sore throat relief

  

Sore throat
    General information
    Causes
    Risk factor's
    Signs and symptoms
    When to seek medical attention
    Diagnosis and treatment
    Relief of symptoms
    Prevention

English: Sore Throat
General information

Most sore throats improve on their own without antibiotics. In some cases, as in the case of strep throat infections, a laboratory test is needed to determine if you or your child need antibiotics.
Causes

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as those that cause colds and flu, and should not be treated with antibiotics.

Some sore throats are caused by bacteria such as group A Streptococcus (in English). The sore throats caused by these bacteria are known as strep throat infections. In children, 20 to 30 of every 100 sore throats are streptococcal infections. In adults, only 5 to 15 out of 100 are infections of this type.
Diagram of the mouth showing inflamed tonsils during a sore throat.

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When you have a sore throat, the tonsils often become red, swollen and painful.

Other common causes of sore throat include:

    Allergies
    Dry air.
    Pollution (chemicals or irritants found in the air).
    Smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke.

Risk factor's

There are many things that can increase your risk of having a sore throat, including the following:

    Age (children and adolescents between 5 and 15 years are more likely to have sore throats).
    Exposure to another person who has a sore throat or a strep throat.
    Time of year (streptococcal throat infections are most common in winter and early spring).
    Time (cold air can irritate the throat).
    Tonsils of irregular or large shape.
    Pollution or exposure to smoke.
    Have a weakened immune system or take medications that weaken it.
    Postnasal drip or allergies.
    Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Signs and symptoms

Sore throat can make it difficult to swallow. Sore throats can make the throat feel dry or itchy, and may be a symptom of the common cold or other upper respiratory infection.

The following symptoms are frequently associated with sore throats caused by viral infections or allergies:

    Sneezing
    Cough
    Lachrymation
    Mild headaches or body aches
    Runny
    Low fever (less than 101 ° F (38.3 ° C))

The symptoms most commonly associated with strep throat include:

    Red or inflamed tonsils, which sometimes have white or pus patches.
    Small red dots (petechiae) in the area on the back of the vault of the mouth.
    High fever (101 ° F (38.3 ° C) or more).
    Sickness.
    Vomiting
    Inflammation of the lymph nodes of the neck.
    Intense body or headaches
    Rash




When to seek medical attention

Consult a health care professional if you or your child have any of the following symptoms:

    Sore throat that lasts more than 1 week.
    Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
    Excessive drooling (in young children).
    Temperature greater than 100.4 ° F (38 ° C).
    Pus in the back of the throat.
    Rash.
    Pain in the joints.
    Hoarseness that lasts more than 2 weeks.
    Blood in saliva or phlegm.
    Dehydration (symptoms include dry and sticky mouth, drowsiness or tiredness, thirst, less elimination of urine or less wet diapers, few or no tears when crying, muscle weakness, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness).
    Recurring sore throats

If your child is less than three months old and has a fever, it is important to always call the health care professional immediately.
Diagnosis and treatment

Antibiotics are not needed to treat most sore throats, which usually improve on their own within 1 to 2 weeks. Antibiotics will not help if the sore throat is caused by viruses or irritation from the air. In these cases, treatment with antibiotics can cause harm in both children (in English) and adults (in English). Your health care professional may prescribe other medications or give you advice to help with other symptoms, such as fever and cough.

Antibiotics are needed if a health care professional diagnoses you or your child with a strep throat, which is caused by bacteria. The diagnosis can be made with a quick throat swab. Streptococcal throat infection can not be diagnosed by looking at the throat; a laboratory test must be done.

Antibiotics are prescribed for these infections in order to prevent rheumatic fever. If a strep throat is diagnosed, the infected patient should stay at home and not go to work, school or daycare until 24 hours after starting the antibiotic.
Relief of symptoms

Break; Over-the-counter medications and other self-care methods can help you or your child feel better. For more information on symptom relief, visit the Relief of Symptoms section on this website or speak with your healthcare professional, including your pharmacist. Always remember to use over-the-counter products as directed. Many over-the-counter medications are not recommended for children of certain ages.
Prevention

There are steps you can take to help prevent sore throats, including the following:

    Practice good hand hygiene.
    Avoid close contact with people who have a sore throat, have a cold or have other upper respiratory infections.
    Avoid smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke.