Sore Throat
Overview
The dry scratchiness and painful swallowing that are the hallmarks of a sore
throat — known medically as pharyngitis — can be miserable. Yet a sore
throat isn't a disease. Most often, it's a symptom of another illness —
usually a viral infection such as a cold or the flu (influenza). In many cases, a
sore throat is the first indication that you're getting sick.
Sore throats are so common they're one of the main reasons people see a
doctor. But many of those office visits aren't necessary. Most sore throats
are caused by a virus and go away on their own in about a week. Only a small
percentage are bacterial infections that may require medical care. Bacterial
infections are sometimes treated with antibiotics, although drugs don't
always speed healing or prevent infections from recurring. And antibiotics
aren't effective against viruses, which respond best to self-care measures
such as resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Until you're feeling better,
salt-water gargles, throat lozenges or warm water with honey and lemon can
help make having a sore throat easier to swallow.
Signs and symptoms
A sore throat usually occurs with other signs and symptoms. These can vary
considerably, depending on the type of infection you have. Most often, a
sore throat accompanies a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. You can
usually distinguish between the two based on your symptoms. For example, in
addition to a sore throat, a cold is likely to cause:
Sneezing
Watery eyes
Cough
A low fever — less than 38.8ºC or 102ºF
Slight body aches or mild headache
Influenza, on the other hand, is usually marked by:
Fatigue
Body aches
Chills
Sweats
A fever over 102 F
Mononucleosis (Mono) is another viral illness associated with a severe sore
throat. Although signs and symptoms of the disease typically last about 10
days, it can take weeks to recover your strength after a bout of mono. In
addition to a sore throat, mononucleosis may cause:
*Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
*Swollen tonsils
*Headache
*Skin rash
*loss of appetite
*Soft, swollen spleen
*Liver inflammation
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections that can cause a severe sore throat include strep
throat, tonsillitis.
Causes
Most sore throats are caused by viruses — the same germs that cause colds
and flu. A much smaller number are due to bacterial infections. Viruses and
bacteria both enter your body through your mouth or nose — either because
you breathe in particles that are released into the air when someone coughs
or sneezes, or because you have hand-to-hand contact with an infected
person or use shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys, doorknobs or a
telephone. Touch your eyes or nose after such contact and you're likely to
become sick yourself. Because the germs that cause sore throats are
contagious, they can spread easily wherever large numbers of people
congregate: schools, child care centers, offices and yes, your own home.
Self-care
Until your sore throat has run its course, try these measures to ease your
discomfort:
*Double your fluid intake. Fluids help keep mucus thin and easy to clear.
(avoid citrus juices though, they can hurt!)
*Gargle with warm salt water. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of
warm water, gargle, and then spit the water out. This will soothe your throat
and clear it of mucus.
*Use honey and lemon. Stir honey and lemon to taste into a glass of very
hot water, allowing it to cool to room temperature before you sip it. The
honey coats and soothes your throat, and the lemon helps cut mucus. This
time-tested recipe may relieve most of your pain — if only temporarily.
*Suck on a throat lozenge or hard candy. (any hard candy will do)This
isn't necessarily soothing in itself, but it does stimulate saliva production,
which bathes and cleanses your throat.
*Humidify the air. Especially your bedroom at night. Adding moisture to
the air prevents your mucous membranes from drying out. This can reduce
irritation and make it easier to sleep.
*Avoid smoke and other air pollutants. Smoke irritates a sore throat. At
least while you're sick, stop smoking and avoid all fumes from household
cleaners and paint.
*Rest your voice. If your sore throat has affected your voice box
(larynx), talking may lead to more irritation and temporary loss of your voice
(laryngitis). Contrary to popular belief, it is better to speak at a normal tone
rather than whisper. But, it is still best to not speak at all.
*Avoid infecting others. If you're not well, take a few days off to avoid
spreading your germs to others.
When to seek medical advice
Although uncomfortable, most sore throats aren't harmful and go away on
their own in five to seven days. But sometimes they can signal a more serious
condition. See your doctor if you have any of the following:
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A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
Severe difficulty swallowing (so that you are unable to even swallow
your saliva and you’re drooling)or trouble breathing
A temperature higher than 39.4° C or 103° F
Tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck
Pus at the back of the throat
Rash on your body
Hoarseness that lasts longer than two weeks
Blood in saliva or phlegm
Symptoms of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, severe weakness and
decreased urine output
Contact with someone who has been diagnosed with strep throat
Recurring sore throats
Treatment
Most sore throats go away without treatment, often within a week or so.
That's a good thing, because no medical therapy exists for sore throats
caused by viral infections. But increasing your fluid intake and getting extra
sleep can help speed your recovery. When you're sick, choose fluids such as
water, soups and broths — not sodas or drinks that contain caffeine, which
can dehydrate you further. If you find it extremely painful to swallow, try
sipping warm broth through a straw or sucking on ice chips. Milkshakes may
help soothe your throat too. You may also find that jello slides down easily.
Treating bacterial infections
At one time, doctors automatically treated all sore throats with antibiotics,
both to cure the infection and to prevent dangerous complications such as
rheumatic fever. Now, though, doctors are much less likely to prescribe
medication because the overuse of antibiotics has led to an alarming increase
in antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. What's more, antibiotics such as
penicillin do little to hasten recovery from strep throat or to reduce signs
and symptoms, and they don't prevent infections from recurring. Be sure
your doctor performs a throat swab or rapid strep test before prescribing
any antibiotic for a sore throat. (this is the ONLY way to properly diagnose
strep throat!)
If your doctor does recommend antibiotics for you, take the entire course
of medication, even if you feel better. This helps prevent the infection from
coming back. It also prevents bacteria from becoming resistant to the
medication. You will no longer be considered contagious after taking the
antibiotics for a full 24 hours.
If you have any further questions, please see one of the nurses in the
health centre
This information package has been developed by the nurses at Sheridan College, Davis Campus, April,
2006