Khalid Zalmay , a family doctor and medical YouTuber from the UK, shares some classic home remedies that can be used to treat a sore throat. He begins by explaining that viral infections remain the most common cause for a sore throat , including the common cold, flu, and of course Covid.
Other causes include bacterial infections like strep throat, which is most prevalent in children, as well as allergies, irritants, and even acid reflux. The best remedy Zalmay can suggest to ease the pain of a sore throat is gargling salt water.
They are typically caused by infections including the common cold , flu and strep throat and while they tend to be quite painful, they often go away within a week.
Find relief for your sore throat now with these helpful at-home remedies. While salt water may not provide you with immediate relief, it is still an effective remedy for killing bacteria while loosening mucus and easing pain.
Simply mix half a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water and gargle away. Mix two tablespoons of honey in with a warm glass of water or tea and stir it well. Drink several times a day as needed. However, Dr. Similar to salt water and honey, lemons are great for sore throats because they can help break up mucus and provide pain relief.
Symptoms of a viral throat infection Main symptoms The main symptoms of a viral throat infection are detailed below. Sore throat : The most common symptom of a viral throat infection is a sore throat. Sore throat caused by a viral throat infection usually develops gradually and will typically last for two to seven days. A sudden onset sore throat suggests a different cause such as a bacterial throat infection.
Fever : Some people with a viral throat infection may develop a fever. Fatigue : Some people with a viral throat infection may develop fatigue or feel more tired than usual. This is especially prominent in viral throat infections caused by CMV or EBV infections, which can cause severe fatigue that lasts for weeks.
Congestion , runny nose , cough , pink eye, or rash : If your viral throat infection is caused by a respiratory virus, that respiratory virus may also cause symptoms of an upper respiratory infection such as congestion, runny nose, cough, pink eye, or rash.
Other symptoms Some people with viral throat infections may have other symptoms depending on the specific virus causing their throat infection. In adults: Adults with HIV infection may have painful ulcers in their mouth.
What causes a viral throat infection? In children The following viruses are common causes of viral throat infections in children. Adenoviruses: Adenoviruses are a type of respiratory virus that can cause cold-like symptoms in addition to a throat infection.
In children, adenoviruses can sometimes cause a condition called pharyngoconjunctival fever, which causes fever, pinkeye, throat infection, and lymph node swelling in the neck.
Coxsackie A viruses : Coxsackie A viruses can cause a number of symptoms in addition to the throat infection. It can cause a condition called herpangina, which involves fluid-filled bumps in the back of the throat. It can also cause a condition called "hand, foot, and mouth disease," which involves fluid-filled bumps on the hands, feet, and mouth. Herpes simplex viruses HSV : Less commonly, herpes simplex viruses can cause a viral throat infection in children. More commonly, herpes simplex viruses will cause painful fluid-filled bumps on the lips or front of the mouth, and only cause a throat infection in children who have weakened immune systems.
However, in rare cases, HSV can cause a throat infection in children with normal immune systems. In adults The following viruses are common causes of viral throat infections in adults. Respiratory viruses: A number of respiratory viruses can cause viral throat infections in adults. The most common ones include adenoviruses, rhinovirus, and coronaviruses. Human Immunodeficiency Virus HIV : HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that causes a weakened immune system and predisposes individuals to opportunistic infections.
About 40 to 90 percent of these individuals may develop symptoms of "acute HIV infection" when they first become infected with HIV, and about half will develop a viral throat infection. People with a viral throat infection due to acute HIV infection will usually also have painful ulcers in the mouth. The majority of people with infectious mononucleosis will also develop a viral throat infection. Treatment options and prevention for viral throat infection Most causes of viral throat infections will resolve on their own without a specific antiviral treatment , especially in otherwise healthy individuals.
Rest and hydration Most people with viral throat infections will recover with a few days of rest and hydration. Soothing measures: These include sipping on cold or warm drinks, eating cold desserts, or gargling with salt water.
Additional topical pain relief : There are a number of over-the-counter tablets or sprays that contain substances such as menthol, dyclonine, benzocaine, or hexylresorcinol, among others, that provide topical pain relief.
These may be tried in adults but are generally not recommended for children. Environmental changes People with viral throat infections may experience symptom relief by making certain changes to their environment.
Antiviral treatment for specific viruses Specific viral causes of throat infections may benefit from treatment with antiviral medications. When to seek further consultation for viral throat infection If you or your child develop any symptoms of a viral throat infection, you should consider going to see a physician.
Questions your doctor may ask to determine viral throat infection How severe is your sore throat? Are you sick enough to consider going to the emergency room right now? 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. A 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. If 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.
If 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. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
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