Why is it painful to swallow?

Symptoms: You have a very sore throat that feels like swallowing razor blades. You have a headache and a temperature.

You have a very sore throat and swallowing is painful, your voice sounds croaky and you have a fever, your breath smells. Your tonsils are swollen with yellow dots.

Your six-year-old child has a fever, sore throat, a loud barking cough and swollen glands in the neck. You don’t believe in vaccination and didn’t have your child vaccinated.

It could be: Strep throat from a bacterial infection caused by Group A streptococcus bacteria.

Tonsillitis which can be caused by a variety of common viruses such as the common cold. The tonsils are swollen because they help your body fight the infection.

Diphtheria caused by a bacterium called corynebacterium diphtheriae. It releases toxins which can affect other organs including the heart, brain and kidneys – it’s dangerous.

Stop it: Take paracetamol for your discomfort and suck throat lozenges. If the sore throat doesn’t improve within 48 hours see your doctor because you may need an antibiotic.

Ease your sore throat with plenty of fluids, a humidifier to moisten the air in your room and by avoiding smoke. A mild case of tonsillitis doesn’t require treatment but if it doesn’t clear up see a doctor.

This is a serious condition and vaccination in childhood prevents it. All parents should have their children vaccinated against diphtheria. Take your child to A&E because they may need an injection of an antitoxin and be admitted to hospital.