A sore throat is a painful, dry or scratchy feeling in the throat.
Types Of Sore Throat
Pain throat are divided into types based on the part of the throat they affect: pharyngitis, causes swelling and pain in the throat, tonsilitis, which is the inflammation and redness of the tonsils (the soft tissue at the back of the mouth) and laryngitis, that means inflammation and redness of the larynx.
What Causes A Sore Throat?
The main causes of a pain in the throat could be:
1. Colds, the flu (influenza) and other viral infections (mononucleosis, measles, chickenpx, mumps or even COVID-19).
2. Bacterial infections.
3. Allergies.
4. Dry air.
5. Smoke, chemicals and other irritant products.
6. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (the acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, burning your throat) and Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) (the acid from the stomach flows back up into the esophagus or throat, leading to a sore throat).
Common Symptoms
They can vary depending on the cause but they usually include:
1. Pain or a scratchy sensation in the area.
2. Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking.
3. Difficulty swallowing.
4. Pain and swollen glands in your neck or jaw.
5. Swollen, red tonsils.
6. White patches or pus on your tonsils.
7. A hoarse or muffled voice.
8. Redness of the throat and tonsils.
There are certain conditions that are more conducive to sore throats, such as age (children are more prone to them), time of year (typical of winter weather), exposure to pollutants such as tobacco and air pollution, poor hygiene and vocal strain.
How To Treat Sore Throat?
Although this kind of pain can be really uncomfortable, if it is caused by a viral infection, it usually goes away on its own without any treatment – in many cases, over-the-counter pain reliever are enough.
Paracetamol is one of the most used medicines for throat discomfort and relief of symptoms in general. Abundant liquids and fruits help to alleviate sore throat symptoms, as the National Library of Medicine indicates. We also suggest avoiding physical effort and rest if you feel low on energy.
The recommended treatment is to alleviate the symptoms but, in case of symptoms persistence, it will be necessary to visit a doctor to rule out more serious viral or bacterial infections.
And above all, follow these recommendations even during the holidays, because you don’t want a sore throat to ruin your free time in this way!
If you experience severe symptoms or if your sore throat lasts longer than one week, talk to our doctors to determine the cause and best course of treatment for you.
