Sore throat is a disorder accompanied by a "scratchy" sensation when swallowing or speaking. It is due to multiple factors, including dehydration, allergies, and even muscle fatigue. However, the most common causes are bacterial and viral infections, such as the flu or strep throat. It usually disappears spontaneously within a few days, but with some remedies you can speed up the healing process. In any case, see your doctor if symptoms persist, if you have signs of infection, have difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treating a Sore Throat at Home
Step 1. Use a humidifier
Dry air only makes a sore throat worse with every breath. To relieve discomfort and keep your throat hydrated, you should increase the humidity of the air. This is especially true if you live in a basically dry place.
- Clean the appliance every week to prevent the development of mold and bacteria.
- If your throat is particularly sore, try taking a long hot shower to take advantage of the steam it generates.
Step 2. Gargle with salt water
Add about a teaspoon of salt to 240ml of water and mix until dissolved. Shake this solution in your mouth for 30 seconds and then spit it out. Repeat this every hour. Salt reduces inflammation by absorbing water from swollen tissues.
Step 3. Eat soft foods that don't irritate your throat
Opt for cooked apples, rice, scrambled eggs, well done pasta, oatmeal, smoothies, well cooked beans and legumes. Cold dishes and drinks, such as popsicles and frozen yogurt, can also relieve your throat.
- Avoid spicy foods, such as spiced chicken wings, salami pizza, or any other food topped with chillies, curry, or garlic.
- Also avoid solid or sticky foods that can cause swallowing problems, such as peanut butter, dry bread, toast, crackers, raw vegetables, fruit, and dry cereals.
Step 4. Chew well
With the fork and knife, cut the food into small bites before placing it in your mouth. Make sure you chew it well to break it down before you swallow it. Thoroughly chopped and wetted with saliva, it will not hinder swallowing.
To have fewer problems when ingesting, you can also use a blender to purée all the food
Part 2 of 3: Keeping Hydrated
Step 1. Drink lots of water
Water prevents dehydration and a dry throat, thus reducing irritation. Most people prefer to drink it at room temperature if they have a sore throat. However, consume it cold or hot if you prefer.
Try adding a teaspoon of honey because, thanks to its antibacterial properties, it is able to soothe the throat by covering it with a protective layer
Step 2. Opt for soups and broth
The old "grandmother's remedy" that recommends consuming chicken broth to cure colds is still valid! Helps prevent sinus infections, relieve sore throats, calm coughs and keep the body hydrated.
Step 3. Make an herbal tea
Herbal teas made from licorice root, sage, ginger root, thyme, oregano and marshmallow root relieve sore throat and make you feel more relaxed. Furthermore, thanks to their antiseptic properties, they help fight bacterial infections. Start by making your favorite herbal tea, then choose a plant that offers a calming effect and pour 5g into your tea. For best results, drink 3 to 5 cups a day.
Add a little honey or lemon to flavor it
Part 3 of 3: When to See Your Doctor
Step 1. Seek immediate medical attention if you have difficulty breathing, swallowing problems or severe symptoms
In these circumstances, you need to see your doctor. Go to her office on the same day or go to the emergency room. Severe symptoms include:
- Sore throat that lasts more than a week or looks severe
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Breathing problems
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Pain in the temporomandibular joint;
- Joint pain, particularly if you have never suffered from it before
- Earache
- Rash;
- Fever above 38.5 ° C;
- Traces of blood in saliva or phlegm
- Recurrent sore throat;
- Presence of a lump or mass on the neck
- Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks.
Step 2. See your doctor if symptoms persist or if there is a risk of infection
Normally, a sore throat begins to improve within a week. However, the cause can be a viral or bacterial infection. If it's bacterial, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help heal. Call it if you notice the following symptoms:
- Fever;
- Chills;
- Cough;
- Rhinorrhea;
- Sneezing
- Muscle aches;
- Headache;
- Nausea or vomiting.
Step 3. See your doctor
He will inspect your throat, palpate your neck for swollen glands, perform a pulmonary auscultation, and ask you to expose your symptoms. They may then prescribe an oropharyngeal swab to see if the sore throat is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. While it's not a painful test, it can be uncomfortable if it triggers the gag reflex. Once you have the results, bring them to the attention of your doctor so that he can prescribe a treatment that is appropriate for your condition.
They may also order allergy tests or a complete blood count to check for infections
Step 4. Take an antibiotic if you have a bacterial infection, following your doctor's directions
If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help your immune system fight the infection and recover faster. Make sure you take it without neglecting its directions even when you start to feel better, otherwise the symptoms may return.
Step 5. Take a pain reliever to relieve the discomfort caused by a viral infection
Unfortunately, there are no medications for viral infections. However, you can calm the pain and severity of symptoms by taking an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or acetaminophen (Tachipirina). Always take it following the instructions in the package insert and consult your doctor first.
- NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Brufen, Moment) and naproxen (Synflex).
- Never give aspirin to anyone under the age of 16 as it may cause Reye's syndrome.
