Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Does a sore throat mean your child needs antibiotics? In this episode of Little Lessons, Dr. Lena van der List, a pediatrician with UC Davis Children's Hospital, explains the difference between a viral sore throat and strep throat. While most sore throats in kids are caused by viruses and improve without prescription medicine, a smaller percentage are due to strep and require antibiotics.
Learn the key symptoms that may point to strep throat, including fever, swollen lymph nodes, white patches in the throat, and sudden onset of symptoms, as well as when to seek medical care. Dr. van der List also shares tips to help relieve sore throat symptoms at home and guidance on when it’s safe for your child to return to school.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
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At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
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0:00 Intro
0:26 Is it sore throat or strep throat?
0:50 Symptoms of strep throat
1:38 Is strep more common in kids?
1:57 How to treat a sore throat in kids
2:26 When to seek medical attention for a sore throat
2:57 When can kids return to school after a sore throat?
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 5/6/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#SoreThroat #StrepThroat #ParentingTips #PediatricianAdvice #ChildHealth
Does a sore throat mean your child needs antibiotics? In this episode of Little Lessons, Dr. Lena van der List, a pediatrician with UC Davis Children's Hospital, explains the difference between a viral sore throat and strep throat. While most sore throats in kids are caused by viruses and improve without prescription medicine, a smaller percentage are due to strep and require antibiotics.
Learn the key symptoms that may point to strep throat, including fever, swollen lymph nodes, white patches in the throat, and sudden onset of symptoms, as well as when to seek medical care. Dr. van der List also shares tips to help relieve sore throat symptoms at home and guidance on when it’s safe for your child to return to school.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
——
At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
——
0:00 Intro
0:26 Is it sore throat or strep throat?
0:50 Symptoms of strep throat
1:38 Is strep more common in kids?
1:57 How to treat a sore throat in kids
2:26 When to seek medical attention for a sore throat
2:57 When can kids return to school after a sore throat?
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 5/6/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#SoreThroat #StrepThroat #ParentingTips #PediatricianAdvice #ChildHealth
