Recurring Sore Throat

One of the frequent illnesses affecting people is a sore throat. It is an infection in the upper respiratory tract. It is also known as 'pharyngitis'. However, only 10 to 20% of the patients are diagnosed with strep throat.

The symptoms of strep throat and recurring sore throat overlap, which makes diagnosis based on clinical grounds very difficult. For this condition, a swab of the throat is normally taken, to identify the cause.

Children and adolescents are more prone to pharyngitis than adults as adults usually develop immunity towards it. Children usually get affected due to viral infection and in addition have a running nose and/or cough. Sore throats are contagious, hence, proper precautions should be taken.

Causes of sore throat are:

• Common viruses, viruses causing flu, and Epstein-Barr virus can cause sore throat. There are some viruses which can also cause blisters in the mouth and throat.
• If a person breathes through his mouth, it can cause this condition.
• Tonsillitis is the most common cause of sore throat in children.

• Draining of the sinus is another probable cause.
• Pharyngitis can also be caused due to smoking.
• Breathing polluted air in big cities frequently causes sore throat.

• Hay Fever is also a common cause.
• Drinking alcohol causes dehydration and also dries the throat.
• Almost anything and everything under the sun can causes allergies which can give rise to hay fever.

Recurring sore throat and swollen glands is a result of glands working overtime to fight the bacteria or virus causing the throat to inflame. This condition is caused due to streptococcus bacteria.

Rapid strep test is conducted to find out the exact cause. The results of this test take about 15 minutes. However, rapid strep test is unable to tell if the cause is bacteria. Hence, although the results will take about 24 hours to be ready, a throat culture test is more accurate.

If, according to the swab analysis report, the sore throat is caused by streptococcus bacteria, a course of an antibiotic (like penicillin) is normally prescribed.

If a patient is allergic to penicillin, alternative drugs are prescribed. In case the infection is caused by bacteria other than streptococcus, instead of penicillin, another type of antibiotic may be prescribed.

Antibiotics are not useful to treat an infection caused by virus. If a sore throat is caused by bacteria, it will take its own course and then go away. Normally, viral infection takes anywhere between 7 to 10 days to go away.

If Epstein-Barr virus is the cause, it may take a minimum of 4 weeks to go away. In such cases, plenty of rest is recommended, to the extent that you should not strain yourself by exercising. To treat headache or any other aches, any pain killers can be taken.

The first step would be to find out what you are allergic to. You will have to seek help from your health care professional to find out what is triggering allergies in you. If the condition is bad, your doctor may prescribe some medicines, which will help in curing you of this disorder.

The age-old remedy of gargling with warm salt water helps in treating a sore throat. If available, you can also add turmeric to the mixture. Lozenges and frozen desserts will help in keeping the throat well hydrated, as a sore throat is often accompanied by dryness.

If the room you spend maximum amount of time in is dry, it is advisable to use a humidifier in that room. Similarly, use a humidifier in your bedroom as well before you go to bed. Keep yourself well hydrated. Consume a lot of liquids. It is recommended to drink warm soups for lunch and dinner. This will help to soothe a sore throat.

If you have been suffering from recurring sore throat, here is a tip, which will help you to fight the condition. Washing hands frequently (certainly before eating) is the tip. Children are most affected with sore throat and cough.

Therefore, not long ago, tonsils were removed to avoid pharyngitis, but now it is not the same because as the child grows older, he develops immunity.

Disclaimer: This post is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.