Kids' corner · Comic No 7
Clara and the sore throat
A comic to explain to children what happens when the throat hurts: we look, we sometimes do a small test, then we treat and watch.
- 2 pages
- To read together
- Sore throat
Well done, you read the whole story!
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Read the comic text in English
Page 1 — Understanding the boo-boo
1. Ouch!
- The child: “My throat hurts…”
- The mother: “We'll look at it together.”
2. At the clinic
- Clara: “Hello! I'm Clara. We're going to find out why your throat hurts.”
- The child: “Okay.”
3. Taking stock
- Clara: “How long has it hurt? Do you have a fever? Does it hurt when you swallow?”
- The mother: “Since last night.”
4. Looking at the throat
- Clara: “I'm gently opening your mouth. Say aaaah…”
- The child: “Aaaah!”
5. Sometimes, a test
- Clara: “Sometimes we do a small test to help see what's going on.”
6. Now we understand
- Clara: “A sore throat can have different causes. The examination helps us see what to do next.”
- The pictures show: virus, bacteria (sometimes), irritation.
“Understanding a sore throat helps children feel confident.”
Page 2 — Treating and watching
1. Relief first
- Clara: “First, we want to help you feel more comfortable.”
2. Sometimes, we watch and wait
- Clara: “Depending on the examination, we can sometimes watch how things go before doing anything else.”
3. Sometimes, a treatment
- Clara: “The treatment depends on what we see during the examination.”
4. At home
- Clara: “At home, we mainly watch for pain, fever, whether you are drinking well, and how you feel overall.”
- The board shows: pain, fever, drinking well, general condition.
5. When to come back?
- Clara: “Come back if the pain gets worse, if the fever persists, if the child drinks less, or if they feel more listless.”
6. Time to go
- Clara: “Well done! You were very brave.”
- The child: “Thank you, Clara!”
- A sticker says: “Brave throat mission!”
“Knowing what to watch for helps children and their parents feel confident.”
For parents: good to know
- A sore throat is most often caused by viruses, such as cold viruses; antibiotics do not help in that case. Sometimes a bacterium such as streptococcus is the cause: a throat test helps confirm it, and an antibiotic may then be prescribed.
- At home: offer drinks often (a straw or a sippy cup can help); cold foods are often better accepted. Acetaminophen can help, and ibuprofen can be given from 6 months of age. Avoid lozenges for children aged 4 and under, and honey before 1 year of age.
- See a health professional if the child has difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if the symptoms get worse. A throat infection caused by a virus usually lasts less than a week.
- Call 911 if the situation seems serious and urgent. Info-Santé 811 lets you reach a nurse 24 hours a day; the service is free and confidential.
Sources (in French): Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Mal de gorge chez l’enfant (updated February 17, 2026); Montreal Children's Hospital, Infections de la gorge (July 2025); INSPQ, Service Info-Santé. Consulted on October 10, 2026.
Psst… a little secret from Clara
In the comics, Clara puts on her scrubs to tell the story of the care. In real life, Clara is the website's virtual assistant: the clinic's nurses and health professionals are the ones who provide care. Clara is here to guide you around the website!
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Clara's comics are intended to inform children and their parents. They do not replace a consultation or an assessment by a health professional. In an emergency, call 911. For health advice, call Info-Santé 811. Page published on October 16, 2026.