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Sore throat: symptoms, tips and treatments
Sore throat is a common phenomenon, especially in the cold season. This can be a sign of both a cold and other diseases, so you should be able to distinguish between the main symptoms. The Health Line website explored this topic and told what to do if a sore throat.
Material content
A sore throat
Symptoms of a Throat Disease
8 causes of sore throat
1. Colds, flu, and other viral infections
2. Bacterial infections
3. Allergy
4. Dry air
5. Smoke, chemicals and other irritants
6. Injury
7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
8. Tumor
Home Remedies for Sore Throat
In which cases it is necessary to consult a doctor
How is a diagnosis established?
What medications are used to treat a sore throat?
When do you need antibiotics
A sore throat
Sore throat is a dry, stitching and painful sensation in the larynx, which is one of the most common complaints of patients. Annually it is she who causes more than 13 million visits to doctors' offices. Most sore throats are caused by infections or environmental factors such as dry air. Although a sore throat can bring you discomfort, as a rule, this condition goes away on its own.
Sore throat is divided into different types. Depending on the part of the throat where it is localized, various diseases are distinguished:
• pharyngitis - the pain is concentrated on the back of the throat;
• tonsillitis - swelling and redness of the tonsils and soft tissues in the back of the mouth;
• laryngitis - swelling and redness of the vocal cords or larynx.
Each of these diseases is treated in its own way.
Symptoms of a Throat Disease
Symptoms of a throat disease can vary depending on what caused them. The main ones are a tingling sensation, burning sensation, dryness, irritation or sore throat. These symptoms may worsen while talking or swallowing. In addition, your tonsils and throat may also turn red. Sometimes white spots or patches of pus form on the tonsils. These white spots are more likely to indicate streptococcus than viral disease.
Along with a sore throat, you may also have symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fever, chills, swollen glands in the neck, a hoarse voice, body aches, headache, trouble swallowing, and loss of appetite.
8 causes of sore throat
The causes of sore throat range from infections to injuries. Here are the eight most common ones:
1. Colds, flu, and other viral infections
Viruses cause about 90% of diseases and inflammation of the throat. The most common diseases: a cold, flu, mononucleosis (an infectious disease transmitted through saliva), measles (a disease that causes a rash and fever), chickenpox (an infection that causes fever and an itchy rash), mumps (an infection that causes swelling of salivary glands in the neck).
2. Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections can also cause sore throats. The most common infection is streptococcus. Tonsillitis and sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, can also cause sore throats.
3. Allergy
When the immune system reacts to various allergens (pollen, pet hair), it releases chemicals. They cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing and throat irritation. Excessive mucus in the nose can drain down the throat wall, and this can also irritate it.
4. Dry air
Dry air can draw moisture out of your mouth and throat and leave it dry and scratchy. The air is most often dry in the winter months when heating is running.
5. Smoke, chemicals and other irritants
Many chemicals and other environmental irritants have a bad effect on the throat. This can be cigarette and other tobacco smoke, air pollution, cleaning products and other chemicals.
6. Injury
Any injury, such as a blow or cut on the neck, can cause a sore throat. A piece of food stuck in the throat can also irritate it. Excessive use of the vocal cords can also lead to painful sensations in the throat.
7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
In gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid from the stomach returns to the esophagus. This can lead to heartburn and sore throat.
8. Tumor
Swelling of the throat, vocal cords, or tongue is a less common cause of sore throat. When a sore throat is a sign of cancer, it does not disappear after a few days.
Having determined the cause of the pain in the grief, the doctor will be able to prescribe you an adequate treatment.
Home Remedies for Sore Throat
In most cases, you can get rid of a sore throat at home. Take rest to give your immune system the ability to fight infection. Also, to relieve sore throat, you can rinse it with a mixture of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Drink plenty of warm fluids that soothe your throat: hot tea with honey, herbal teas, broth, or warm water with lemon. You can also relieve sore throats with special lozenges. If you have a sore throat, try to talk less and moisten the air in the room.
In which cases it is necessary to consult a doctor
A sore throat caused by a viral infection usually goes away on its own within two to seven days. But some causes of sore throat need to be treated. Call your doctor if you notice any of these potentially more serious symptoms:
• severe sore throat
• difficulty swallowing
• difficulty breathing or pain when breathing
• difficulty opening your mouth
• sore joints
• temperature is higher than 38 degrees Celsius
• sore or stiff neck
• ear pain
• blood in your saliva or sputum
• pain sore throat that lasts more than a week
In these cases, you should be examined by a doctor who can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe medication.
How is a diagnosis established?
During the examination, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and check the back of the throat for redness, swelling and white spots. Your doctor may also examine and feel your neck to see if you have swollen glands. Doctors sometimes prescribe a bacterial infection test (throat swab). In some cases, you will need to be examined by other doctors, for example, an otolaryngologist, to determine the cause of the disease.
What medications are used to treat a sore throat?
You can take medications to relieve sore throat or to treat the underlying cause. Medications that relieve sore throats include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers, as this may be due to a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Additionally, you can use cooling throat sprays, lozenges, cough syrups and herbal teas.
Medications that reduce stomach acid can help with a sore throat caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. These include antacids (to neutralize stomach acid), H2 blockers, such as cimetidine, famotidine and ranitidine (to reduce acid production in the stomach), proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as lansoprazole and omeprazole (to block acid formation).
Low doses of corticosteroids can also help with sore throat without causing serious side effects.
When do you need antibiotics
Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria such as streptococcus, but they will not help with viral infections. If sore throat is caused by streptococcus, then antibiotics can help prevent more serious complications, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and rheumatic fever.
Usually, doctors prescribe a course of antibiotics lasting about 10 days. It is important to take the entire course of the medicine, even if you notice an improvement. If you stop drinking the antibiotic too soon, it may leave some bacteria alive.
So, now you know the main symptoms and causes of sore throat. You know what to do if your throat hurts, but in serious cases, be sure to see a doctor. We wish you to always stay healthy!
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