Content DetailsLast updated on: Show 19 Jul 2021 | 12:05 pm (IST)
With the winters on its way, it’s the season of cough, cold and flu that most of us get affected to. And what comes with these bacterial or viral infections are sore scratchy throat and cough which are hard to get rid of. A sore throat is quite annoying and can be highly uncomfortable. It can also occur due to smoke, pollution, allergies, muscle strain due to yelling and excessive dryness. Also Read: Sore Throat: Know The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment The invasion of foreign particles causes swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes inside the throat which leads to soreness. It also causes consistent dry cough which ultimately leads to pain, swelling, scratchiness, hoarse voice and swollen red tonsils. W hile suffering from a sore throat, one might feel the need of having warm liquids or reaching for a steaming cup of tea or coffee to help soothe the pain and irritation of the sore throat, clear the nasal passages and reduce the phlegm secretion from within.If you are looking for an easy home remedy to get rid of sore throat, this article brings you 5 such home remedies to soothe inflamed irritated throat: Are You Suffering From Painful Sore Throat? Checkout Our Wide Range Of Mint Teas And Lozenges To Soothe The Irritated Throat Turmeric Milk:Loaded with antioxidants, turmeric milk or as popularly called golden milk is extremely beneficial for cold and cough symptoms. This traditional remedy helps in alleviating microbes from the body and bolsters the immunity naturally. When drunk regularly, it reduces pain and inflammation from a sore throat. Also Read: Turmeric - The Spice Of Life For This Monsoon Season Salt WaterLet’s agree most of us have switched to gargling salt water whenever we catch a cold or have a sore throat. Gargling with a concoction of warm water infused with salts helps flush out bacteria, clear nasal congestion, and provide relief from sore throat and pain caused while swallowing food. Peppermint TeaThe potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties of peppermint are extremely beneficial for cold and sore throat. A cup of hot peppermint tea acts as a diffuser and helps to clear phlegm deposits, naturally numb the throat and provide quick relief from pain and swelling. LozengeMost of us love to suck on some lozenges when suffering from cough and cold. These over the counter lozenges mostly contain menthol as a bioactive ingredient that numbs the throat pain and provide temporary respite from the scratchy sensation. Apart from medicated lozenges, even flavoured candies and cough drops provide relief for a short amount of time they increase saliva production and keep the throat lubricated. Raw GarlicChewing on raw garlic can be extremely beneficial in subsiding the throat pain. The bioactive component allicin released from garlic is laden with powerful anti-microbial properties, that kill germs and bacteria from the throat and subsequently soothes the inflamed throat. You can also add honey to the garlic cloves to avoid the smell and speed up the recovery. ConclusionA sore throat can be extremely painful and even affect your sleep. It will come along with pain, swelling, and itchiness. Sipping on some hot tea, gargling with salt water or sucking on some garlic cubes or lozenges are some of the quick remedies to subdue the pain and provide relief from sore throat. Related PostsRelated ProductsLatest PostsCopyright© 2022. All Rights Reserved. DiagnosisYour or your child's doctor may review the symptoms and medical history. He or she may conduct a physical exam that includes:
Throat swabIn many cases, doctors use a simple test to detect streptococcal bacteria, the cause of strep throat. The doctor rubs a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions and sends the sample to a lab for testing. Many clinics are equipped with a lab that can get a test result for a rapid antigen test within a few minutes. However, a second, often more reliable test, called a throat culture, is sometimes sent to a lab that returns results within 24 to 48 hours. Rapid antigen tests aren't as sensitive, although they can detect strep bacteria quickly. Because of this, the doctor may send a throat culture to a lab to test for strep throat if the antigen test comes back negative. In some cases, doctors may use a molecular test to detect streptococcal bacteria. In this test, a doctor swipes a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions. The sample is tested in a lab. Your or your child's doctor may have accurate results within a few minutes. TreatmentA sore throat caused by a viral infection usually lasts five to seven days and doesn't usually require medical treatment. Antibiotics don't help treat a viral infection. To ease pain and fever, many people turn to acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other mild pain relievers. Consider giving your child over-the-counter pain medications designed for infants or children, such as acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol, FeverAll, others) or ibuprofen (Children's Advil, Children's Motrin, others), to ease symptoms. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain. Treating bacterial infectionsIf your or your child's sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor or pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics. You or your child must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms are gone. Failure to take all of the medication as directed can result in the infection worsening or spreading to other parts of the body. Not completing the full course of antibiotics to treat strep throat can increase a child's risk of rheumatic fever or serious kidney inflammation. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what to do if you forget a dose. Other treatmentsIf a sore throat is a symptom of a condition other than a viral or bacterial infection, other treatments will likely be considered depending on the diagnosis. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful
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email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Clinical trialsExplore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Lifestyle and home remediesRegardless of the cause of your sore throat, these at-home care strategies can help you ease your or your child's symptoms:
Alternative medicineAlthough several alternative treatments are commonly used to soothe a sore throat, evidence is limited about what works. If you or your child needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, don't rely on alternative treatments alone. Check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies, as they can interact with prescription medications and may not be safe for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions. Herbal or alternative products for a sore throat are often packaged as teas, sprays or lozenges. Common alternative remedies include:
Preparing for your appointmentIf you or your child has a sore throat, make an appointment with your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders or an allergy specialist (allergist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. What you can doMake a list of:
For a sore throat, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
Don't hesitate to ask other questions. What to expect from your doctorYour doctor is likely to ask questions about you or your child. Your doctor might ask:
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