Soothing Measures And Pain Medications
People with viral throat infections that cause significant pain may benefit from soothing measures and/or pain medications.
- Soothing measures: These include sipping on cold or warm drinks, eating cold desserts, or gargling with salt water.
- Over-the-counter painkillers: These include acetaminophen or NSAIDS such as ibuprofen .
- 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.
Management Of Recurrent Gabhs Pharyngitis
RADT is effective for diagnosing recurrent GABHS infection. In patients treated within the preceding 28 days, RADT has similar specificity and higher sensitivity than in patients without previous streptococcal infection .38 Recurrence of GABHS pharyngitis within one month may be treated using the antibiotics listed in Table 3.2,1720,2834 Intramuscular penicillin G injection is an option when oral antibiotics were initially prescribed.
What Are The Symptoms Of Strep Throat
Symptoms of strep throat include: Itchy and sore throat, small red spots on the roof of your mouth, the sudden onset of a fever that is 101° F or higher, general Fatigue, voice change/scratchy throat, headache, chills and shaking, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, tender, swollen lymph nodes on either side of the neck, abdominal pain, a skin rash .
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Throat Infection: 6 Brilliant Home Remedies For Throat Infection
- NDTV Food Desk
- A throat infection is basically caused by some virus or bacteria
- Gargle with salt-water. Salt has great antibacterial properties
- Drinking turmeric milk can relieve swelling and pain
A pesky throat infection is hard to handle and that is why we all look for quick fixes and home remedies for throat infection. The irritation and itchiness can make it difficult for you to concentrate on your daily chores. Not to forget, the terrible pain that may accompany in severe conditions. A lot of kitchen ingredients are known for their powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and can help fight infections. They can also help in boosting your immunity and making you stronger from within.What causes a throat infection? It could be tonsillitis, cold or a strep throat. It is usually one of the first effects of cold, flu or congestion. A throat infection is basically caused by some virus or bacteria. It may be an effect of some other ailment that you are suffering with or may be attacked by the pollutants or irritants in the air or some kind of allergies. Some of the common symptoms of a throat infection are.
What Causes Sore Throat
Many conditions and factors cause sore throat, also called pharyngitis. You may feel pain and irritation anywhere in the back of your mouth, on your tonsils, and down your neck. You may also have a fever, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and a headache or earache.
Common causes of a sore throat include:
Less common but more serious causes of sore throat are abscess , infection of the epiglottis and tumors.
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Protect Others In Your Home
You and your family members can take simple steps to help stop the spread of infection at home. For example, if someone in your household has strep throat, dont share food, drinks, eating utensils, or place settings with them. Avoid sharing face cloths, towels, and pillowcases with them too. Wash all dishes, kitchen utensils, and laundry in hot soapy water. Remember to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, using a tissue or the inner crook of your elbow.
Can I Help Improve My Throat Infection Symptoms At Home
In addition to carefully following your medication regimen, you can also limit some sore throat symptoms by:
- avoiding smoke or chemical irritants during recovery
- drinking plenty of fluids, both warm and cold caffeine-free drinks
- eating frozen treats to soothe soreness and heat in the throat
- gargling with salt water
- humidifying air passages with steam
- resting your voice as much as possible
- sucking throat lozenges
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How Is A Bacterial Infection Treated
A bacterial infection is a common illness. This article will tell you how its treated.
A bacterial infection is an illness caused by certain types of bacteria that get into your body and multiply quickly. There are over 100 different types of bacteria that can cause infections in humans, but some are more common than others. The most common type of bacterial infection is pneumonia, which affects nearly 2 million Americans each year and causes 18% of all deaths from infectious diseases in the United States alone. Pneumonia can be life-threatening if left untreated, so always seek medical attention if you suspect you have contracted this
The treatment of bacterial infections depends on the type of infection. Bacteria can be classified into four groups based on their ability to stick to surfaces and each other, causing them to form colonies.
Group I consists of nonspore-forming bacteria that do not stick well to surfaces or each other. These are usually treated with antibiotics such as penicillin.
Group II consists of spore-forming bacteria that form thick-walled spores when exposed to adverse conditions. The spores germinate in the normal environment, enabling them to resume growth at a later time.
Symptoms Of Sore Throat
A sore throat can make it painful to swallow. A sore throat can also feel dry and scratchy. Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory tract illness. Sore throat caused by a virus or the bacteria called group A Streptococcus can have similar symptoms.
