Sore throat

Description

A sore throat is pain or irritation of the throat. Swallow often makes you feel worse. The most common cause of a sore throat, also called pharyngitis is a viral infection, like a cold or the flu. A sore throat from a virus goes away on its own.

Infection of the throat, also called a strep infection, is a less common type of sore throat. The Bacterium causes. Strep throat requires treatment with antibiotics.

There are other less common causes of sore throat. May need more treatment.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a sore throat vary depending on the cause. Symptoms may include:

  • Pain or a scratchy feeling in the throat.
  • The pain that feels worse when you swallow or talk.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Pain, swelling of the glands in the neck, or jaw.
  • Swelling, redness of the tonsils.
  • White patches or pus on the tonsils.
  • A hoarse or muffled voice.

If an infection that causes a sore throat, symptoms can also include:

  • Fever.
  • For cough.
  • Runny nose.
  • Sneezing.
  • Pain in the body.
  • The pain of a headache.

When to see a doctor

Take your child to a healthcare professional if the sore throat that does not go away after taking a drink in the morning. This council is of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Receive immediate care to a child that has severe symptoms such as:

  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Not be able to swallow.
  • Unusual drooling, which might be not to be able to swallow.

If you're an adult, see a health care professional for a sore throat and any of the following problems. This advice comes from the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery:

  • A severe sore throat that lasts more than a week.
  • Not be able to swallow.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Difficulty opening the mouth.
  • Pain in the joints.
  • Ear pain.
  • Rash.
  • Fever of 101 F (38.3 C).
  • Phlegm with blood.
  • Repeat the sore throat.
  • A lump in the neck.
  • Hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks.
  • A swelling in the neck or the face.

Causes

The viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause the majority of sore throats. Less commonly, bacterial infections cause a sore throat.

Viral infections

Many viral diseases cause a sore throat, such as:

  • Common cold.
  • The flu.
  • Monkey, also called mononucleosis.
  • Measles.
  • The chicken pox.
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • The croup is a common childhood illness that causes a harsh, barking cough.

Bacterial infections

Many bacterial infections can cause a sore throat. The most common bacteria that causes sore throat is Streptococcus pyogenes, also the streetd group a streptococcus. This bacteria causes strep throat and other illnesses. Strep throat is most common in school-age children and adolescents.

Other causes

Other causes of sore throat include:

  • Allergies. Allergic reactions can cause a sore throat. The reaction could be mold, dust, pollen and the stains on the skin shed by cats, dogs and other animals with fur or feathers, also called pet dander. The mucus that accumulates and drips down the back of the nose and of the throat, also called the postnasal drip, you can make a sore throat worse.
  • Dryness. Dry indoor air can make the throat feel rough and scratchy. Breathing through the mouth, can also cause a dry, sore throat. A course of nasal congestion can cause breathing through the mouth.
  • Irritating. Irritants in the air inside and outside, also called the pollution of the air, can cause a continual sore throat. These include tobacco smoke, chemicals, and dust, pollen, mold and mildew. The chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods can also irritate the throat.
  • The muscle tension. Shouting, loud talking, or talking for a long time without a break can cause tension in the muscles of the throat.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).GERD causes stomach acid to back up into the feed tube, also called the esophagus. Other symptoms may include heartburn, hoarseness, stomach contents rise the feeding tube and the feeling of having a lump in the throat.
  • The HIV infection. A sore throat and other flu-like symptoms, at times, appear soon after someone is infected with HIV. Someone who is HIV-positive can have a constant sore throat, or one that keeps coming back.
  • Tumors. Cancerous tumors of the throat, tongue or voice box, also called the larynx, it can cause a sore throat. Other symptoms may include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, noisy breathing, a lump in the neck, and phlegm with blood.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes stomach acid to back up into the feed tube, also called the esophagus.

Other symptoms may include heartburn, hoarseness, the contents of the stomach up the feeding tube and the feeling of having a lump in the throat.

Rarely, an infected area of tissue, also called an abscess in the throat can cause a sore throat. So you can swelling of the flap that covers the trachea during swallowing, also called the epiglottis. Anyone can block the airway, which is a medical emergency.

Risk factors

Anyone can have a sore throat. But there are some things that make it more likely to get one, including:

  • Being around tobacco smoke. Smoking and second hand smoke can irritate the throat. The use of tobacco products also increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, and larynx.
  • Allergies. People who have seasonal allergies, or other allergic reactions are more likely to have a sore throat.
  • Being around chemicals. Small pieces in the air from the burning of fossil fuels and common household cleaning products and other chemicals can cause irritation of the throat.
  • Infections of the sinuses often. Mucus running down the throat of the nose can irritate the throat or the spread of infection.
  • Being around other people. Viral and bacteriall infections spread easily in any place people gather. This includes child care centers, classrooms, offices, arenas and airplanes.
  • Weak immune system. People whose immune system's defenses are low are more likely to get any type of infection that are other people. The common causes of a weak immune system include HIV, diabetes, treatment with steroids or chemotherapy drugs, stress, fatigue, and a poor diet.

