Herbal Treatment
For age-appropriate dosages of some nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Nutritional Supplements and Herbs.

Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula is important for helping to clear any kind of infection. Both of these herbs stimulate the immune system. Give your child one dose, every two hours, during the acute phase. Then reduce the dosage to one dose, three times a day, for up to one week.
Note: You should not give your child echinacea on a daily basis for more than ten days at a time, or it can lose its effectiveness.

Garlic is antibacterial and supports the immune system. Choose an odorless form, which will be better tolerated by children. You can give it to your child in whole capsule form, or dissolve the liquid in hot water or soup. Follow the dosage directions on the product label and give it to your child until she is better.

Brew a sore throat tea. In 1 quart of water, boil some or (preferably) all of the following: 1 tablespoon of licorice root, 1 tablespoon of hyssop, 2 tablespoons of slippery elm bark, and 1 teaspoon of sage. Licorice and slippery elm soothe irritated mucous membranes and ease a sore throat. Hyssop and sage detoxify the blood. Give your child one dose of tea, three times daily, for a couple of days or until she feels better. She can also gargle with this tea when it has cooled.
Note: Licorice should not be given to a child with high blood pressure.

At the first sign that your child may be developing scarlet fever, give her one dose of the Chinese botanical formula yin qiao, twice a day, for two days. This remedy is not helpful after the third day of symptoms.
Note: The liquid extract-is the preferred form because it contains no aspirin. The tablet form should not be given to a child under four years of age.

Yarrow maybe helpful because it promotes sweating and helps to lower fever. Give your child one dose, two to three times a day, as needed, for the first one or two days.

Grapefruit seed extract can be taken internally or used as a gargle. A highly concentrated form, such as Citricidal, Nutrabiotic, or Paramicrocidin, is preferred. Place 5 to 10 drops in a glass of water for a gargle. Or have your child drink 3 to 5 drops of extract in 6 ounces of water, three or four times daily, for up to three days.

Homeopathy
If your child has a mild to moderate fever along with a sore throat, give her Ferrum phosphoricum 6x, three times daily, until the fever is resolved, along with one of the other symptom-specific remedies recommended in this entry.

Apis mellifica is good for the child with swollen, red tonsils and a sore throat that comes on suddenly. This child has little thirst, although the mucous membranes are dry, and there is no coating on the throat. Her tongue may be red. Give this child one dose of Apis mellifica 30x or 9c every hour, up to a total of four doses, as long as symptoms last.