Often, Group A strep bacteria cause pharyngitis, known as strep throat. The main symptom of pharyngitis is a sore throat, but you may also have other signs of an infection, such as a fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, and swollen glands in your neck. Your doctor will notice that your pharynx is swollen and red when looking at your throat.
You may also need a swab called a throat culture to make sure you don't have strep throat. If you do test positive for strep throat, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic to kill off the bacteria. There's another common type of bacteria that can cause throat infections: Fusobacterium necrophorum.
I call it F-throat. Antibiotics are important for F-throat. But pharyngitis that's caused by a virus won't get better with antibiotics. You'll just need to take care of yourself and wait for your body to fight off the infection. To soothe a sore throat, drink warm liquids such as tea with honey or lemon. Gargle a few times a day with warm water mixed with about a half-teaspoon of salt.
Sleep with a cool-mist vaporizer to keep your throat moist. Popsicles may be soothing. And suck on cough drops or lozenges.
If your throat is really raw, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Sore throats are more common during the winter months, so wash your hands often and try to not be too close to people who are sick. If you do get a sore throat, stay home and rest until you feel better, or at least until there's been no fever for 24 hours.
Keep washing your hands often so you don't pass the infection to other people in your family. 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.
Yet some causes of a sore throat need to be treated. Most sore throats get better on their own, within a few days. Bacterial infections like strep throat need to be treated with antibiotics. See a doctor for severe symptoms like trouble swallowing or breathing, a stiff neck, or a high fever.
During the exam, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, and will use a light to check the back of your throat for redness, swelling, and white spots. The doctor might also feel the sides of your neck to see if you have swollen glands. The doctor will run a swab over the back of your throat and collect a sample to test for strep throat bacteria. With a rapid strep test, the doctor will get the results within minutes. To confirm the diagnosis, the sample will be sent out to a lab to be tested.
A lab test takes one to two days, but it can definitively show that you have strep throat. Sometimes you might need more tests to figure out the cause of your sore throat. You can see a specialist who treats diseases of the throat, called an ear, nose, and throat ENT doctor or otolaryngologist. Doctors diagnose strep throat based on symptoms, an exam of the throat, and a strep test. For a sore throat without an obvious diagnosis, you might need to see a specialist who treats conditions of the ears, nose, and throat.
You may pass less urine than usual mild dehydration , or you may not be passing urine at all severe dehydration. Severe dehydration means: Your mouth and eyes may be extremely dry. You may pass little or no urine for 12 or more hours. You may not feel alert or be able to think clearly.
You may be too weak or dizzy to stand. You may pass out. Moderate dehydration means: You may be a lot more thirsty than usual. Your mouth and eyes may be drier than usual. You may pass little or no urine for 8 or more hours. You may feel dizzy when you stand or sit up. Mild dehydration means: You may be more thirsty than usual.
You may pass less urine than usual. To use the bulb : Put a few saline nose drops in each side of the baby's nose before you start. Position the baby with his or her head tilted slightly back. Squeeze the round base of the bulb. Gently insert the tip of the bulb tightly inside the baby's nose. Release the bulb to remove suction mucus from the nose. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away.
Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Call or other emergency services now. Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon. Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today. If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning.
If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Make an Appointment Based on your answers, the problem may not improve without medical care. Make an appointment to see your doctor in the next 1 to 2 weeks. If appropriate, try home treatment while you are waiting for the appointment. If symptoms get worse or you have any concerns, call your doctor. Home Treatment Home treatment is usually all that is needed for a sore throat caused by a virus. Gargle with warm salt water to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort: Gargle at least once each hour with 1 tsp 5 g of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz mL of warm water.
If you have postnasal drip, gargle often to prevent more throat irritation. Prevent dehydration. Fluids may help thin secretions and soothe an irritated throat. Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help decrease throat irritation. Use a vaporizer or humidifier in your bedroom. Warm or cool mist may help you feel more comfortable by soothing the swollen air passages. It may also relieve hoarseness. But don't let your room become uncomfortably cold or very damp. Use a shallow pan of water to provide moisture in the air through evaporation if you don't have a humidifier.
Place the pan in a safe location where no one will trip on it or fall into it. Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and avoid secondhand smoke. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking. If you suspect that problems with stomach acid may be causing your sore throat, see the topic Heartburn.
Use nonprescription throat lozenges. Medicated throat lozenges or sprays have medicine local anesthetic that numbs the throat to soothe pain. Hard candy may also help.
Think about buying the sugar-free kind. Use a decongestant or a steroid nasal spray if you have a stuffy nose congestion. These medicines make breathing easier by shrinking swollen mucous membranes in the nose, allowing air to pass through. They also help relieve a runny nose and postnasal drip , which can cause a sore throat. These medicines may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems. Before you use them, check the label. If you do use these medicines, always follow the directions about how much to use based on age and in some cases weight.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain: Acetaminophen , such as Tylenol Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin Naproxen, such as Aleve or Naprosyn Aspirin also a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug , such as Bayer or Bufferin Safety tips Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: Carefully read and follow all directions on the medicine bottle and box.
Do not take more than the recommended dose. Do not take a medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to it in the past. If you have been told to avoid a medicine, call your doctor before you take it. If you are or could be pregnant, do not take any medicine other than acetaminophen unless your doctor has told you to.
Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless your doctor tells you to. More home treatment can be found in topics related to sore throat. If you suspect allergies are causing your symptoms, see the topic Allergic Reaction or Allergic Rhinitis.
If you have laryngitis, see Laryngitis. If your sore throat is caused by sores in your mouth, see the topic Mouth Problems, Noninjury. Prevention There is no sure way to prevent a sore throat.
To help reduce your risk: Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. Wash your hands often, especially when you are around people who are sick. Identify and avoid irritants, such as smoke, fumes, or yelling, that cause a sore throat.
Do not smoke or use other tobacco products and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Avoid contact with people who have strep throat. If you have mononucleosis , do not share eating or drinking utensils to prevent spreading the virus to others. A brief kiss on the lips is not likely to spread mono; it is spread when saliva from an infected person enters another person's mouth.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being ready to answer the following questions: When did your throat symptoms begin? Do you have a fever?
Describe your fever pattern. Do other family members, friends, or coworkers have similar complaints? Do you have other symptoms associated with the sore throat, such as a head cold? What makes the pain worse? Have you had your tonsils removed? Have you been diagnosed with strep throat in the past? How long ago? Was it found during a doctor visit, with a rapid strep test or with a throat culture? How was it treated? What immunizations have you had? What home treatment have you tried?
Did it help? This includes brand names such as Tylenol, Motrin, and Aleve. Do not give children younger than 18 aspirin. This can be fatal. Gargle with warm salt water. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of water and stir. Suck on an over-the-counter throat lozenge. Hard candy works too. Eat a popsicle.
Use a humidifier in your bedroom. Move it to other rooms you spend time in. Drink liquids to keep your throat from getting dry. Also, this helps prevent dehydration. Questions to ask your doctor Will hot drinks make my sore throat worse? Does honey help ease the pain of a sore throat? Should I go to work or school if I have a sore throat?
Can a dry room cause a sore throat? Can certain medicines cause a sore throat? Last Updated: March 3, This article was contributed by: familydoctor. Tags: cold , flu , mononucleosis , sore throat. Related Articles. Learn about the symptoms of and treatments for colds and the flu. Visit our interactive symptom checker Visit our interactive symptom checker Get Started.
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