A sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, is a painful inflammation of the back part of the throat. Pharyngitis can involve the following parts of the throat:
- The back third of the tongue
- The soft palate (roof of the mouth)
- The tonsils (fleshy tissue that are part of the throat’s immune defenses)
Causes of a Sore Throat
Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of sore throat.
Viral infections such as the common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis are the most common cause of a sore throat. Infections of this type do not respond to antibiotics, and is only necessary to help relieve symptoms.
Less commonly, sore throats may be caused by a bacterial infection such as streptococcus and unlike viral infections, bacterial infections do require antibiotics.
Symptoms of a Sore Throat
The main symptom of pharyngitis include the following:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches and generally feeling unwell
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Hoarseness
- Redness of the eyes
- If the cause is a virus, children may have diarrhea. Some viruses cause painful sores in and around the mouth, including the lips.
- If the cause is bacterial, you may notice swollen glands in the front of the neck and enlarged tonsils with white spots. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain may also be present.
It can be difficult to differentiate between viral and bacterial pharyngitis because they share many symptoms and may look similar on a physical exam by your doctor.
Diagnosis
After reviewing your symptoms, the doctor will ask if there is a possiblity of exposure to someone with strep throat or any other infection involving the throat, nose or ears. Your doctor will examine you, paying particular attention to your mouth, throat, nose, ears and the lymph nodes in your neck. If your doctor is certain you have strep throat, he or she may prescribe antibiotics without further testing. If there is any uncertainty, the doctor may want to do a strep test.
A rapid strep test may be done in your doctor’s office, takes only a few minutes to do and detects 80% to 90% of all cases of strep throat. If this quick test is negative, but your doctor still believes you might have strep, your doctor will take a sample of your throat fluids for more intensive testing in a laboratory. Results will be available in 24 to 48 hours.
Management
Viral pharyngitis is treated with supportive care, things to make you more comfortable. Antibiotics do not kill viruses. Bacterial pharyngitis caused by strep infection is treated with antibiotics. The following supportive steps can help manage your symptoms.
- Getting plenty of rest (either in or out of bed)
- Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin (in adults only) to relieve throat pain
- Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration
- Gargling with warm salty water to ease throat pain
- Drinking warm liquids (tea or broth) or cool liquids or eating gelatin desserts or flavored ices to soothe the throat
- Using a cool mist vaporizer to relieve throat dryness
- Using non-prescription throat lozenges or anesthetic throat sprays
When To See a Medical Professional
Call your doctor promptly if you have a sore throat along with any of the following symptoms or if you have any type of throat discomfort that lasts for more than two weeks.
- Painful swallowing that prevents you from drinking water or other clear fluids
- Difficulty breathing through your mouth
- Noisy breathing or excessive drooling
- Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Prevention
While it’s impossible to prevent all infections, you can help to decrease exposure and spreading:
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose or after caring for a child with a sore throat.
- If someone in your home has pharyngitis, keep his or her eating utensils and drinking glasses separate from those of other family members. Wash these objects thoroughly in hot, soapy water.
- If a toddler with pharyngitis has been chewing or sucking on toys, wash these objects thoroughly in water and disinfectant soap, then rinse well.
- Promptly dispose of any dirty tissues from runny noses and sneezes, and then wash your hands.
- Do not allow a child with strep throat to return to school or day care until he or she has been taking antibiotics for at least 24 hours and symptoms have improved.
Emergency in Houston?
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