A sore throat, medically known as pharyngitis, refers to the irritated, scratchy and painful throat. It might be worse when you try to swallow.
Causes of Sore Throat
You can have a sore throat for numerous reasons. Viruses (like those that cause mononucleosis, cold, and the flu) may lead to this condition. Bacteria (like ones that cause strep throat) may also cause pharyngitis. Other causes may include:
- Allergies
- Smoking
- Tonsillitis (infection in the tonsils)
Risk Factors
There are various things that could increase the risk for a sore throat, such as:
- Age – kids and teens between 6 and 15 years old are prone to get a sore throat;
- Contact with someone who already has a strep throat or a sore throat
- Time of year – early spring and winter are common times for strep throat;
- Large or irregularly shaped tonsils
- Weather – windy and cold air can easily irritate your throat;
- Smoke exposure or pollution
- Acid reflux disease
- A weak immune system
- Taking medicines that weaken the immune system
- Allergies or post-nasal drip
Sore Throat Symptoms
Depending on the cause of a sore throat, you may have some of these sore throat symptoms:
- Headache
- Fever
- Red and swollen tonsils
- White patches in the throat or on the tonsils
- Vomiting (usually in children)
- Stomach pain (usually in children)
When to See Your Doctor
See a doctor, if you or your child has some of the following:
- A sore throat that lasts more than one week
- Fever (temperature higher than 38 C/100.4 °F
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Excessive drooling (characteristic for young children)
- Joint pain
- Phlegm or blood in saliva
- Rash
- Hoarseness that lasts longer than two weeks
- Puls on the back of your throat
- Dehydration (including a sticky and dry mouth, tiredness or sleepiness, thirst, headache, lightheadedness, reduced urination, muscle weakness, dizziness, fewer wet diapers, few or no any tears when crying)
- Recurring sore throat
If you have a child is younger than 3 months of age and has a high temperature, it is important to visit your doctor immediately.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Usually, antibiotics are not required to treat most cases of sore throats that improve on their own within one to two weeks. Natural remedies can be helpful in this case. Here you can find some effective natural remedies for a sore throat: LINK
Antibiotics will not aid if a sore throat is caused by an irritation or virus from the air. In these cases, antibiotic treatment can cause harm in both adults and children. Your doctor may prescribe other drugs or give you advise to reduce the symptoms.
Antibiotics are required if a GP’s diagnoses you or your child with pharyngitis that is caused by bacteria.
Antibiotics are usually prescribed for strep throat in order to prevent high temperature. If diagnosed with strep throat, the patient need to stay home from school or work until 24 hours after taking an antibiotic.
Prevention
Here are some steps you can take to prevent getting a sore throat:
- Practice good hand hygiene
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid close contacts with people who have colds, sore throats, or some other upper respiratory infection
Conclusion:
Sore throat treatments depend on the cause. Drinking lots of fluids, sucking on lozenges, and some gargling can ease the pain and sore throat symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also aid, but children shouldn’t take aspirin. You should know that strep throat can’t be diagnosed just by looking in your throat—a lab test needs to be done.