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Health @ Home
Sore Throat
Sore throats range from very slight pain to severe, that
even swallowing saliva hurts. Often the cause of all this misery can be either a virus or
bacteria. Viral sore throats are the more common of the two and don't respond to
antibiotics, while the bacterial ones do. So it is important to know the type of
infection. A sore throat can result from a fungal infection too.
Bacterial sore throats are most often caused by
streptococcus and usually bring high fever, headaches and swollen, enlarged neck glands
with them. Viral sore throats generally don't. It is difficult to diagnose sore throats
based on symptoms alone. In rare cases an untreated streptococcal throat can lead to
serious complications including abscesses, kidney inflammation or rheumatic heart
disease.
Questions to answer:
Is it very hard for you to breathe?
Are you unable to swallow your own saliva?
Are you unable to say more than 3 or 4 words between
breaths?
Is the sore throat associated with?
- Fever
- Swollen enlarged neck glands
- Head Ache
- General achy feeling
- Ear pain
- Bad breath
- Skin rash
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Dark urine
Does your tonsils at the back of the throat look bright
red or have visible pus deposits?
Does someone else in your family have a streptococcal
throat infection?
Do you get streptococcal throat infection often?
Has even a mild sore throat lasted more than two weeks?
If yes, then DO NOT self-treat. Contact your family
doctor immediately. If the sore throat is a milder one you can try the following in your
house.
Self-Care Procedures:
- Gargle every few hours with ¼ teaspoon of salt dissolved
in ½ cup of warm water.
- Drink plenty of warm liquids like tea (with or without
honey) and drink soup.
- Eat and drink cold food and liquids like frozen yogurt,
ice cream and ice water.
- Don't smoke, as it can aggravate sore throats and make you
more susceptible to them.
- Don't eat spicy food.
- Take aspirin or paracetamol to relieve pain or fever or
both. (NOTE: DO NOT give aspirin or any medication containing salicylates to children
under 12 years without consulting your doctor. They may cause a potentially fatal
condition called Reye's syndrome.
- Do not get in close contact with anyone you know having a
sore throat.
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