Hoarseness in Children: Care Instructions

Your Care Instructions

Many things can cause your child's voice to become rough, raspy, or hard to hear. Having a cold or a sinus infection, yelling or talking too loudly, being exposed to smoke, or breathing dry air can cause a hoarse voice. Your child also can have voice problems from pollution and allergies. Sometimes acid from the stomach can back up into the throat—called acid reflux—and change your child's voice. In some cases, a problem with the voice box, or larynx, causes hoarseness.

Rest and home care may be all your child needs to care for a hoarse voice.

Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Follow the doctor's advice about how much to talk. Have your child use hand motions or write notes when possible to rest their voice.

• Talk to your doctor about treatment for your child's allergies, if you do not already treat them.

• Follow your child's treatment plan for acid reflux (if your child has the condition):

  • Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.

  • Limit or stop giving your child foods that make acid reflux worse. These may include tomatoes, spicy foods, and chocolate.

  • Limit or stop drinks that have caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and colas.

  • If your child is older than 12 months, raise the head of their bed a little bit. Don't raise the mattress. Place blocks under the frame. This will help keep stomach acid out of your child's throat at night.

• Teach your child to talk, not whisper, when they must talk. Whispering can be hard on the voice.

• Have your child drink plenty of water to keep the throat moist.

• Keep your child away from smoke. Do not smoke or let anyone else smoke around your child or in your house. Smoke can make your child's voice raspy.

• To keep your child's voice from getting hoarse in the future, ask your child to try not to talk loudly or shout, such as at sports events.

• If the doctor prescribed antibiotics for your child, give them as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Content Version: 14.0

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.