Sore throats, alluded to by medicinal experts as “intense pharyngitis,” can be brought on by various diverse infections and microbes. Around 70% of sore throats are brought on by infections, for example, frosty infections and other upper respiratory tract infections that taint the tissues around the throat. Sore throat is described by pain, distress, or scratchiness in the throat, frequently connected with pain while swallowing.
Causes of Sore Throat
Sore throats are usually caused by inflammation or infection of the pharynx (pharyngitis) or tonsils (tonsillitis), but may also include other areas surrounding the throat, such as the larynx (laryngitis).
Most sore throats have infectious disease origins, but some can result from breathing in dry, cold air through the mouth (for example, during the winter) or from having a foreign object stuck in the throat (for example, a fish or chicken bone).
Most sore throats are caused by viruses. Many occur at the beginning of a cold, when runny noses drain down the back of the throat and irritate it. Sore throats can also be caused by actual infection of the throat, such as strep throat, which is caused by bacteria (Streptococcus).
Basic Home treatments for Sore Throat
The good news is that most sore throats do not last long. However, a few home remedies may be useful for providing relief:
Drink warm liquids, such as honey or pap
Gargle with warm salt water (half teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of water)
Drink cold liquids or suck on Popsicle (for some sore throats)
Suck on hard candies rich in Vitamin C
Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier
Take over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Note: Since most sore throats are caused by viruses, they cannot be treated with antibiotics (which are specific for bacterial infections). In fact, antibiotics are not recommended unless the infection is definitively diagnosed as a bacterial infection, usually through a positive strep test or bacterial culture of the throat
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