Pant Like a Puppy . . . for Throat Examination

Practical Pointers
Discover Shortcuts Devised by Colleagues

Sometimes it is impossible to see beyond the tongue of a child who has a sore throat. The tongues of about 30% of my pediatric patients do not go down when they say “Ahh.” However, when I instruct the child to “pant like a puppy,” a complete visual evaluation of the oropharynx becomes quick and easy. The panting elevates the soft palate and lowers the tongue.   ■