Herpangina is a condition linked to the coxsackie virus that causes blisters in the back of the throat. The condition is most common in children between the ages of 3 and 10. Herpangina is often accompanied by a high fever and can be quite painful.
The treatment for herpangina is based on symptoms since the virus will not respond to antibiotics. The best thing to eat is cold milk products such as ice cream and pudding. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol and ibuprofen can be helpful. In rare occasions, a topical pain reliever that contains xylocaine or benzocaine can be prescribed by your doctor but this is only done when there is extreme pain involved and is usually not necessary.
When my son developed herpangina, his physician recommended a mixture of the antacid Maalox and liquid Benadryl to coat the back of the throat and ease pain. However, I have been unable to find any documentation supporting this practice and it should be discussed with your doctor before trying at home. Herpangina usually goes away on its own within 1 to 7 days.
Source:
MedlinePlus. Herpangina. Accessed: November 19, 2009 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000969.htm
