Don't do this more than 5 or 6 times a day. Doing it too often can make the congestion worse and can also cause the lining of the nose to swell or bleed. Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them.
Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care. Home treatment is usually all that is needed for a sore throat caused by a virus. These tips may help you feel better. Consider taking nonprescription medicine for your symptoms.
Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being ready to answer the following questions:.
Blahd Jr. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. Sore Throat and Other Throat Problems. Topic Overview Sore throats can be painful and annoying. Several conditions can cause a sore throat.
Viral infections Sore throats may be caused by a viral illness, such as: The common cold, the most common type of viral infection. Infection of the voice box laryngitis. Mononucleosis mono, "the kissing disease" , a viral infection that tends to cause a persistent sore throat.
Other viral infections, such as mumps , herpangina , or influenza. Bacterial infections A bacterial infection may also cause a sore throat. This can occur from: Strep throat , which usually does not occur with congestion or a cough. An inflammation or infection of the tonsils tonsillitis and sometimes the adenoids adenoiditis. An infection of the tissues around the tonsils peritonsillar abscess.
Inflammation of the epiglottis epiglottitis. Inflammation of the uvula uvulitis. In rare cases, a sexually transmitted infection STI , such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. If you have engaged in high-risk sexual behavior , consider whether you may have gonorrhea or chlamydia. For more information, see the topic Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Irritants and injuries A sore throat that lasts longer than a week is often caused by irritants or an injuries, such as: Throat irritation from low humidity, smoking, air pollution, yelling, or nasal drainage down the back of the throat postnasal drip.
Breathing through the mouth when you have allergies or a stuffy nose. Stomach acid that backs up into the throat, which may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.
Although GERD often occurs with heartburn , an acid taste in the mouth, or a cough, sometimes a sore throat is the only symptom. An injury to the back of the throat, such as a cut or puncture from falling with a pointed object in the mouth.
Check Your Symptoms Do you have a sore throat? This also includes symptoms like hoarseness or a lump in the throat. How old are you? Less than 3 months. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".
This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Do you have an injury to your mouth or teeth? Do you think that a problem with your mouth such as a sore or an infection is causing the sore throat?
Does your baby seem sick? A sick baby probably will not be acting normally. For example, the baby may be much fussier than usual or not want to eat. How sick do you think your baby is? Extremely sick. Baby is sick sleepier than usual, not eating or drinking like usual.
Is your baby having trouble breathing? Sometimes babies may have trouble breathing because of a stuffy nose. If your baby's nose is stuffy, clearing the nose with a rubber bulb may help. Would you describe the breathing problem as severe, moderate, or mild? Do you think your baby may be dehydrated? Are the symptoms severe, moderate, or mild? Do you think your baby has a fever? Did you take a rectal temperature?
Taking a rectal temperature is the only way to be sure that a baby this age does not have a fever. If you don't know the rectal temperature, it's safest to assume the baby has a fever and needs to be seen by a doctor. Any problem that causes a fever at this age could be serious.
Is it Is your child drooling and unable to swallow, cry, or make sounds? Is your child having trouble breathing more than a stuffy nose? The symptoms of difficulty breathing in an older child may be different than symptoms in a baby or young child.
Is your child's ability to breathe:. Getting worse? Staying about the same not better or worse? Getting better? Quickly getting worse within minutes or hours? Slowly getting worse over days? Does your child have a chronic health problem that affects his or her breathing, such as asthma? A breathing problem may be more of a concern if your child normally does not have breathing problems.
They normally get better within a week. There are also products such as medicated lozenges and sprays sold in pharmacies that you may want to try. There isn't much scientific evidence to suggest they help, although some people find them worth using. Antibiotics aren't usually prescribed for a sore throat, even if it's caused by a bacterial infection, as they're unlikely to make you feel better any quicker and they can have unpleasant side effects.
The cause of a sore throat isn't always obvious. But in most cases it's a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. It may also be caused by something irritating your throat, such as smoke, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease where acid leaks up from the stomach and allergies. These conditions are more serious and should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible see below. You don't usually need to get medical advice if you have a sore throat however your pharmacist may advise you see your GP if:.
If you have a persistent sore throat one that lasts three to four weeks , you should see your GP who may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below. A sore throat is often just one symptom of a bacterial or viral infection, such as the common cold.
These include:. The bacterium or virus that causes a sore throat is usually caught from someone else who is already infected.
For example, the common cold is spread through tiny droplets of fluid that contain the cold virus, launched into the air when someone coughs, sneezes or speaks. If you breathe in one of these droplets or touch a surface that has the virus on it, and then touch your face, you may become infected. Read more about treating a sore throat.
Sore throats are not usually serious and often pass in three to seven days. There are some treatments you can use at home to relieve your symptoms. For treating sore throats, over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol , are usually recommended. These may also help reduce a high temperature fever. You should not take aspirin or ibuprofen if you have:. Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Bacterial infections can also cause sore throats.
The most common one is strep throat , an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat causes nearly 40 percent of sore throat cases in children 3. Tonsillitis, and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat. When the immune system reacts to allergy triggers like pollen, grass, and pet dander, it releases chemicals that cause symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, and throat irritation.
Excess mucus in the nose can drip down the back of the throat. This is called postnasal drip and can irritate the throat. Dry air can suck moisture from the mouth and throat, and leave them feeling dry and scratchy. The air is most likely dry in the winter months when the heater is running. After September 11, more than 62 percent of responding firefighters reported frequent sore throats. Only 3.
Any injury, such as a hit or cut to the neck, can cause pain in the throat. Getting a piece of food stuck in your throat can also irritate it. Repeated use strains the vocal cords and muscles in the throat. You can get a sore throat after yelling, talking loudly, or singing for a long period of time.
Sore throats are a common complaint among fitness instructors and teachers, who often have to yell 4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is a condition in which acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
The acid burns the esophagus and throat, causing symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux — the regurgitation of acid into your throat. A tumor of the throat, voice box, or tongue is a less common cause of a sore throat. You can treat most sore throats at home.
Get plenty of rest to give your immune system a chance to fight the infection. Shop for cool mist humidifiers.
Most sore throats can be treated at home. Warm liquids or frozen foods feel soothing to the throat. A humidifier can moisturize a dry throat.
Sore throats that are caused by a viral infection usually get better on their own in two to seven days 6. The common cold and the virus that causes COVID are both the same type of virus — called a coronavirus — and can cause similar symptoms. But if you have a mild case of COVID, you could spread the coronavirus to someone who suffers a worse infection.
Curtis said. Usually, they will have a touch of fever, loss of taste and smell and difficulty breathing. There are plenty of other possible causes for your sore throat, Dr.
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