What Can I Take for a Sore Throat?
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Woman sitting in her comfortable home, drinking teaKnowing what to take for a sore throat depends on what's causing it. Viruses cause most sore throats and will go away on their own.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by Streptococcus bacteria and must be treated with antibiotics. A healthcare provider can test you for strep throat to determine if antibiotics are needed.
This article will discuss what to do when you have a sore throat, including when to see a healthcare provider and how to relieve symptoms.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have a sore throat with any of the following:
Difficulty breathing
Drooling because you cannot swallow
Swelling of the neck or tongue
Stiff neck or difficulty opening the mouth
Blood in saliva or phlegm
An underlying medical condition or medication that may weaken your immune system
Contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately if they have a sore throat with any of the following symptoms:
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
Excessive drooling
Temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or greater
Swelling of the neck
Refusing to eat or drink
Muffled voice
Difficulty opening the mouth
Blood in saliva or phlegm
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Woman sitting in her comfortable home, drinking teaWhat Is a Sore Throat?
A sore throat (pharyngitis) is a painful, scratchy, or burning feeling in the back of the throat. It may feel worse when you swallow or talk.
Causes of sore throats include, but aren't limited to, the following:
Viral infections
Bacterial infections
Environmental factors (ex., pollution)
A healthcare provider can help determine the cause and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
What Tests Are There for Sore Throats?
To find the cause of your sore throat, a healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam.
The exam may include looking at the back of your throat with a lighted instrument and feeling your neck for swollen glands (lymph nodes).
If a healthcare provider thinks you might have strep throat, they'll use a throat swab to test for it. The swab will be used for a rapid antigen test or a throat culture.
Rapid Antigen Test
Healthcare providers may first use a rapid antigen test to help diagnose strep throat.
They will collect a sample with a sterile throat swab, gently rubbing it against the back of your throat.
Most clinics have the equipment to test your sample using a rapid antigen test.
Rapid antigen test results are usually available within 10 to 20 minutes.
Throat Culture
If your rapid antigen test results return negative, your healthcare provider may send your sample to a lab to perform a throat culture.
This type of test is more accurate than the rapid antigen test.
However, getting results from a throat culture can take 24 to 48 hours.
What Causes Sore Throats?
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as those that cause colds or the flu. Sore throats caused by a viral infection typically get better on their own and do not require antibiotics.
You may have a sore throat caused by a virus if you also have any of the following symptoms:
Cough
Runny nose
Hoarseness
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Bacteria, such as strep A, B, or C, may cause sore throats. Group A strep commonly causes strep throat, an infection in the throat and tonsils. Strep throat is treated with antibiotics.
Signs and symptoms of strep throat may include the following:
A sore throat that comes on rapidly
Pain when swallowing
Fever
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or pus
Small red spots on the roof of the mouth
Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Other causes of sore throats include the following:
Smoking or secondhand smoke
Snoring
Frequent shouting. People with jobs requiring them to regularly use a loud voice, such as teachers or aerobics instructors, may be at an increased risk.
Certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors and chemotherapy
Air pollution and fumes
Cold, dry air
What Are Home Remedies for a Sore Throat?
Most sore throats resolve on their own.
However, it's essential to talk to a healthcare provider about your or your child's symptoms so they can determine if testing for strep throat is needed.
Bacteria cause strep throat and must be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications.
However, there are ways to help ease your symptoms at home. Consider some of the following:
Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or lozenges (never give lozenges to a child younger than two).
Use a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer.
Gargle with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt mixed in 1 cup of water).
Drink warm, soothing beverages or soup.
Stay well hydrated with plenty of fluids.
Use a spoonful of honey—either alone or added to tea—to help relieve cough in adults and children at least 1-year-old.
Try an OTC pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Always ask a healthcare provider or pharmacist before treating children, including infants, with OTC products since some ingredients may not be safe for young children.
Summary
Most sore throats will go away on their own, but there are ways to help relieve your symptoms.
Consuming warm beverages, gargling with salt water, or using a humidifier may all help. You can also try OTC pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Always check with a healthcare provider or pharmacist before treating children with any OTC product since some ingredients may not be safe for young children.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by bacteria that must be treated with antibiotics. A healthcare provider can test you for strep throat to determine if it is causing your symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I take for a sore throat.
Sucking on something cold, like ice chips or popsicles, or drinking something warm, like tea or soup, can help soothe your sore throat. Honey and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can also help. But be sure to check with a healthcare provider or pharmacist before treating a child with OTC products. And don't give honey to children under one year old. Strep throat (a sore throat caused by bacteria) must be treated with antibiotics. A healthcare provider can test you for strep throat.
What can I take for a sore throat while pregnant?
Acetaminophen is safe to use during pregnancy. Gargling with salt water is another safe option that may help improve your symptoms. Be sure to contact a healthcare provider if your symptoms don't disappear within a few days.
When should I or my child see a healthcare provider for a sore throat?
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience a severe sore throat and fever (101 F or greater) lasting longer than a day or two. A healthcare provider should also see you if you have trouble sleeping due to swollen tonsils or adenoids or developing a red rash.
Call your child's healthcare provider if they have a sore throat that lasts more than a day, especially if they also have a fever, headache, stomachache, drooling, or signs of dehydration. Their healthcare provider may want to test them for strep throat to determine if antibiotics are needed.
