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What to Do if You Have a Sore Throat and When to Seek Help

Pain and discomfort in the throat are one of the symptoms of colds caused by respiratory infections. Read about what causes the unpleasant sensation of a foreign body in the article: Sore throat: what causes it and how to get rid of it – folk remedies.

Most often, soreness and redness in the throat go away along with fever and other symptoms of SARS within 2-3 days. However, there are also dangerous signs, which should be addressed immediately for medical help.

A child has a sore throat

If a child has a sore throat, you should consult a pediatrician if it lasts more than one day. Call 103 if the following symptoms occur

  • difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
  • severe pain that makes it impossible to swallow;
  • excessive salivation.

An adult has a sore throat

You should consult your family doctor if:

  • sore throat does not go away for more than a week;
  • white plaque appears on the tonsils;
  • the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees;
  • you have difficulty breathing;
  • sore throat has spread to the ear;
  • noticeable swelling of the face or neck;
  • pain in the joints.

How to treat a sore throat at home

If there are no dangerous signs that require medical attention, you can deal with a sore throat at home. In order to feel relief, you can turn to both a natural first aid kit and try medications.

Warm, plentiful drinking

Tea, fruit drink, compote, or broth can help soothe a sore throat and soothe irritated mucous membranes. When coughing, you can add honey to the drink, which will also help relieve symptoms.

Gargle

One of the regular procedures for a sore throat is gargling. A soda-salt solution will help prevent the development of serious inflammation and the onset of a bacterial infection. Stir a teaspoon of baking soda and salt in 250 ml of warm water, mix, and gargle with the solution at least 4 times a day. Furatsilin or chlorophyllide solutions also have antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

A clove of garlic

Garlic has antimicrobial and antiviral effects due to its acillin content. The product should be consumed raw by simply chewing or sucking. If it is difficult to eat garlic, you can chop it and mix it with olive oil or honey.

A piece of ice or ice cream

A piece of ice can help soothe an inflamed throat and relieve pain. The cold has a beneficial effect on the receptors and relieves pain. You can replace ice with ice cream – children will, especially like this “treatment”.

Medications

Lozenges or sprays sold at the pharmacy can help relieve a sore throat. They contain anesthetics that relieve symptoms and help you feel better.

Important: do not self-medicate if the condition worsens and do not take antibiotics and other medications without first consulting a doctor.

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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