We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. If a bacterial infection like strep or allergies is the culprit, your sore throat could last longer if not treated with appropriate antibiotics or medications. In the meantime, try some of Dr. Sip on warm drinks, like tea or chicken soup. Or try cold liquids, such as ice water or popsicles. It depends on your preference and what soothes your throat best. Warm temperatures may also reduce coughs by soothing the back of the throat.
Try both warm and cold to see what works best for you. Salt water can help reduce swelling and irritation in your throat. Baking soda also soothes the throat, breaks up mucus and can help with throat-irritating acid reflux. An antihistamine may dull or relieve throat pain. Treat it quickly to prevent it from spreading to others. Another fairly common throat infection is tonsillitis, which occurs when you have sore, swollen tonsils Structures in the back of your throat that help prevent infection by trapping germs that come in through your nose and mouth.
If you have frequent bouts of tonsillitis or strep throat, you may need surgery called a tonsillectomy to have your tonsils removed. The best way to protect yourself from the germs that cause these infections is to wash your hands often. Try to steer clear of people who have colds or other contagious infections. And avoid smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke, which can irritate your throat. Editor: Harrison Wein, Ph. Managing Editor: Tianna Hicklin, Ph.
With strep throat, you are no longer contagious once you have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. With viral infections like colds, you are contagious as long as the symptoms last. Skip to content. Strep throat can be an especially common illness in school-aged children and teenagers. Is it serious? Symptoms of strep throat include: A fever of degrees or more that lasts more than 2 days Swollen tonsils with red or white patches Rash Swollen lymph nodes If you're experiencing these symptoms in addition to a sore throat, your doctor will need to do a rapid strep test or a throat culture to determine if group A strep is present.
Treating strep throat. Soothing your symptoms. Ryan recommends the following for treating the symptoms, whether caused by strep throat or not: Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids to keep the throat moist. Use a humidifier. Gargle with saltwater to help clear post-nasal drip, which can irritate the throat.
However, in most cases, you can find relief without immediately running to your doctor. Here are 10 ways to feel better when a sore throat sets in:. Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a scratchy throat. The salt pulls the mucus out of your swollen, inflamed tissue and helps relieve the discomfort. Stir until the salt dissolves. Then gargle with it for several seconds and spit it out. Repeat the salt gargle several times each day. Some over-the-counter OTC throat lozenges contain menthol, an ingredient that can gently numb the tissue in your throat.
This can provide you with temporary relief from burning and pain sensations. In a pinch, candies can have the same effect.
Candy and cough drops increase your saliva production and help keep your throat lubricated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , viruses cause most sore throats. Instead, the virus has to run its course in your body. They can also relieve soreness or scratchiness. Purchase Advil or Aleve at Amazon. Warm tea that is sweetened with honey can help soothe your irritated throat. Tea also keeps you hydrated, which is another important step in treating a sore throat.
Brew up a cup next time a sore throat starts to tickle. You might consider choosing a green tea, which serves as an antibacterial, pain reliever, and rich source of antioxidants, as well as helps reduce inflammation. Use a few spritzes of a spray containing a combination of echinacea and sage.
A study in the European Journal of Medical Research finds this herbal remedy soothes a sore throat as well as OTC sore throat relief sprays. Staying hydrated is an important part of treating a sore throat.
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