Sometimes the following symptoms suggest a virus is causing the illness instead of Strep throat:
- Cough
- Conjunctivitis
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Strep Throat Vs The Common Cold
Strep throat and the common cold have different causes. Viruses cause the common cold, while a bacterial infection causes strep throat.
If you have a common cold, you usually have symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, and hoarseness. These symptoms, especially coughing, are not common with strep throat.
When your throat is sore due to a cold, the pain usually develops gradually and disappears in a couple of days, although some colds can last up to 2 weeks. The pain from strep throat can occur suddenly. Its more severe and can persist for days.
Colds typically clear up on their own without the need for medical treatment. To prevent complications like rheumatic fever, antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat strep throat.
What To Eat And Drink:
5. Raw Honey
A daily dose of raw honey raises levels of health-promoting antioxidants in the body. This helps to boost the immune system and is one of several soothing strep throat home remedies. According to research published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, honeys healing property is due to its antibacterial activity, ability to maintain a moist wound condition and its thick consistency that helps to create a protective barrier to prevent infection. Studies have found that medical grade honeys have strong bactericidal activity to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria that cause several life-threatening infections in humans.
6. Bone Broth
Bone broth helps to keep you hydrated and it provides minerals that you need to boost your immune system. Its soothing and easy to eat when you are suffering from a sore throat or swollen tonsils due to strep throat. Bone broth contains minerals in forms that your body can easily absorb, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur. It also contains chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, the compounds sold as pricey supplements to reduce swelling and joint pain.
Instead of spending hours making bone broth from scratch, use protein powder made from bone broth to help you recover from strep throat quickly. Drink warm bone broth throughout the day.
7. Herbal Tea
8. Apple Cider Vinegar
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When Should I See A Health
If you have a sore throat and are unable to swallow liquids, you need to be seen as soon as possible. If you have been exposed to someone with strep throat who has not completed their antibiotics and is considered contagious, and now have symptoms, you should see a provider within two days. If you have a sore throat and have not been exposed to strep throat, see your provider if your symptoms have not improved after seven days of home care.
Keep Hand Sanitizer Handy
Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to keep them clean. At times when you dont have access to soap and water, use hand sanitizer instead. Its not quite as effective, but if its made up of 60 percent alcohol or more, it can kill a lot of germs.
Carry hand sanitizer with you, especially when youre traveling somewhere without washrooms, sinks, or clean water. Read and follow the package directions to use it properly.
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How Does Strep Throat Occur
Strep and viral infections are very contagious. They are usually passed directly from person to person. Strep throat is common in school-age children. Children under two-years-old and adults not exposed to children are much less likely to get strep throat. It is most common from November through April, but it can happen any time of year.
Treatments For Bacterial And Viral Sore Throats
If your lab results indicate a viral sore throat, your doctor wont prescribe any antibiotics. Youll unfortunately have to wait it out from there, but doctors often do recommend a number of therapies to help, such as:
- Hot teas and broths to soothe the throat
- Sleeping in a slightly elevated position to improve mucus drainage
- Over-the-counterpain medications to treat your ancillary symptoms and relieve your discomfort
- Gargling with warm water
But some medical intervention will be necessary if the infection is bacterial. Your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics to target the bacteria directly. Your recovery can take up to a week, so be patient with your body and get the rest you need.
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Are There Home Remedies For Strep Throat
Home remedies for strep throat should only be used in conjunction with antibiotic treatment. Otherwise the infection can get worse and spread. In addition to antibiotic treatment there are some home remedies you can use for symptom relief: Drink plenty of fluids, consume cold liquids and foods, use a cold humidifier, suck on throat lozenges, mix about one to two teaspoons of salt in eight ounces of water.
Anatomy Of The Pharynx
Anatomy includes the esophagus, trachea, windpipe, vocal cord, larynx, tonsils and epiglottis. In your throat, the pharynx is a tubular structure that carries food from the esophagus into the air, and your windpipe is called the larynx. Pharyngitis, also known as pharyngitis, is a bacterial or viral infection that leads to inflammation of the pharyngeal tissue, causing redness, pain and swelling of the walls and structures of the pharynx.
Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucosa lining the back of the throat . The causes of pharygitis include viral infections such as the common cold and bacterial infections such as streptococci. Epstein-Barr virus causes mononucleosis , a highly contagious viral infection that can cause a range of flu-like symptoms.
Pharyngitis is described as a sore throat, which is an inflammation and irritation of the posterior pharynx. The majority of cases are due to non-infectious causes, but bacteria are responsible for a significant proportion of throat infections, and they occur with different complications and require different treatments.
