PATIENT IN FORMATION LEAFLET: SORE THROAT AND TONSILLITIS
Sore throats are particularly common in young children and young adults.
This is probably because they are mixing in different social groups, and this
is the first time that they have been exposed to the bacteria or viruses
which cause sore throats. It is common in adults to have two or three sore
throats per year, especially when developing a cold.
After you have had a sore throat from particular bacteria or viruses, you will
develop immunity to those bacteria or viruses. Antibiotics will not help
most sore throats. The antibiotics themselves can cause unpleasant sideeffects and if they are used too often, they will no longer be effective for
patients with life-threatening illness.
Home Treatment:
 Take paracetamol 1 g every 4 hours up to a maximum of 4 g in any 24
hours
(for children, follow the instructions for their age)
 Try throat gargles with warm salty water
 Drink plenty of soft drinks (it may help to warm these)
 Stay at home if you have a raised temperature
 Avoid cigarette smoke
(Further advice on simple relief measures can be obtained from your
local pharmacist)
Contact your doctor if you have:
Any difficulty in breathing
Any difficulty swallowing saliva or opening your mouth
A persistent high temperature
A particularly severe illness, especially with symptoms mainly on
one side of the throat
 A sore throat which is not improving after several days
 Very frequent sore throats which don't respond to home treatment
as above
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