection.

Prevention
Protect your child from environmental pollutants and respiratory irritants, such as cigarette smoke and wood smoke. It goes without saying that every child should be strongly discouraged from taking up smoking.

As much as possible, protect children from contact with sick playmates or infected others.

If recurrent strep infections are a problem, consider checking out the family pet. Cats have been known to harbor streptococcus bacteria.

If your child has had a strep infection, be sure to throw out her toothbrush and replace it with a new one.

From Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand, N.D., L.Ac., Robert Rountree, MD, Rachel Walton, RN, ©1994. Published by Avery Publishing, New York. For personal use only; neither the digital nor printed copy may be copied or sold. Reproduced by permission.