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When To See A Doctor
Anyone who thinks that they have a bacterial infection should talk with a doctor, especially if their symptoms persist or worsen.
Most bacterial infections resolve with prompt treatment and do not cause any further complications. However, untreated or improperly treated infections can become severe and may cause life threatening complications.
A person should seek prompt medical care if they experience any of the following symptoms:
- severe pain
- pain during urination, bowel movements, or sex
- abnormal genital discharge
- an abnormally fast or slow heart rate
- severe breathing difficulties
How Are Bacterial Infections Treated
Most bacterial infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics. They either kill bacteria or stop them multiplying. This helps the bodys immune system to fight the bacteria.
Your doctors choice of antibiotic will depend on the bacteria that is causing the infection. Antibiotics that work against a wide range of bacteria are called broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem so antibiotics may be prescribed only for serious bacterial infections.
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How Do I Know If My Strep Throat Is Viral Or Bacterial
Strep throats are bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus bacteria. However, viral infections can also cause a sore throat.
To find out whether your sore throat is a sign of viral or bacterial infection, youll need to pay attention to your symptoms and the length of your sore throat.
- A common cold is a viral infection with a sore throat that lasts 24-48 hours.
- Strep throat is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts up to 5 days.
- Tonsillitis is a bacterial infection with a sore throat that lasts 4-10 days.
Antibiotics are only used to treat bacterial infections. If youre not sure whether your infection is viral or bacterial, your doctor will be able to diagnose your infection and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
How A Sore Throat Is Diagnosed
During the exam, the doctor will ask about your symptoms, and will use a light to check the back of your throat for redness, swelling, and white spots. The doctor might also feel the sides of your neck to see if you have swollen glands.
If the doctor suspects you have strep throat, youll get a throat culture to diagnose it. The doctor will run a swab over the back of your throat and collect a sample to test for strep throat bacteria. With a rapid strep test, the doctor will get the results within minutes.
To confirm the diagnosis, the sample will be sent out to a lab to be tested. A lab test takes 1-2 days, but it can definitively show that you have strep throat.
A throat culture can also help assess for other types of bacterial infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Additionally, a mononucleosis spot test or mono antibody test can also be used to rule out mononucleosis.
Sometimes you might need more tests to figure out the cause of your sore throat. You can see a specialist who treats diseases of the throat, called an ear, nose, and throat doctor or otolaryngologist.
You can take medications to relieve the pain of a sore throat, or to treat the underlying cause.
Over-the-counter medications that relieve throat pain include:
- acetaminophen
- ibuprofen
- aspirin
Dont give aspirin to children and teenagers, as its been linked to a rare but serious condition called Reyes syndrome.
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How Is Strep Throat Treated
Doctors usually prescribe about 10 days of antibiotic medicine to treat strep throat. Within about 24 hours after starting on antibiotics, your child probably won’t have a fever and won’t be contagious. By the second or third day, other symptoms should start to go away.
Even when kids feel better, they should take the antibiotics as prescribed. This is the best way to kill the harmful bacteria. Otherwise, bacteria can stay in the throat and symptoms can come back. Completing all the antibiotics also prevents other health problems that a strep infection can cause, such as rheumatic fever , scarlet fever, blood infections, or kidney disease.
To prevent spreading strep throat to others in your home:
- Keep your child’s eating utensils, dishes, and drinking glasses separate and wash them in hot, soapy water after each use.
- Make sure your child doesn’t share food, drinks, napkins, handkerchiefs, or towels with other family members.
- Teach your child to cover all sneezes or coughs. If a tissue isn’t handy, kids should sneeze or cough into their elbow, not their hands.
- Remind everyone to wash their hands well and often.
- Give your child a new toothbrush after the antibiotic treatment starts and they’re no longer contagious.
Is This Your Child’s Symptom
- Your child was diagnosed with a Strep throat infection
- A doctor has told you your child probably has Strep throat or
- Your child has a positive Strep test
- Your child is taking an antibiotic for Strep throat and you have questions
- You are worried that the fever or sore throat is not getting better fast enough
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Children And Certain Adults Are At Increased Risk
Anyone can get strep throat, but there are some factors that can increase the risk of getting this common infection.
Strep throat is more common in children than adults. It is most common in children 5 through 15 years old. It is very rare in children younger than 3 years old.
Adults who are at increased risk for strep throat include:
- Parents of school-aged children
- Adults who are often in contact with children
Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household.
Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Crowded settings can increase the risk of getting a group A strep infection. These settings include:
- Schools
- Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat
- About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat