Prevention

The best way to prevent sore throats is to avoid the germs that cause them and practice good hygiene. Follow these tips and teach your child to do the same:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid touching your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses or utensils.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away, and then wash your hands. When necessary, sneeze into your elbow.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing hands when soap and water aren't available.
• Avoid touching public phones or drinking fountains with your mouth.
• Regularly clean and disinfect phones, doorknobs, light switches, remotes and computer keyboards. When you travel, clean phones, light switches and remotes in your hotel room.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have symptoms.