A new one for me

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4th grader came in complaining of a sore throat. States her throat been sore for a week now. Took her temperature and no fever. Asked her what mom said she said mom just been giving her cough medicine. ok..gave student a drink of water. Spoke with mom and mom wanted me to give her warm salt water :blink: couldn't find any salt... gave her plain water... first time somebody ever ask for salt water .....back to class she goes just wondering if any of you school nurses had parents to ask for weird stuff

I do salt water gargles all the time for my sore throats, but I caution them not to drink it.

But wait a minute salt seems like it would irritate the throat more

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Specializes in kids.
I had a girl ask me for apple cider vinegar today. She said that she drinks it for cough, no thank you!

Yuck!

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Specializes in kids.
But wait a minute salt seems like it would irritate the throat more

No, actually very therapuetic, I do it for myself.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I've done a warm salt water rinse for canker sores. I've had parents request essential oils which we don't do.

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I've done a warm salt water rinse for canker sores. I've had parents request essential oils which we don't do.

Essential oils...what they want a spa treatment lol

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Warm salt water gargle for a sore throat and pineapple juice for a cough. Have tried both, it helps.

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Warm salt water gargle for a sore throat and pineapple juice for a cough. Have tried both, it helps.

We use pineapple juice(at home, not school), it works well!

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I allow salt water gargles. Don't usually offer it but I keep salt for if they ask. I also get some that like to mix up salt water to clean lip or tongue piercings. Apparent that is what they are told to clean with.

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We use pineapple juice(at home, not school), it works well!

Out of curiosity, how does pineapple juice help with coughing?

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Specializes in School nurse.
Well unfortunately at this school I can't give anything like that unless it's a doctor's order

Gargling is a nursing intervention, wondering why you would need an order? You could have it written into the standing orders if your state requires it.

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At what age are kiddos normally able to understand the concept of gargling?? I'm amazed at how many don't understand putting the thermometer under the tongue when I'm checking for fever or spit when I'm having them rinse the mouth when they have a bleeding tooth.

I love salt water gargles for myself but am dubious most of more random sore throats would *get it*

(I've got PreK to 5th grade but PreK-1 is what keeps me hopping!)

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Specializes in school nurse.
Out of curiosity, how does pineapple juice help with coughing?

Apparently, one of the enzymes in pineapple has an anti-tussive effect. It's also supposed to help with digestion, one of the reasons old school American Chinese restaurants serve a dish of pineapple with the check. I keep high quality peppermints (they're strong) for kiddos that have nausea; it seems to help.

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