ENT conditions (Mr Gaurav Kumar)

  Sore Throat and a Sandpaper Rash? Could My Child Have Scarlet Fever or Strep A? Your child comes home complaining that their throat hurts. By evening, they have a temperature. Their neck glands may feel swollen. Then you notice something else. A fine rash has appeared across their chest or tummy. It does not necessarily look dramatic—but when you run your hand gently over it, the skin feels unusually rough. Almost like sandpaper . For many parents, particularly after recent publicity around Strep A, the immediate question is: “Could this be scarlet fever?” Scarlet fever is an infection caused by Group A Streptococcus , often shortened to Group A Strep or Strep A . It mainly affects children and usually responds well to appropriate antibiotic treatment. The key is recognising the pattern and arranging a medical assessment, rather than trying to diagnose the rash from an internet photograph alone. What is scarlet fever? Scarlet fever is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. The...

  My Child Keeps Sneezing and Has a Runny Nose — Is It a Cold or Nasal Allergy? “My child seems to have a cold all the time.” It is an extremely common concern. Your child wakes up sneezing. Their nose is running again. They rub their nose repeatedly, perhaps sniff throughout breakfast, and by bedtime their nose seems completely blocked. Then come the questions: “Is this just another cold?” “Could it be hay fever?” “Why does it happen even in winter?” Children certainly catch frequent viral infections, particularly when they attend nursery or school. But when nasal symptoms continue for weeks, repeatedly appear in particular environments or are accompanied by itching and watery eyes , another possibility is allergic rhinitis . Understanding the difference can help families avoid repeatedly treating “colds” that may actually have a different cause. What is allergic rhinitis? Allergic rhinitis means inflammation inside the nose caused by an allergic reaction. The immune system reacts...

  Could My Teenager’s Severe Sore Throat Be Glandular Fever? Symptoms Parents Should Know Your teenager develops a sore throat. At first, it seems like another ordinary throat infection. But several days later, they are still unwell. Their tonsils look swollen. The glands in their neck seem prominent. And the tiredness is different from what you normally see with a cold. They may sleep for hours and still say: “I’m exhausted.” For parents, this raises an important question: Could this be glandular fever rather than ordinary tonsillitis? Glandular fever is particularly common in teenagers and young adults. It is usually caused by the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and can produce a combination of severe sore throat, fever, swollen lymph glands and significant fatigue. nhs.uk Most young people recover without complications, but recovery can take longer than parents expect. Families also need to know a few important things about  antibiotics, hydration,  and returning to sport . ...

  I Found a Lump in My Child’s Neck — Is It a Swollen Gland and When Should I Worry? You are washing your child’s hair or helping them get dressed when your fingers suddenly find something. A small lump. Just below the jaw. Or perhaps behind the ear. You check the other side. Then you check it again. And a very understandable thought appears: “Why does my child have a lump in their neck?” Neck lumps can cause enormous anxiety for parents. The reassuring starting point is that small lymph nodes are extremely common in children . Children encounter frequent infections as their immune systems develop. Lymph nodes form part of that immune system and often enlarge while responding to infections. Current NHS paediatric guidance estimates that around half of otherwise healthy children may have lymphadenopathy at any one time , and most cases are reactive rather than serious. However, you shouldn't ignore every neck lump. The useful questions are: Where is it? How big is it?...