| Sore throat |
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Reviewed by Dr John Pillinger, GP |
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What is a sore throat?
A sore throat (also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis) is a disease primarily located in the area around the tonsils. It can be caused by both a virus and a bacteria. A sore throat is partly a disease in itself and partly an effect of other diseases such as flu and glandular fever.
The disease is normally seen in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The characteristics of the disease are throat pain and trouble swallowing. If the disease is due to bacteria it can be treated with antibiotics. Usually there are no complications.
How do you contract a sore throat?
By being infected by a virus or bacteria.
Infection by a virus may come from the same virus that causes colds and from an Epstein-Barr virus – the latter causes glandular fever. The infection originates from airborne droplets and hands that carry the infection from person to person.
Among the bacteria that cause sore throats, the streptococcus group A is the most common. The incubation period between picking up the infection until the disease breaks out, is two to four days or sometimes less.
What are the signs of a sore throat?
How does the doctor make a diagnosis? The doctor usually makes the diagnosis from the symptoms of the disease, but occasionally a swab of the secretions of the throat and maybe a blood sample are required to identify the cause. What complications may arise? Usually a sore throat causes no trouble and only lasts about a week, but the following complications may arise:
How is a sore throat treated and which medication may help? In the vast majority of cases, a sore throat cased by a virus infection need only be treated with paracetamol (eg Calpol, Panadol) to bring the temperature down. In a small minority of patients, a sore throat caused by bacteria is treated with penicillin, or erythromycin (eg Erythroped) in cases of penicillin allergy. The symptoms of a sore throat can be relieved by using over-the-counter medicines, such as sprays containing antiseptics and anaesthetics to numb the sore area, or antiseptic gargles. These can be bought without a prescription and your doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you about them. |
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