Sore throat

There are a few simple things you can do at home to soothe a sore throat.

• take ibuprofen or paracetamol (paracetamol is better for children and for people who can't take ibuprofen, and children under 16 should never take aspirin)
• drink plenty of cool or warm fluids, and avoid very hot drinks
• eat cool, soft foods
• avoid smoking and smoky places
• suck lozenges, hard sweets, ice cubes or ice lollies, but don't give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
• gargle with a homemade mouthwash of warm, salty water (children should not try this)
• dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water (warm water helps salt dissolve)
• gargle with the solution, then spit it out (do not swallow it)
• repeat as often as you like

You may also want to try medicated lozenges and sprays, which are sold in pharmacies. There isn't much scientific evidence that they help, though some people find them worth using.

Doctors don't usually prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat, even when a bacterial infection is the cause. They're unlikely to make you feel better any quicker, and they have unpleasant side effects.

You or your child have:

• symptoms that are severe or getting worse quickly
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• severe pain
• started drooling
• a muffled voice
• a high-pitched sound as you breathe (stridor)

If you have a sore throat, you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy. You don't usually need medical advice for a sore throat. Your pharmacist may tell you to see your doctor if:

• your symptoms are severe, for example with a high temperature or you feel shivery
• you have persistent symptoms that haven't started to improve after a week
• you experience severe sore throats frequently
• you have a weak immune system, for example you have HIV, are having chemotherapy, or are taking medicine that suppresses your immune system

If your doctor's chamber is closed, call a doctor or the 16263 health line.

If your sore throat is persistent, meaning it lasts 3 to 4 weeks, you should see your doctor, who may refer you for further tests. This is because a sore throat that goes on this long may be a symptom of a more serious condition.

It's not always clear what's behind a sore throat. In most cases, though, the sore throat is a symptom of an infection, either a viral one or a bacterial one.

A sore throat is often a symptom of one of these conditions:

• colds or flu, where you may also have a blocked or runny nose, a cough, a high temperature (fever), a headache and general aches
• laryngitis (inflammation of the voice box), where you may also have a hoarse voice, a dry cough and a constant need to clear your throat
• tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), where you may also have red or spotty tonsils, discomfort when swallowing and a fever
• strep throat (a bacterial throat infection), where you may also have swollen glands in your neck, discomfort when swallowing and tonsillitis
• glandular fever, where you may also feel very tired, have a fever and swollen glands in your neck

A sore throat can also come from something irritating your throat. Smoke, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (where acid leaks up from the stomach) and allergies are some examples.

Less often, a sore throat can be a sign of:

• a painful collection of pus at the back of the throat (quinsy). The pain may be severe, and you may also find it hard to open your mouth or to swallow
• inflammation of the flap of tissue at the back of the throat (epiglottitis). The pain may be severe, and you may find it hard to breathe or to swallow

These conditions are more serious, so a doctor should see you as soon as possible.