Sore Throat
Dry indoor air
| Download this episodeThis time of year, it’s not uncommon to find yourself struggling with a sore throat. A sore throat is the primary symptom of pharyngitis, an inflammation of the pharynx, or the throat. One of the most common causes of a sore throat is dry indoor air, especially during winter months when most buildings are heated. Dry air can make your throat feel rough and scratchy, particularly first thing in the morning as you are waking up. Breathing through your mouth, often because of chronic nasal congestion, also can cause a dry, sore throat. Allergies to certain things like pet dander, molds, dust and pollen, are more prevalent as we spend more time indoors. Such allergies can cause a sore throat and may be complicated by postnasal drip that can irritate and inflame the throat. Most sore throats are caused by viruses that cause the common cold and the flu but they can also occur as a result of a bacterial infection, like strep throat, whooping cough and diphtheria.
Scratchy sensation
Download this episodeThat pain or scratchy sensation you feel in your throat may be nothing more than just a sore throat. But if the pain worsens when swallowing or talking, if you have swollen glands in your neck and jaw and if you have white patches or pus on your tonsils, it might be something more serious. If you have an earache, a rash or a fever over 101 degrees, you may have something more besides a sore throat. A lump in your neck and hoarseness lasting more than two weeks are indications that your sore throat could be a viral infection like mononucleosis or chicken pox. Such infections can spread easily any place where people gather on a regular basis, such as classrooms, offices, prisons and military installations. Infants or toddlers who refuse to eat or young children with a sore throat who have difficulty breathing or swallow or display unusual drooling, which may indicate an inability to swallow, should see a pediatrician as soon as possible to rule out a serious illness.
Viral infection
Download this episodeThe terms sore throat, strep throat, and tonsillitis often are used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. Tonsillitis refers to tonsils that are inflamed while strep throat is an infection caused by a specific type of bacteria, streptococcus. When your child has a strep throat, the tonsils are usually very inflamed, and the inflammation may affect the surrounding part of the throat as well. In infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers, the most frequent cause of sore throats is a viral infection. No specific medicine is required when a virus is responsible, and the child should get better over a seven- to 10-day period. In the past when a child had several sore throats, their tonsils might have been removed in an attempt to prevent further infections. But this operation, called a tonsillectomy, is recommended today only for the most severely affected children. Even in difficult cases, where there is repeated strep throat, antibiotic treatment is usually the best solution.
Course of antibiotics
Download this episodeA throat culture or rapid strep screen, performed in about 20 minutes in a doctor’s office, can determine if you have a simple sore throat or something more serious. A sore throat caused by viral infection usually lasts five to seven days and doesn’t require any medical treatment. If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial strep infection, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics. Penicillin taken by mouth for 10 days is the most common antibiotic treatment prescribed for infections such as strep throat. You must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms go away completely. Failure to take all of the medication as directed may 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 and serious kidney inflammation. Be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you forget to take a dose.
Get some relief
Download this episodeNo matter what causes your sore throat, there are certain steps you can take to provide some relief from it. First and foremost, get plenty of sleep and give your voice a rest. Drink plenty of water to keep your throat moist and prevent dehydration. Warm liquids, such as broth or tea, and cold treats such as popsicles will also make your throat feel better. Put a half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle with the mixture several times a day to soothe your throat. Throat lozenges can also help but because they are a choking hazard, avoid giving them to children under the age of 5. You may want to consider using a cool-air humidifier to eliminate the dry air in your home or sitting for several minutes in a steamy bathroom. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used to minimize throat pain but because aspirin has been linked with Reye’s syndrome, children or teens recovering from chicken pox or flu-like symptoms should not be given this painkiller.Trusted by thousands of listeners every week, T. Glenn Pait, M.D., began offering expert advice as the host of UAMS’ “Here’s to Your Health” program in 1996. Dr. Pait began working at UAMS in 1994 and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years.