Scratchy, painful, phlegmy and irritating.
Nobody likes having a sore throat. Fortunately, with a little self-care, most cases of sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, tend to go away on their own. Common viruses are usually the culprit. Consider a mild sore throat as an opportunity to take soothing measures while you rest and recover. Here’s how to ease your sore throat symptoms and recognize if and when to seek medical attention.
Coat your throat
You probably already have remedies in your medicine cabinet or kitchen pantry. Sprays, throat lozenges, syrups and honey offer temporary relief to irritated areas. Gargling with warm saltwater can ease back-of-the-throat swelling. Add up to a half teaspoon of regular table salt to a small glass of warm water, gargle and spit. (Note to parents: Children under 5 shouldn’t use lozenges because of the possibility of choking.)
Stay hydrated
“Keeping hydrated is very important,” said Dr. Jennifer Earvolino, an internal medicine physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Drinking water helps keep the throat wet to relieve soreness. A cool-mist humidifier is a good way to reduce dry air and moisten the throat area, said Dr. Brett Scotch, an osteopathic physician and owner of the Scotch Institute of Ear Nose & Throat in Wesley Chapel, Florida. To avoid further irritation, stay indoors, particularly if you live in a cold, dry climate. Sore throats can happen year-round, he said, but the cold-and-flu season tends to bring in more sore-throat patients.
Consume hot or cold beverages
Very cold beverages, ice chips or Popsicles have a slight numbing effect on the throat to provide pain relief as well as needed fluid. Sipping hot soup or drinking warm tea also has a comforting and hydrating effect. Avoid room-temperature beverages, Earvolino suggested. Beverages at both temperature extremes tend to be less irritating and slide down the throat more easily.
Use OTC pain relievers
With a sore throat, “managing symptoms and managing pain with over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or Motrin are reasonable, safe things that can be done at home,” Scotch said. For children or teens, use extra caution when giving OTC medications. Avoid aspirin, which has been tied to a serious condition called Reye’s syndrome in kids. For liquid products, parents should use medicine droppers or oral syringes to give the correct dose, not kitchen teaspoons.
Avoid irritants
Tobacco smoke irritates the throat. If you smoke, take a temporary break (at the very least). Stay away from secondhand smoke, whether from marijuana or tobacco, too. In addition, outdoor air pollution and fumes from harsh household chemicals, like bleach, may worsen your inflamed throat.
Rest your voice
Now is not the time to practice your oral presentation for work. In fact, some occupations may lead to voice overuse, resulting in laryngitis or a sore throat from overtaxed vocal cords. If you work at a call center, or you’re a singer, teacher, train station announcer or coach, make sure to keep your throat hydrated and give your voice a break whenever possible.
Keep germs to yourself
You don’t want to pass your sore throat on to others. Hand-washing is key to preventing the spread of germs. Wash your hands after blowing your runny nose and dispose of any used tissues. Hold your kisses until symptoms resolve. Keep plates, eating utensils and drinking glasses separate and clean them with hot, soapy water. Take similar precautions if you’re caring for a sick child with a sore throat. With younger kids, thoroughly wash any toys they handle (or chew on) with disinfectant soap and water, then rinse.
Monitor fever
Some sore throats represent more serious underlying conditions. Watch for fevers that spike above 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Check your sputum and know which signs are most significant. “Thick, yellowish-greenish infection can be a sign of an upper-respiratory tract infection, [however] color alone is not diagnostic of a condition,” Scotch says. “Patients need to get worried if their sputum becomes blood-tinged, brownish or bloody.” People with persistent fevers or bloody sputum should be seen by a health care provider.
Seek help if symptoms worsen
With a mild sore throat, symptoms should peak in three or four days after you first feel sick, then start to fade. “By about seven days, you should start feeling better, if not completely recovered,” Earvolino says. However, she says, if you keep getting worse — with persistent high fevers, increasing pain and difficulty swallowing fluids — seek medical attention. Health providers can address dehydration and determine if you have a more serious viral or bacterial condition. If your sore throat progresses, consult with your physician sooner rather than later, Scotch says. “Some people can rapidly develop abscesses around their tonsils or have recurrent tonsil infections,” he notes.
Get a strep test if needed
A bacterial infection could be at the root of your persistent sore throat. Strep throat is caused by streptococcal bacteria. Doctors use standard criteria to determine whether a sore throat is caused by strep, Earvolino explains. Pus on the tonsils, tender lymph nodes, fever and absence of cough point to possible strep infection. However, she says, if a patient only meets two of these criteria, the likelihood of strep is so low that testing is not recommended. In that case, supportive care is advised rather than unnecessary antibiotics. If a throat swab, or throat culture, reveals that you have strep throat, take antibiotics as prescribed.
Ask about acid reflux
Although you might not suspect it, stomach problems can affect your throat. It’s not uncommon for acid reflux to cause a sore throat, Scotch says. Reflux can become so severe that acid reaches the back of your throat, which can become quite uncomfortable. “Many patients can also have discomfort at the base of the neck and bottom of their throat, because there’s acid there also,” Scotch adds. Your medical history, physical exam and, in some cases, a minimally invasive throat endoscopy will let your physician quickly sort out what’s causing your persistent sore throat.
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11 Ways to Recover From a Sore Throat originally appeared on usnews.com
