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Why is it important to treat your child’s throat infection correctly?

Making sure that your child gets the right treatment for his or her throat infection is the first step in helping them feel better. Antibiotics will only help your child’s sore throat if it is caused by bacteria. If it is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help.

Using antibiotics when they are not needed can make some bacteria become more resistant to the antibiotic. Infections caused by resistant bacteria are harder to treat and cure.

How should doctors treat your child’s throat infection?

Your doctor should take a throat culture to determine if your child has a bacterial infection called “strep throat.” If your child has strep throat, antibiotics will help. If your child does not have strep throat, antibiotics will not help. Good care means making sure your child is first tested for strep throat before he or she is given antibiotics.

Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with a throat infection. These additional services may be educational materials (online and in print) or phone counseling.