Sore Throat

Sore throats are usually nothing to worry about and self resolve within a week. Most are caused by minor illnesses, such as cold and flu which can be managed at home with over the counter medications.

What causes a sore throat?

There often isn’t an obvious cause for a sore throat, but it is most commonly a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection including:

cold or flu
laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box)
tonsillitis
strep throat (a bacterial throat infection)
glandular fever.

Sometimes it can be due to something irritating your throat such as acid reflux or allergies.

Less common but more serious causes include:

Quinsy (a painful collection of pus or an abscess at the back of the throat) – you would have difficulty opening your mouth and problems swallowing which would cause you to dribble or drool.
Epiglottis (inflammation of the flap of tissue at the back of the throat) – you would have severe pain and possible problems breathing and swallowing.

With any of these symptoms you should seek medical help urgently.

How can I treat a sore throat?

Use simple pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to help soothe a sore throat.
Ensure you are drinking plenty of warm fluids.
Eat soft foods.
Avoid smoking and smokey environments.
Gargle with warm, salty water.
Use lozenges, hard sweets, ice cubes and ice lollies to help with any discomfort.
Antibiotics are NOT normally prescribed to treat sore throats, even if there is a bacterial infection. This is because they are unlikely to make you better any more quickly and often have unpleasant side effects.

When do I need to seek medical advice?

You don’t normally need to seek medical advice for your sore throat. However, you may need to seek advice if:

your symptoms are severe
your symptoms are persisting and are not starting to improve after a week
you have frequent sore throat
your immune system is suppressed either through illness or medical treatment.

Do I need to seek emergency help?

Only very rarely does a sore throat lead to an emergency situation – however if you have any of these symptoms you need to seek immediate help.

Your symptoms are severe and getting worse very quickly.
You have difficulty breathing.
You are making a high pitched noise when you are breathing (stridor).
You have problems swallowing and start drooling.