Sore Throat

 SORE THROAT

What is a sore throat?

A sore throat is a painful, dry, or scratchy feeling in the throat.

Most sore throats are caused by infections, or by environmental factors like dry air. Although a sore throat can be uncomfortable, it’ll usually go away on its own.

🍎 Sore throats are divided into types, based on the part of the throat they affect:

1. Pharyngitis affects the area right behind the mouth. 

2. Tonsillitis is swelling and redness of the tonsils, the soft tissue in the back of the mouth.

3. Laryngitis is swelling and redness of the voice box, or larynx. 

🍎 Sore throat symptoms

The symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on what caused it. A sore throat can feel:

• scratchy 

• burning

• dry

• tender 

• irritated 

It may hurt more when you swallow or talk. Your throat or tonsils might also look red.

Sometimes, white patches or areas of pus will form on the tonsils. These white patches are more common in strep throat than in a sore throat caused by a virus.

🍎 Along with the sore throat, you can have symptoms like:

• nasal congestion 

• runny nose 

• sneezing

• cough 

• fever 

• chills

• swollen glands in the neck

• hoarse voice 

• body aches 

• headache 

• trouble swallowing

• appetite loss

🍎 8 causes of sore throats

1. Colds, the flu, and other viral infections

2. Strep throat and other bacterial infections

3. Allergies 

4. Dry air

5. Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants

6. Injury

7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 

8. Tumor

🍎 Home remedies for 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.

To relieve the pain of a sore throat:

• Gargle with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt.

• Drink warm liquids that feel soothing to the throat, such as hot tea with honey, soup broth, or warm water with lemon. Herbal teas are especially soothing to a sore throat.

• Cool your throat by eating a cold treat like a popsicle or ice cream.

• Suck on a piece of hard candy or a lozenge.

• Turn on a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.

• Rest your voice until your throat feels better.

IMPORTANT❗️❗️❗️

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 more severe symptoms, like trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or a stiff neck.