Sore Throat Types Symptoms Treatment and Home Remedies

Sore Throat

Sore Throat is a common name for throat infection. Sore throat can occur due to virus, bacteria, allergy or sinus infection. Sore throat usually comes with cough and mild cold. If this condition continues for more than 4 or 5 days, then you must see a doctor.

Sore Throat Symptoms

• Pain or sensation of scratch in the throat
• Pain increases with swallowing or talking.
• Difficulty in swallowing the food
• Swollen, red tonsils.
• Swollen upper neck
• White colored patches or pus on your tonsils
• Hoarse voice

Sore Throat Severe Symptoms

If any of the symptoms listed below appears in you then you must see a doctor and get your throat inspected.

• Sore throat for more than 4 days.
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Difficulty in breathing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Earache
• Fever (over 101°)
• Joint pain
• Blood in Saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throat
• Hoarseness lasting over two weeks
• Feeling Lump in Neck

Causes and Types of Sore Throat

• Sore throat due to Viral Infection: Majority of sore throat cases are due to viral infection. The virus is same which causes cold or flu. Some other viral infection that can cause sore throat are mononucleosis, measles, chickenpox or croup.
• Sore throat due to bacterial infection:  Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria can cause Strep Throat (swelling inside the throat). Diptheria is also a bacterial infection which cause swelling in throat. Whooping cough is another bacterial infection which affects respiratory mucous membrane.
• Sore throat due to Environmental Factors: Sore throat can also occur due to allergies, exposure to smoke (by passive smoking), dry air or too much talking/yelling.
• Sore throat due to GERD: GERD is Gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is a digestive disorder in which acids from stomach flows back into esophagus. It can cause sore throat, heartburn and hoarseness of voice.

In very rare cases sore throat is a symptom of HIV or throat cancer.

Sore Throat Treatment and Home Remedies

The treatment of sore throat depends on the cause of Sore Throat. So only a doctor can prescribe the correct medicines depending on his/her diagnosis. Antibiotics are prescribed by doctors if its due to bacterial infection. Don't stop taking the medicine without asking the doctor. If the prescription is of 10 days, and you start feeling better in 5 days, then don't stop your medication, as it will help bacteria in recurring.
However there are some home remedies that you can practice at home to treat sore throat.

• Add some salt in one glass warm water and do gargling with it. It can help in reducing the swelling inside the throat.
• Drink warm fluids such as tea or soup. Its warmness will provide some easiness in throat.
• Avoid going into smoky or dusty environment.

Sore Throat Cures

If you feel that you get affected by sore troat more often, then you should do some lifestyle changes as suggested below.

• Don't share your drinking glass with others.
• Don't share your utensils while eating.
• Don't touch those surfaces which are most often touched by others. For example the door handles of buses and trains, ticket counters and billing counters. Such places are vulnerable to various bacteria.
• If you feel that you hand has touched such places, then either wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer.
• Avoid going into dust and smoky environment. Its better to keep distance from smokers.