Prevention

The best way to prevent a sore throat is to avoid the germs that cause them and stay clean. Follow these tips and teach children to do the same:

  • Wash your hands well and often. Wash for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching the face. Don't touch your eyes, nose, or moto ruth.
  • Not sharing food, cups or forks, knives, and spoons.
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away. Then, wash your hands. If there is not a tissue, sneeze into your elbow.
  • The use of hand cleaners, also called alcohol gel for hands. Do this to wash hands when there is no soap and water.
  • Do not touch the public phones or sources of water with the mouth.
  • Often, the cleaning and the disinfection of phones, door handles, light switches, remote controls and the keyboard of the computer. On a trip, clean, phones, light switches and remotes in the hotel room.
  • Stay away from people who are sick or have symptoms.

Sore throat

Diagnosis

To diagnose a sore throat, a health professional may:

  • Use a tool with a light to look inside the throat, ears and nose.
  • Gently feel the neck to check for swollen glands, also called lymph nodes.
  • Listen to the breath with a tool called a stethoscope.

Throat swab

A simple test that can be found streptococcal bacteria, the cause of strep throat. A professional of the health rubbed with a sterile swab in the back of the throat to obtain a sample of the mucus. The sample goes to a lab for analysis.

Many clinics have a lab that can get a test result for a test called a rapid antigen test in a matter of minutes. But a test called a throat culture may give you better results. A throat culture goes to a lab that returns the results in a period of 24 to 48 hours.

Rapid antigen tests are not as sensitive as throat cultures, but they are fast. If the antigen test does not show a streptococci, a healthcare provider can send a throat culture to a lab to check back for strep throat.

Treatment

Usually, a sore throat caused by a virus will disappear by itself in 5 to 7 days and may not need treatment. Antibiotics do not treat a virus.

To relieve the pain and fever, to many people the use of acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other pain relieving mild tors.

For infants and children with sore throat, there are pain medications that you can get without a prescription, that are made for them. These include acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol, Infants, FeverAll, others) or ibuprofen (Children's Advil, Children of the Motrin, and others).

Never give aspirin to children or teens because it has been linked with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal cause inflammation in the liver and the brain.

The treatment of bacterial infections

A sore throat caused by a bacterial infection needs antibiotics to treat it.

Any person who takes an antibiotic that should take all the medication, even if symptoms disappear. Not to take all medications as directed can cause the infection to get worse or spread to other parts of the body.

Not to take all the antibiotics for treatment of strep throat can you raise a child from the risk of a disease that can damage the heart, the so-called rheumatic fever, or severe inflammation of the kidneys.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you forget to take a dose.

Other treatments

For the sore throat of other diseases of viral or bacterial infections, the treatment depends on the diagnosis.

Self-care

Use the following to relieve the symptoms of sore throat:

  • Rest. Get enough sleep. The rest of the voice, too.
  • Drink more liquids. Fluids keep the throat moist. Avoid caffeine and alcohol which can be drying.
  • Try foods and drinks that comfort. Drink warm liquids that soothe the throat, such as broth, tea without caffeine or hot water with honey. Cold treats such as ice cream can also soothe a sore throat. Do not give honey to children under 1 year of age.
  • Gargle with salt water. Gargle salt water 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (1250-2500 milligrams) of table salt to 4 to 8 ounces (120 to 240 ml) of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Child as older than 6 years and adults can gargle with the water, and then spit it out.
  • Adding moisture to the air. The use of a machine called a humidifier to get rid of dry air that can irritate a sore throat. Clean the humidifier often to not grow mold or bacteria. Sitting for several minutes in a steam bath may also help.
  • Sucking on hard candy or cough drops, also called cough. Anyone can soothe a sore throat. Do not give to children 4 years of age and younger because you can drown.
  • Avoid irritants. Keep your home free from cigarette smoke and cleaning products that can irritate the throat.
  • Stay home until you are no longer sick. This can help to protect people from catching a cold or other virus.

Alternative medicine

Despite the fact that many of the alternative treatments are often used to soothe a sore throat, there is little evidence that they work. And that could cause damage.

Consult with your healthcare professional before using herbs. They can affect medications. They might not be safe for children, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people with certain health conditions.

Herbal or alternative products for the sore throat often come as teas, sprays or pills. They include:

  • Slippery elm.
  • The root of licorice.
  • Marshmallow root.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you start to band see your family health care provider. You may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems. Or you may be referred to an allergy specialist, known as an allergist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your the appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • The symptoms that you or your child has, and for how long.
  • Key personal information,such as the recent contact with someone who was sick.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you or your child is taking, including dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

For a sore throat, some questions are:

  • What is likely the cause of these symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What tests are needed?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • How soon do you expect that the symptoms improve with treatment?
  • How much time will this capture? When it is safe to return to school or to work?
  • What self-care steps can help?

Ask any other questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions, including:

  • There are other symptoms of a sore throat?
  • These symptoms include fever? How high?
  • There have been respiratory problems?
  • Is there anything that the sore throat, worse, as the swallowing?
  • Howis that nothing seems to have the symptoms better?
  • Has nobody else in the house been sick?
  • Do you often have a sore throat?
  • Do you smoke? Do you or your child frequently exposed to second-hand smoke?
Symptoms and treatment of Sore throat