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A sore throat is an inflammation of the tissues in your mouth and neck, which gives a painful, dry, or scratchy feeling to the throat. Most sore throats are caused by infections or by environmental factors. Read on and find out all you need to know about sore throats and their best remedies! Symptoms of a sore throatSymptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on the cause. A sore throat can feel: scratchy, burning, raw, dry, irritated, or it may hurt more when you swallow or talk. Your throat or tonsils might also look red. Signs might include: sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw, swollen and red tonsils, and white patches or pus on your tonsils. Sore throats caused by a viral infection usually get better on their own in two to seven days. Yet some causes of a sore throat need to be treated. Call a doctor if you have any potentially more severe symptoms. Natural remedies to soothe the pain and irritationGargle with saltwaterDissolve 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of warm water and gargle every hour or two. Salt is known to kill bacteria in the throat, gargling with saltwater solution can also reduce swelling and keep the throat clean from mucus. Drink extra-cold liquidsGargling with saltwater can help sooth sore throat, but so do cold liquids, as the cold can have a local cooling effect on inflamed tissues. It may have a specific inhibitory effect on pain-sensitive nerves in the throat and act as a temporary numbing agent to ease the discomfort. HoneyHoney is a time-honored remedy to soothe a sore throat. In a 2018 review in the scientific journal Molecules recognizing honey’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal properties. Simply mix two tablespoons of honey with a warm glass of water or tea, and drink as needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends using honey if your sore throat is accompanied by a cough. Turmeric teaTurmeric is a powerful antioxidant and has the capacity to help in curing sore throats, swelling and cold by reducing inflammations. Purchase turmeric tea bags, or add ground turmeric to boiling water and strain it to brew yourself a turmeric tea. Drink lemon waterNot only does lemon contains vitamin C, which is thought to be helpful early in some infections, lemon also has antibacterial properties, which could fight off bacterial sore throat. Drinking warm lemon water, can also increases the amount of saliva you produce to keep your mucous membranes moist, and help break the mucus and soothe your sore throat. Use a humidifierSore throat can be developed from the dryness of the throat, caused by dry air- Exposure to dry air causes the saliva in the throat to literally evaporate, making it feel rough and scratchy. Moisten the air with a humidifier to prevent a dry throat. Over-the-counter throat sprays and pain relieversConsider using a throat spray to target the pain at the source- Anesthetic used in throat sprays, usually benzocaine, works by blocking the pain pathway. The painful and swollen tissue absorbs the liquid from the spray instantly, providing fast pain relief. Over-the-counter painkillers are also recommended. Results from clinical trials suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen are more effective than acetaminophen (Tylenol) at relieving throat pain. Start at low dose: 200 mg to 400 mg of ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours. In studies, ibuprofen was found to reduce acute sore throat pain by 32% to 80% in as quickly as 2 to 4 hours. Make sure that you check that no other sore throat medicine you’re taking interacts with the pain reliever, or that no other medication you’re taking contains ibuprofen, which is an easy way to get too much of the pain reliever. Share DiagnosisYour or your child's doctor may review the symptoms and medical history. He or she may conduct a physical exam that includes:
Throat swabIn many cases, doctors use a simple test to detect streptococcal bacteria, the cause of strep throat. The doctor rubs a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions and sends the sample to a lab for testing. Many clinics are equipped with a lab that can get a test result for a rapid antigen test within a few minutes. However, a second, often more reliable test, called a throat culture, is sometimes sent to a lab that returns results within 24 to 48 hours. Rapid antigen tests aren't as sensitive, although they can detect strep bacteria quickly. Because of this, the doctor may send a throat culture to a lab to test for strep throat if the antigen test comes back negative. In some cases, doctors may use a molecular test to detect streptococcal bacteria. In this test, a doctor swipes a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions. The sample is tested in a lab. Your or your child's doctor may have accurate results within a few minutes. TreatmentA sore throat caused by a viral infection usually lasts five to seven days and doesn't usually require medical treatment. Antibiotics don't help treat a viral infection. To ease pain and fever, many people turn to acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other mild pain relievers. Consider giving your child over-the-counter pain medications designed for infants or children, such as acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol, FeverAll, others) or ibuprofen (Children's Advil, Children's Motrin, others), to ease symptoms. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain. Treating bacterial infectionsIf your or your child's sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor or pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics. You or your child must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms are gone. Failure to take all of the medication as directed can result in the infection worsening or spreading to other parts of the body. Not completing the full course of antibiotics to treat strep throat can increase a child's risk of rheumatic fever or serious kidney inflammation. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you forget a dose. Other treatmentsIf a sore throat is a symptom of a condition other than a viral or bacterial infection, other treatments will likely be considered depending on the diagnosis. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful
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email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesRegardless of the cause of your sore throat, these at-home care strategies can help you ease your or your child's symptoms:
Alternative medicineAlthough several alternative treatments are commonly used to soothe a sore throat, evidence is limited about what works. If you or your child needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, don't rely on alternative treatments alone. Check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies, as they can interact with prescription medications and may not be safe for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions. Herbal or alternative products for a sore throat are often packaged as teas, sprays or lozenges. Common alternative remedies include:
Preparing for your appointmentIf you or your child has a sore throat, make an appointment with your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders or an allergy specialist (allergist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. What you can doMake a list of:
For a sore throat, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
Don't hesitate to ask other questions. What to expect from your doctorYour doctor is likely to ask questions about you or your child. Your doctor might ask:
How do I get rid of a sore throat quickly?Regardless of the cause of your sore throat, these at-home care strategies can help you ease your or your child's symptoms:. Rest. ... . Drink fluids. ... . Try comforting foods and beverage. ... . Gargle with saltwater. ... . Humidify the air. ... . Consider lozenges or hard candy. ... . Avoid irritants. ... . Stay at home until you're no longer sick.. What drink helps a sore throat?Drink water, tea (herbal or decaf), broth, soup, and non-caffeinated sports drinks e.g. Gatorade. Hot tea with lemon and honey can help. Gargle with warm salt-water. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of regular table salt in 8 ounces (240 ml) of warm water, gargle for a few seconds, spit it out, then repeat a few times.
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