Our Family Has Come Down With What Seems Like Influenza

Posted on Fri, 22 Feb 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : Our family has come down with what seems like influenza, but I’m a little worried that strep might be involved. It started for everyone with a mild headache and low grade fever, then progressed fairly quickly to a bad headache and extreme body aches. The adults fevers have never gone above 38.6, but the children (ages 6-11) have had high fevers for several days (as high as 40.3, but mostly hovering around 39.8-40 when the ibiprofen wears off). Then an extreme sore throat develops, and a painful productive cough with yellow phlegm. The first one to get it was the 9 year old, and he’s had a fever as high as 40 for 4 days now. I’m reluctant to take him out to the doctor because I don’t want to spread it around, but am a little concerned about the high fever for so long. The 11 year old started showing symptoms one day after the 9 year old, and his fever is down today. I checked the 9 year old’s throat, and his tonsils are swollen and

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (5 minutes later)

I can send a picture of his throat if it would help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It seems viral pharyngitis

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

It seems that there has been an episode of viral pharyngitis in your family. Please consult an ENT surgeon and a physician to get your thorough check up. In the meantime take throat swab of your child and sent for culture and sensitivity. Do some blood tests like Total count,WBC differential count, complete blood count. Do a chest X ray,malaria antigen,dengue antigen and widal test. Encourage oral feed for your child. Advice him to drink more liquids, preferably warm. Start betadine gargle four times per day. Start nasal spray fluticasone and oxymetazoline nasal drops. You can give tab montelukast at bedtime. Give steam inhalation through nose. You can start tab augmentin but it's is to be modified later according to the throat swab report. Advice him to take more rest.

Please review if you have any queries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj