Sore Throat
Possible diagnoses: Tonsillitis, Pharyngitis, Strep Throat, Post Nasal Drip
Introduction: Sore throat can be a result of an infection, or drainage from your sinuses. Both viral and bacterial infections can cause sore throat. Most commonly viral infections are the cause of sore throat and these people do not need to see a doctor as it usually gets better on its own.
However, sometimes a sore throat can be more serious and you may need to seek medical attention if you have a high grade fever > 101 F or 38.4 C or you have severe throat pain within the first 2 days or does not start to improve within five to seven days.
Also, if you develop serious complications like trouble breathing, drooling because of inability to swallow your saliva, swelling of the neck or tongue, inability to move your neck, or trouble opening your mouth you may need to seek emergent medical care by calling 911.
Sore throat can also happen from drainage of mucus in the back of your throat from sinus congestion caused by allergies. This is called postnasal drip which can irritate your throat.
If you are concerned about your sore throat symptoms and would like to speak to a Kingsley Clinic doctor from the comfort of your home, click here.
Symptoms: It can be hard to tell the difference between a viral or bacterial cause of sore throat but here are some clues to look for.
People with a viral infection usually have these other symptoms: runny nose, itchy and red eyes, raspy or hoarse voice, and cough.
People who have a sore throat caused by strep throat (bacterial infection) do not usually have a cough, runny nose, or itchy or red eyes. They might have been in close contact with another person who has strep throat. They might also have severe throat pain, fever with temperature higher than 100.4 F or 38 C, swollen glands in the neck, or a rash.
Testing: A strep throat infection can be diagnosed by doing a rapid strep test which swabs the back of your throat and tests it for the bacteria Streptococcus. Strep throat is uncommon in children under age 3, so testing is recommended before treating with antibiotics. However, in children > 3 years old and adults may be treated with antibiotics without testing if the clinical picture is consistent and the patient meets criteria for strep throat.
Treatment: If your sore throat is caused by a viral infection then antibiotics are not needed. Your symptoms should improve within 5- 7 days. But if you have strep throat, then you need antibiotics. Speak to a Kingsley Clinic physician today, to determine the best course of action for you.
There are other things you can do to find relief for the pain from sore throat:
- Take pain medicine like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen. Do NOT give aspirin aspirin containing medications to children younger than 18 years.
- Use numbing throat sprays or cough drops
- Salt water gargles
- Warm tea, or soup