When we have a sore throat and the pain is aggravated by the feeling of scratching and irritation specially when swallowing saliva or a small piece of food, we have a so-called 'pharyngitis'. In the following, we will talk about the causes and symptoms of sore throat and the ways of medical and home treatment to get rid of this discomfort as quickly as possible.
What are the causes of sore throat?
If you have a sore throat, it may be because of on the following reasons and causes:
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Allergies
- Stretching of the pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles
- Gastric reflux
- AIDS
- Tumors
Viruses:
Viral sore throat are the most common types of sore throat caused by viruses. Among all viruses, the common cold viruses are the most common cause of sore throat. Viral infections that cause sore throats include:
- Common cold viruses
- Flu
- Smallpox virus
- COVID 19
- Croup (common childhood disease)
- Measles
- Rubella
Bacteria:
Bacterias can also cause sore throat. The most common bacterial infection that causes pharyngitis is a Group A streptococci.
Allergies:
Pet hair allergies, dust and air pollution, mold and plant pollen can also cause sore throats.
Stretching of the pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles:
When you speak loudly or scream, the muscles in the throat usually stretch and cause a feeling of irritation in the throat.
Gastric reflux:
Return of acid and gastric secretions into the esophagus can irritate the pharynx and cause sore throat and secretions in the back of the throat.
AIDS:
Many HIV-infected patients develop acute and chronic sore throats. They also develop fungal infections of the throat. They are also more susceptible to cytomegalovirus infection and sore throats due to the virus.
Tumors:
Tumors of the larynx, vocal cords, and even the back of the tongue can cause chronic sore throats. These tumors are usually accompanied by hoarseness or the presence of blood in the saliva and mass in the neck.
Symptoms of infectious sore throat:
Viral infections are usually the most common cause of sore throat or pharyngitis with the following symptoms:
How to prevent pharyngitis and sore throat?
To prevent sore throat, consider the following tips:
- Wash hands frequently
- Use of alcohol-based disinfectants
- Avoid touching your mouth and mucous membranes after touching public objects
- Avoid close contact with the sick person
When to see a doctor?
If your child has a sore throat and has one of the following signs or symptoms, see a doctor right away:
- If your child is having difficulty in breathing
- If your child has difficulty in swallowing
- If your child has unusual runny nose and cannot swallow anything
- In the above cases, it is better to go to an equipped medical center
Dangerous symptoms in adults:
If you are an adult and have any of the following signs or symptoms, see you doctor as soon as you can:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Difficulty in swallowing food
- Prolonged sore throat
- mass in the neck
- Hoarseness
- Swelling of the head and neck
- Blood in saliva
How long does a sore throat last?
Viral sore throats or viral pharyngitis usually resolve within three to ten days and often do not require a doctor visit or medication. Bacterial pharyngitis usually lasts longer, but with proper antibiotics you will recover in two to three days.
What are the differences between viral and bacterial pharyngitis?
Bacterial pharyngitis usually has no accompanying symptoms such as runny nose or body aches, but a green or yellow sticky discharges or white spots on the throat can be seen by at the bottom of the throat. Severe pain when swallowing saliva or food and fever above thirty-eight degrees Celsius (one hundred and one degrees Fahrenheit) are the common symptoms associated with bacterial pharyngitis.
Treatments for viral pharyngitis or viral sore throat:
Medical treatment of viral sore throat:
There is generally no specific drug for common viral pharyngitis. However, acetaminophen can be used to reduce discomfort.
Home and traditional treatments for viral sore throat:
- Drink warm liquids like light tea and soups
- Do gargling with warm salt water (add half a teaspoon of salt to the glass of warm water and gargle several times during the day)
- Use honey (honey is very effective in relieving and healing sore throats and night coughs)
- Chamomile drink: Chamomile infusion is very useful for relieving and soothing sore throat. This plant contains anti-inflammatory elements that can relieve sore throat. Drinking chamomile tea also stimulates the immune system. Chamomile incense can also be used to reduce sore throat.
- Mint infusion: The anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects of mint can help to heal your sore throat.
- Gargling sparkling water
- In a cup of warm water, pour a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda and an eighth of a teaspoon of table salt and gargle every three hours.
- Fenugreek: Drink a tea made by fenugreek seeds or fenugreek. Fenugreek has been an old treatment for sore throat.
- Marshmallow root: Take a cup of boiled water and put some marshmallow root in it and drink it two or three times to cure the sore throat.
- Licorice: The use of this plant is prohibited in case of hypertension, adrenal glands, pregnancy, and lactation. Healthy people can do gargling the extract of this plant daily.
Treatment of children with viral pharyngitis:
- Feed the child with warm liquids and soups
- Avoid honey in children under the age of two
- Do not use cold chewing candies for children under five years of age due to the risk of suffocation.
- Use standard humidifiers in children's room to improve humidity
- OTC products such as sore throat pain killers containing eucalyptus extract and mucosal anesthetic sprays can also be used.
- Eucalyptus is very useful in relieving sore throat and cough. You can also use eucalyptus incense if you like.
Treatments for bacterial pharyngitis:
Medical treatments for bacterial sore throat include antibiotics like:
- Penicillin
- Amoxicillin
- First generation cephalosporin in people with penicillin allergies
Complete and correct drug treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis is very important to prevent rheumatoid fever and kidney involvement.
Home remedies for bacterial pharyngitis:
-
Garlic: Garlic is rich in antibacterial compounds, in addition to containing an organosulfur called allicin, which is proven to be very powerful in fighting inflammation and infections. You can either use garlic pills available in pharmacies or add garlic to your diet. Garlic speeds up the healing of sore throats.
- Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Apple cider vinegar also prevents the spread of pathogenic bacteria. Pour one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of warm water and gargle after mixing.
The last word
All of the above treatments can be used as home remedies for viral sore throats. However, we emphasize that if you use medicinal plants to relieve sore throat, make sure of their purity, cleanness and healthiness, and if you have a chronic disease, be sure to consult your doctor before consuming medicinal plants.