Season for sore throats

Best treatment?

Most sore throats can be treated at home with over the counter remedies like pastilles and lozenges, gargling with salt water or soluble aspirin and warm drinks with honey which is a natural painkiller. To relieve a painful throat you could try using a spray containing benzocaine  (eg AAA mouth and throat spray), a strong local anaesthetic. 

A visit to the GP is not necessary unless the sore throat persists for several days. Antibiotics are only needed for severe bacterial infections.  

Prevention?

Avoid crowded, stuffy places where virus infections survive longer. A virus is passed on by being inhaled but can also be transferred from the hands to the nose or mouth so frequent hand washing can also be preventive.      

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

• Severe sore throat for more than a week which is not associated with allergy or irritation

• Difficulty breathing

• Accompanying rash anywhere on the body

• Fever

• Blood in saliva or phlegm

• Neck lump

• Hoarseness for two weeks

• Accompanying joint pains 

• Difficulty opening mouth

• Frequent attacks of sore throat

For further information see www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

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