Sore Throat

A sore throat is a symptom, not a disease. Pharyngitis is a common term that is interchanged with sore throat. A sore throat may be the result of a bacterial or viral infection or it may be the result of irritation caused by smoking, excessive loud talking, overly dry heated rooms during the winter, or the result of secretions from the nose, sinuses, eyes and ears draining down the throat in association with a cold or allergy. A sore throat can be a symptom of other infections that may be going on. These could include the common cold, sinus infection, ear infection, dental infection, or infectious mononucleosis.

DIAGNOSIS
Only 10% of sore throats are due to bacteria; the remaining 90% are the result of viral infections. Sore throats due to irritation or viral infection cannot be successfully treated with penicillin or other antibiotics. A bacterial infection may be suspected by the practitioner, but a throat culture is required to confirm the diagnosis. Throat culture tests require 24 - 48 hours before results are available. The Group A Beta hemolytic Streptococcus is only one cause of a bacterial infection - other bacterial infections may occur as well. If the throat culture should grow Group A Strep, treatment with an antibiotic is indicated, primarily to prevent heart and kidney complications. If your practitioner prescribes an antibiotic, it is important that you take the medication until it is gone to prevent these complications.

TREATMENT

• Drink lots of liquids - the best things are warm liquids such as hot tea, soup or lemonade (8-12 ounces per hour). Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Gargle with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon (or less) salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water every 2-4 hours during the day, to help soothe the throat and wash away mucus.
• Suck on lozenges, hard candy or chew gum to help ease the pain.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Avoid inhalation of irritants, smoking or use of the voice.
• Steam helps soothe a dry and/or raw throat. Try standing in a hot, steamy shower or draping a towel over your head and holding it over a sink of steaming water. If you can afford it, buy a "cold mist or steam" vaporizer to add moisture to your room.
• Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other non-aspirin substitute will help relieve pain and fever.
• If your throat discomfort is worse at night because of mouth breathing an antihistamine such as benadryl (diphenhydramine) may help with the nasal congestion and allow you to breathe through your nose.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
If a throat culture was taken and the results indicate you need antibiotic treatment, you will be notified by a McKinley provider. If your sore throat has not resolved in seven days or it gets worse you should call and see if you should be seen again.

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