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Causes and Treatments for Sore ThroatSore throat is one of the most common conditions treated by MU Health Care providers. A sore
throat can make you feel miserable — it can affect eating and drinking, talking and even sleep. Many times, patients ask for an antibiotic, but antibiotics are not always the answer. Sore throats usually are caused by one of three things — allergies, bacteria or a virus. Allergy symptoms are the most common cause of a sore throat during the warmer months. Sinus drainage can cause an irritating discomfort. Sore throat due to allergies is most often improved with
treatment of the allergy symptoms. The bacteria that most commonly causes a sore throat is streptococcus. Patients with so-called strep throat often report a sudden onset of severe sore throat and fever. Other symptoms might include white spots on the tonsils, headache, stomach upset and decreased appetite. A strep test takes about 15 minutes. Patients with strep throat are typically treated with antibiotics. VirusIf your sore throat is not caused by allergy symptoms or bacteria, a virus usually is to blame. Viruses are the most common cause of sore throats and can occur with other symptoms that can accompany a cold, such as nasal congestion, sneezing and eye irritation. Antibiotics do not work for viruses. The best treatment is to use a warm salt water gargle to reduce the irritation. Patients can also try throat lozenges and over-the-counter pain relievers. Also remember to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Sore throat is also a symptom that can be caused by Novel Coronavirus 2019. Find out more about symptoms and how to be tested. If you have a sore throat, learn about your treatment options. Wonder if your painful sore throat is from a cold, strep throat, or
tonsillitis? Here's help with how to tell. A sore throat is often
the first sign of a cold. However, a sore throat from a cold often gets better or goes away after the first day or two. Other cold symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion may
follow the sore throat. Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. Tonsillitis is a painful inflammation or infection of the tonsils, the tissue masses located at
the back of the throat. Sore throats can be caused by viruses or bacteria. The most common causes of sore throats are viruses. Viral sore throats are often accompanied by other cold symptoms that may include a
runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes, and
sneezing. Other causes of sore throat include smoking, pollution or irritants in the air, allergies, and dry air. In addition to a sore throat, other common
cold symptoms include: Although there is
no cure for a sore throat caused by a cold virus, there are ways to help you feel more comfortable. Drinking warm liquids, gargling with warm salt water, sucking on ice chips, or taking an over-the-counter medicine may relieve symptoms of pain or fever. When you are sick with a cold, it is also important to get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter cold medications may relieve cold and sore throat symptoms. However, the benefits of these drugs are minimal. Some cold medications include: Antibiotics should not be used to treat a cold virus and sore throat. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria. They
will not work on sore throats associated with colds, which are caused by viruses. Strep throat is caused by an infection of streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat spreads by having contact with an infected person's
saliva or nasal secretions. Although strep throat is more common in children ages 5 to 15, it also occurs in adults. To diagnose strep throat, your doctor can check a rapid strep test or send a throat swab to the lab for a culture. In some cases, they may be able to diagnose strep based on your reported symptoms and other signs, such as white
spots in the throat area, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Strep throat can cause more serious illnesses, such as rheumatic fever, a disease that may harm the
heart valves. That's why it's important to get proper medical treatment. With proper treatment, strep throat is usually cured within 10 days. Strep throat symptoms are usually more severe than symptoms of a sore throat with a cold and may include the following: The symptoms of a cold and strep throat can be very similar. If you think you have symptoms of strep throat, visit your healthcare provider. Your doctor will ask you about
your symptoms and do a physical exam, and you may be given a strep test. A rapid strep test checks for streptococcus bacteria infection in the throat. The test is painless and takes very little time. The tip of a cotton
swab is used to wipe the back of the throat. The swab is then tested right away. If the strep test is positive, you have strep throat. If the strep test is negative, you likely do not have strep throat. However, if there are strong signs of strep throat, your healthcare provider can do a different throat swab test that is sent to the
lab to see if strep bacteria can be grown (cultured) from it. A throat culture takes a couple of days for results. Strep throat is treated using antibiotics, which kill the bacteria causing the infection. Antibiotics are often taken as pills or given as a shot.
Penicillin and amoxicillin are common antibiotics used to treat strep throat. Other antibiotics are prescribed for people who are allergic to penicillin. Follow your
healthcare provider's instructions for antibiotic use. Take all of the medication, even if you feel better. You should feel better within a day or two. A person with strep throat should stay home until 24 hours after starting the antibiotic. What If My Strep Throat Isn't Getting Better?If your strep throat is not getting better, let your healthcare provider know right away. Do not stop taking your prescribed medicine unless your health care provider tells you to. Call your healthcare provider if these symptoms occur:
How Is Tonsillitis Different From a Sore Throat With a Cold?Sometimes, a sore throat is caused by tonsillitis, an inflammation of the tonsils. Tonsillitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria. While the tonsils' job is to help fight infection, the tonsils can also become infected. When they do, the result is tonsillitis and a very painful sore throat. How Are Tonsillitis Symptoms Different From Symptoms of a Sore Throat With a Cold?In addition to a sore throat, a cold usually causes nasal symptoms, such as runny nose or congestion. With tonsillitis, your tonsils become swollen and may have telltale white or yellow spots. Other symptoms with tonsillitis include the following:
How Is a Sore Throat From Tonsillitis Treated?If the tonsillitis infection is bacterial like strep throat, then antibiotics are given. If the tonsillitis infection is viral, antibiotics will not help. The virus must run its course for the sore throat to resolve. For either type of throat infection, the following treatment measures may help:
If the tonsillitis infections occur repeatedly, or if the tonsils are interfering with sleep and breathing, the doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy, which is the surgical removal of the tonsils. What would you like to learn about next?
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 can cause a sudden sore throat?A sore throat may be the first symptom of a mild illness, such as a cold or the flu, or of more severe illnesses, such as mononucleosis, strep throat or scarlet fever. A sore throat that comes on suddenly is called acute pharyngitis. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses.
How long does sore throat last?Sore throats, also known as pharyngitis, can be acute, lasting only a few days, or chronic, lingering on until their underlying cause is addressed. Most sore throats are the result of common viruses and resolve on their own within 3 to 10 days. Sore throats caused by a bacterial infection or allergies may last longer.
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What are the main causes of sore throat
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