What is a Sore Throat?

A sore throat indicates that there is an inflammation in the throat that causes pain or a burning sensation, often the tonsils and surrounding tissue is red and irritated making it difficult to swallow. A sore throat may occur from numerous causes, but the most common cause is viral pharyngitis meaning a viral infection of the throat. Although a sore throat in most cases indicates nothing more serious than a common cold or flu (influenza), it also could indicate a sign of other more serious infection, injury, tumors, snoring (sleep apnea), or as a result of acid reflux disease. A sore throat is often the first symptom to appear when you are coming down with the common cold virus and typically does not necessitate an appointment with a doctor. Because the common cold is viral it can not be treated with antibiotics. The somewhat irritating symptoms can usually be treated with home health remedies and over the counter pain relievers such as:

• Analgesic throat sprays
• Throat lozenges
• Gargling with saltwater
• Warm tea with honey

When You Should See a Doctor

It should be noted that while most sore throat illnesses can make you feel really sick and miserable they typically do not merit a trip to the doctor, but there are certain signs and symptoms that may indicate you have a more serious infection that requires professional assistance. You should see your primary care physician or visit your local urgent care center if you have one or more of the following:

• Have bad breath
• Have a sore throat longer than seven days
• Have a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit
• Have chills and shaking
• Have persistent extreme fatigue
• Have a sore(s) in the mouth or throat
• Have had an injury to the throat
• Lips or tongue swell up
• Are unable to take medications orally
• Have difficulty breathing
• Feel dizzy and or lightheaded
• Severe pain in the throat with blood in the mucus or phlegm
• Drooling
• Have stiffness in your neck or swelling

A sore throat that has been diagnosed as bacterial in origin will require antibiotics to cure. Bacterial infections can cause illnesses such as strep throat, tonsillitis, diphtheria, peritonsillar abscess to name just a few of the more serious infections a bacterium generated infection may cause, it is very important to seek professional medical attention at once for proper diagnosis and a treatment plan.

How is a Diagnosis Made?

It can be very difficult for you to know when it is just a sore throat and when it has developed into a more serious bacterial infection, so when in doubt see your medical provider for a proper diagnosis. Your health care provider will examine you, making note of your symptoms and when they began and likely want a rapid strep test, this is accomplished by gently taking a cotton swab to take a culture sample from the back of your throat, this is the only way a definitive diagnosis can be made as to what the bacterium is and the proper antibiotics prescribed to cure it. The rapid strep test only takes a few minutes for results as to whether the streptococcal virus is present and guides your doctor in prescribing the proper treatment plan for you. Remember that viral infections will not respond to antibiotics, so none will be prescribed if your infection is viral in origin. Taking unnecessary antibiotics can actually make it more difficult to cure your infection because the antibiotics will kill the “good bacteria” that actually helps you to heal. Overuse of prescription antibiotics can also make your body resistant to the effectiveness of antibiotics in general and that can seriously complicate treatment plans for other illnesses that require antibiotics to cure. Do not insist on a prescription for antibiotics from your health care provider if it is determined that your infection is viral in origin. In some cases it may be necessary for your doctor to request further testing to determine the cause of your sore throat, this may be a throat culture sent in to the laboratory (usually takes 48 hours) to determine the specific bacterium present, or these tests may be blood tests, CT scans of your neck and throat which are typically utilized to diagnose injury, trauma, or tumors. A sore throat is typically just the precursor to a nasty little cold and can be managed with home health remedies and over the counter pain relievers, but when in doubt you should always seek the advice of a trained medical professional as quickly as possible.