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How Do I Effectively Treat a Sore Throat Fast?
A sore throat is throat discomfort or irritation that occurs even without swallowing. It is not usually indicative of a more serious underlying disease. It can be brought on by irritants such as nicotine, spices, alcohol, straining the throat muscles by yelling for an extended period of time, or throat dryness. Throat soreness or pain are the most common symptoms. Keep reading to learn the best way to treat a sore throat.
A significant proportion of sore throats are caused by environmental factors like dry air or infection. Despite its discomfort, a sore throat normally resolves on its own.
Sore throats are classified into three distinct categories. These include the following:
- Pharyngitis — a condition that affects the area behind the mouth
- Tonsillitis — swelling and redness of the tonsils
- Laryngitis — inflammation of the larynx or voice box characterised by redness and swelling
How do you know if you have a sore throat?
The symptoms of a sore throat differ according to the cause. Among the symptoms are the following:
- Scratchy sensation
- A burning sensation
- Astringent throat
- Tenderness
- Irritation
When swallowing or speaking, the symptoms may be aggravated. Additionally, the tonsils or throat may be red.
On occasion, pus-filled regions or white patches appear on the tonsils. Other symptoms may include the following:
Nasal passages
- Loss of appetite
- Body aches
- Swollen neck glands
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Fever
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Chills
- Hoarse voice
- Difficulty swallowing
What causes sore throats?
The viruses that cause the flu and common colds are also responsible for the majority of sore throats. Bacterial infections cause sore throats less frequently. Antibiotics are not necessary for the treatment of sore throats caused by viruses; they often resolve in 10 days or less with minimal or no treatment of symptoms.
At-home remedies and corticosteroids can help alleviate the discomfort associated with these sore throats, which normally heal after the underlying infection is resolved.
Viral infections
Among the viral infections that might produce a sore throat are the following:
- Common cold
- Flu (influenza)
- Mono (mononucleosis)
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Croup – a prevalent childhood ailment marked by a loud, barking cough
Infections caused by bacteria
Numerous bacterial illnesses are capable of causing a sore throat. Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is the most frequent, causing strep throat.
The best way to treat a sore throat if you feel pain when swallowing
To alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with a sore throat:
- Rinse your mouth with a solution of warm water and a half to 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Consume warm liquids that feel comforting to the throat, like hot tea, soup broth, warm honey or lemon water. Herbal teas are particularly beneficial for healing a sore throat.
- Eat a cool treat such as ice cream to soothe your throat.
- Suck on a sweet or a lozenge.
- Add moisture to the air by turning on a cool-mist humidifier.
- Take a break from speaking until your throat gets better.
The best way to treat a sore throat and how long it takes to heal
The length of a sore throat is determined by the cause. Sore throats can be acute, lasting just a few days, or chronic, lingering for several days or more until the underlying cause is treated.
The majority of sore throats are caused by common viruses and will recover on their own within three to ten days. Sore throats brought about by allergies or bacterial infection may persist for an extended period of time.
Learn how to treat allergies at home in our previous blog post here:
At-home therapies and prescribed drugs can help reduce the duration of sore throat symptoms such as discomfort, scratchiness, and difficulty swallowing.
Below are some of the best products to help provide instant relief from your sore throat:
Strepsils Lozenges
Kilkof Lozenges
This blog post was written on behalf of Chemist.net by Pharmacy Mentor.