A sore throat also known as pharyngitis, is a painful inflammation of the back part of the throat. The following parts of the throat can be affected by pharyngitis.
- The back third of the tongue
- The soft palate (roof of the mouth)
- The tonsils (fleshy tissue that is part of the throat’s immune defenses)
Causes of a Sore Throat
Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of sore throat.
A sore throat is most often caused by viral infections like the common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis. Infections of this type do not respond to antibiotics and are only necessary to help relieve symptoms.
Less commonly, sore throats may be caused by a bacterial infection such as streptococcus, and unlike viral infections, bacterial infections do require antibiotics.
Symptoms of a Sore Throat
The main symptoms of pharyngitis include the following:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches and generally feeling unwell
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Hoarseness
- Redness of the eyes
- Diarrhea can occur in children if the cause is a virus. Painful sores in and around the mouth, including the lips, can be caused by certain viruses.
- If the cause is bacterial, you may notice swollen glands in the front of the neck and enlarged tonsils with white spots. It’s possible to experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
It’s difficult to distinguish between viral and bacterial pharyngitis because they have similar symptoms and may appear on your doctor’s physical exam.
Diagnosis
After reviewing your symptoms, the doctor will ask if there is a possibility of exposure to someone with strep throat or any other infection involving the throat, nose, or ears. During your examination, your doctor will pay special attention to your mouth, throat, nose, ears, and lymph nodes in your neck. If your doctor is certain you have strep throat, he or she may prescribe antibiotics without further testing. If there is any uncertainty, the doctor may want to do a strep test.
A rapid strep test may be done in your doctor’s office, takes only a few minutes to do, and detects 80% to 90% of all cases of strep throat. Even though this quick test is negative, your doctor still thinks you may have strep. Your doctor will take a sample of your throat fluids for more extensive testing in a laboratory. The results will be available within 24 to 48 hours.
Management
Viral pharyngitis is treated with supportive care, including measures to make you more comfortable. Viruses cannot be killed by antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pharyngitis caused by strep infection. The following supportive steps can help manage your symptoms.
- Getting enough sleep (both in and out of bed).
- Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or aspirin (in adults only) to relieve throat pain
- To prevent dehydration, it’s important to drink a lot of water
- Gargling with warm salty water can ease throat pain.
- Drinking warm or cool liquids (tea or broth), and eating gelatin desserts or flavored ices can soothe the throat.
- The use of a cool mist vaporizer can alleviate throat dryness.
- Using throat lozenges or anesthetic throat sprays that are not prescribed
When to see a medical professional?
If you experience any of the following symptoms along with a sore throat, call your doctor as soon as possible.
- If your throat discomfort lasts longer than two weeks.
- Drinking water or other clear fluids is hindered by painful swallowing
- Difficulty breathing through your mouth
- Noisy breathing or excessive drooling
- Fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Prevention
While it’s impossible to prevent all infections, you can help decrease the exposure and spread of infections.
- It’s important to wash your hands regularly, especially after blowing your nose or caring for a child with a sore throat.
- If someone in your home has pharyngitis, keep his or her eating utensils and drinking glasses separate from those of other family members. Wash these objects thoroughly with hot and soapy water.
- The toys a toddler has been chewing or sucking on should be thoroughly washed with water and disinfectant soap before being rinsed thoroughly.
- Remove any dirty tissues from runny noses and sneezes as soon as possible, and then wash your hands.
- Do not allow a child with strep throat to return to school or daycare until he or she has been taking antibiotics for at least 24 hours and symptoms have improved.
