Clinical Tip: Sweep away fear of the dreaded throat swab

Article

Like many pediatricians, I find that children, and even teens, often have a severe, phobia-like fear of the throat swab necessary for a strep test. To calm the patient, I say, “we are doing the strep test in a new way today.” Then I make a fairly big production of twisting the swab between my fingers until the cotton fluffs up a bit. I tell the child that the modified swab will prevent a choking sensation and instead produce more of a “sweeping” feeling. With younger children, I add that mice, like the ones they see in cartoons, use a similar “broom” for sweeping. Most children give me an amused or befuddled look and let me do the test with few, if any, tears.
Raymond O’Toole, MD
Bridgeville, Pa.

Recent Videos
Stephanie Chao, MD
Feasibility of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in primary care | Carissa Baker-Smith, MD, MPH
Tina Tan, MD
Camille Walker CPNP-PC, MSN, CPNP Sacheen D. Harris MSN, CPNP-PC
Danielle Van Damme, DNP, CPNP-AC
Karen Y. Capusan, DNP, CPNP-PC
Discussion: AAP's opioid for acute pain clinical practice guideline with Jessica Spruit, DNP
Bobbie Monaco, MSN, CPNP-PC
Measles outbreaks: 223 cases reported in Texas | Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN
Mary Koslap-Petraco, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.