Do you feel a scratchy, sore throat when you wake up in the morning? Do you find it hard to swallow food? Yes, this is the beginning of a sore throat that almost everyone has. Most of the time, it gets better on its own in two to three days without any major treatment. But sometimes, your voice becomes hoarse and your throat may be sore for a few days. Usually, this is due to an infection. But sometimes, things like dry air, heavy smoke, and tobacco smoke can also cause your throat to hurt. Let's see why this happens and what we can do about it.
What really causes a sore throat?
Most of the time, our throat hurts
because of a common cold or flu . This is like a side effect that comes with the illness. In the case of a cold, the symptoms start slowly. But when you get a fever, your body suddenly loses its strength. If you have symptoms like a cough, hoarse voice, and
phlegm , it is most likely due to a cold.
A cold is not as serious as a flu . The flu attacks your nose, throat, and lungs. Also, severe symptoms like
body aches and headaches can come with the fever. In addition to these two main causes, there are several other causes of a sore throat.
- Smoke and dust: If you smoke , smoke from household chemicals, and high levels of air pollution outside can also cause a sore throat .
- Excessive use of the voice: People who talk and shout constantly, such as teachers and singers, can get tired and sore in the throat muscles.
- Allergies : Some people can experience a scratchy or sore throat due to allergies to things like dust, cat and dog dander, and pollen .
Reasons to be a little careful
In addition to the above reasons, some medical conditions can also cause a sore throat. It is important for us to be a little aware of these.
| Disease status | Description |
|---|
| Strep throat | This is a mild bacterial infection. The pain can be so severe that it can be unbearable to swallow. You may also notice white or yellow patches on the tonsils in your throat. If you have these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor . He or she will take a swab from your throat and test it, and if necessary, give you antibiotics. |
| Tonsillitis | A sore throat and difficulty swallowing can also be caused by swelling of the tonsils, which are glands on either side of the throat. This can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. |
| Mononucleosis | This is a disease caused by a virus. Some people call it the "kissing disease" because it is spread through saliva. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, and swelling of the tonsils, neck, or armpits. |
What are the symptoms of this?
In addition to a dry, scratchy, and sore throat, your voice may also become hoarse. Depending on the cause, symptoms can range from mild to severe.
| Commonly seen symptoms |
|---|
| Symptoms related to the throat itself |
| Difficulty swallowing | Hoarseness of voice |
| Swelling in the neck or jaw | Cough |
| Tonsils become red, swollen, or have white spots/pus visible on them |
| Other symptoms that may occur in the body |
| Body pain | Fever |
| Headache | Nausea or vomiting |
| Mucus and sneezing | Stomach ache |
How to get relief from a sore throat at home?
There is no instant cure for a sore throat, but there are a few things we can do to find relief.
The most important thing is to get plenty of rest. Rest is essential when the body is fighting infections. Just as you rest your body, rest your voice too.
- Keep your throat moist: A dry throat can cause more pain. So drink plenty of water . Sucking on a sweet toffee (lozenge) helps to moisten your throat and promote saliva flow. Drinking something like ginger and coriander is also very good.
- Be careful about what you give to children: Avoid giving small toffees to small children as they can choke. Instead, give them cool things like ice packs, ice cream (sherbet), and popsicles.
- Humidity: It's best to use a humidifier to keep the air moist in the rooms where you spend the most time.
- Clean air: Stay away from cigarette smoke and things that cause you allergies.
- Gargle with salt water: This is very beneficial. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, gargle with it, and spit it out. Do this several times a day.
- Painkillers: If the pain is severe, you can take a painkiller such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen as directed by your doctor. But never take medication without consulting a doctor . Read the instructions carefully, especially when giving it to children and young people.
When should we definitely see a doctor?
If a simple sore throat doesn't get better in a few days or if the pain is very severe, definitely see your doctor. Don't put it off.
In addition, seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following "red flags":
- If you are an adult, your fever is higher than 103 Fahrenheit (39.4 Celsius), or if your fever is higher than 100.4 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) for more than 3 days.
- If children have a fever, it's best to call the doctor and seek advice, regardless of the fever level.
- If the salivary glands are swollen.
- If you have difficulty swallowing food, breathing, or opening your mouth.
- Drooling occurs when saliva is inadvertently released from the mouth.
- If you have blood in your sputum.
- If you have joint pain.
- If you have an earache.
- If a sore throat persists and recurs.
- If you feel a lump in your neck, it will be caught in your hand.
In such a situation, by seeing a doctor quickly, even a serious underlying condition can be identified and treated early.
Take-Home Message
- Most sore throats are caused by viral infections (colds, flu) and resolve on their own within a few days.
- Getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and gargling with salt water can provide great relief.
- For conditions such as strep throat, which is characterized by severe sore throat and white patches in the throat, you should definitely see a doctor and get antibiotics.
- Always be on the lookout for warning signs such as high fever, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, or a lump in the neck. If you experience any of these, seek medical advice immediately.
- Avoid giving any medication without a doctor's advice, especially to children.
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