3 Conditions That Cause White Spots in the Throat

Does your child complain of pain when they swallow? Have you felt their neck and noticed their lymph glands are swollen? Or maybe your child has bad breath. All of these are signs that your child has a sore throat. Children get sore throats for many reasons.

One of the most common causes of a sore throat is a cold, which is a type of viral infection. When a cold causes a sore throat, your child will simply have to rest, stay hydrated, and wait it out. However, if you look inside your child's throat and notice white spots, this may indicate a more serious condition.

Discover three conditions that cause white spots in the throat.

1. Strep Throat

A strep throat is an infection from a bacteria called A Streptococcus, which lives in the nose and throat. Strep throat is very contagious as the bacteria easily spreads from one person to another. When other people breathe in respiratory droplets that contain A Streptococcus, it can cause them to get this throat condition.

Strep throat also spreads by drinking from the same glass or sharing eating utensils with someone that has the condition. Besides a sore throat with white spots, children with strep throat might also have a headache or stomachache. According to the CDC, children between the ages of 5 and 15 are the highest at risk.

If you think your child has strep throat, take them to an ENT for a proper diagnosis. A doctor can easily diagnose strep throat with a throat swab and rapid strep test. If the ENT confirms a case of strep throat, your child will most likely need antibiotics.

In some cases, bacteria from strep throat can spread to other parts of the body. If this occurs, ensuing complications might include sinus infections, ear infections, or abscesses around the tonsils.

2. Infectious Mononucleosis

A type of herpes virus called Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is usually the cause of infectious mononucleosis, also known as mono. Since mono spreads through saliva, this condition is often referred to as kissing disease. Mononucleosis also spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares eating utensils. 

Direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, organ transplants, and sexual contact are other ways mono spreads. Other symptoms of infectious mononucleosis include a headache, fatigue, muscle weakness, night sweats, and a rash on the skin or in the mouth. Teenagers who are at least 15 years old are most likely to get mono.

However, this condition can affect anyone at any age. If you suspect your child or teenager has mono, an ENT can diagnose the condition with a simple blood test. No cure is available for mono, but the symptoms are manageable through rest, plenty of fluids, and over-the-counter pain medications.

3. Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast and fungi infection that develops on the mouth's mucous membranes. Typically, white spots that look like cottage cheese appear on the lips or inside of the mouth. As the infection spreads, these white spots can also show up in the throat. While oral thrush can affect anyone, babies under six months of age are more likely to get this condition.

A weakened immune system is the most common cause of an overgrowth of yeast in the mouth. An ENT can help to properly diagnose oral thrush. In most instances, the condition will resolve on its own. However, an ENT might prescribe an antifungal medication for the mouth.

If the child is old enough, they can also eat yogurt with lactobacilli, which helps to get rid of yeast inside the mouth.

If you suspect your child has any of the above conditions, contact Wilmington Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. Our ENT specialists in Wilmington, North Carolina, have expertise in managing diseases of the mouth and throat.