Topic Overview
Sore throats can be painful and annoying.
Fortunately, most sore throats are caused by a minor illness and go away
without medical treatment.
Several conditions can cause a sore
throat.
Viral infections
Sore throats may be caused by a
viral illness, such as:
Bacterial infections
A
bacterial infection may also cause a sore throat. This
can occur from:
Irritants and injuries
A sore throat that lasts
longer than a week is often caused by irritants or an injuries, such as:
- Throat irritation from low humidity, smoking,
air pollution, yelling, or nasal drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).
- Breathing through the mouth when you have allergies
or a stuffy nose.
- Stomach acid that backs up into the throat, which
may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although
GERD often occurs with
heartburn, an acid taste in the mouth, or a cough,
sometimes a sore throat is the only symptom.
- An injury to the back
of the throat, such as a cut or puncture from falling with a pointed object in
the mouth.
-
Chronic fatigue syndrome
, a condition
that causes extreme tiredness.
Treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. You may
be able to use home treatment to obtain relief.
Because viral
illnesses are the most common cause of a sore throat, it is important not to
use antibiotics to treat them. Antibiotics do not alter the course of viral
infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic exposes you to the risks of an
allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may
kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous
antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For sore throats caused by strep, treatment with antibiotics may be needed.
-
Sore Throat: Should I Take Antibiotics?
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a
doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
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Home Treatment
Home treatment is usually all that
is needed for a sore throat caused by a virus. These tips may help you feel
better.
- Gargle with warm salt water to help reduce
swelling and relieve discomfort:
- Gargle at least once each hour with
1 tsp (5 g)
of salt dissolved in
8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water.
- If you have
postnasal drip, gargle often to prevent more throat irritation.
- Prevent
dehydration. Fluids may help thin secretions and
soothe an irritated throat. Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help decrease
throat irritation.
- Use a
vaporizer or humidifier in your bedroom.
- Warm or cool mist may help you feel more
comfortable by soothing the swollen air passages. It may also relieve
hoarseness. But don't let your room become uncomfortably cold or very
damp.
- Use a shallow pan of water to provide moisture in the air
through evaporation if you don't have a humidifier. Place the pan in a safe
location where no one will trip on it or fall into it.
- Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and
avoid
secondhand smoke. For more information, see the topic
Quitting Smoking.
- If you suspect that
problems with stomach acid may be causing your sore throat, see the topic
Heartburn.
Consider taking nonprescription medicine for your symptoms.
- Use nonprescription throat lozenges.
- Some nonprescription throat lozenges, such as
Sucrets Maximum Strength or Spec-T, are safe and effective and have medicine
(local anesthetic) that numbs the throat to soothe pain.
- Regular
cough drops may also help.
- Use a
decongestant.
- Decongestants make breathing easier by
shrinking swollen mucous membranes in the nose, allowing air to pass through.
They also help relieve a runny nose and postnasal drip, which can cause a sore
throat.
- Decongestants can be taken orally or used as
decongestant nasal sprays. Oral decongestants (pills)
are probably more effective and provide longer relief but may cause more side
effects.
- These medicines may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems. Before you use them, check the label. If you do use these medicines, always follow the directions about how much to use based on age and in some cases weight. For more information about medicine safety, see Over-the-Counter Medicine Precautions and Quick Tips: Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription
| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your fever or pain: |
|
|
Safety tips
| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
- Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.
- Do not take more than the
recommended dose.
- Do not take a medicine if you have had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- If
you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take
it.
- If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other
than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
-
Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20
unless your doctor tells you to.
|
More home treatment can be found in topics related to
sore throat.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- Difficulty breathing
develops.
- Severe pain develops.
- Inability to drink enough fluids
develops.
- A new rash or fever
develops.
- Symptoms lasting longer than 2 weeks.
- Symptoms become more severe or more
frequent.
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent a sore
throat. To help reduce your risk:
- Drink enough
fluids to prevent
dehydration.
-
Wash your hands
often, especially when you are around people who are sick.
- Identify
and avoid irritants, such as smoke, fumes, or yelling, that cause a sore
throat.
- Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and avoid
exposure to secondhand smoke. For more information, see the topic
Quitting Smoking.
- Avoid contact with
people who have
strep throat.
- If you have
mononucleosis, do not share eating or drinking
utensils to prevent spreading the virus to others. A brief kiss on the lips is
not likely to spread mono; it is spread when saliva from an infected person
enters another person's mouth.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being ready to answer the following
questions:
- When did your throat symptoms
begin?
- Do you have a fever? Describe your fever
pattern.
- Do other family members, friends, or coworkers have
similar complaints?
- Do you have other symptoms associated with the
sore throat, such as a head cold?
- What makes the pain
worse?
- Have you had your tonsils removed?
- Have you been
diagnosed with strep throat in the past? How long ago? Was it found during a
doctor visit, with a rapid strep test or with a throat culture? How was it
treated?
- What immunizations have you had?
- What home treatment have you tried? Did it help?
- What prescription and nonprescription medicines have you tried?
Did they help?
- Do you have any
health risks?
Credits
|
By
|
Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
|
William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
|
David Messenger, MD |
|
Last Revised
|
February 1, 2013 |