The throat can be sore for various reasons, but in almost all cases, this symptom indicates a particular disease. A painful condition and discomfort in the throat is a direct response of the body to inflammation of the oral mucosa. As for unpleasant sensations, they can be of a different nature and be sharp, cutting, pulsating, combined, and so on. If your throat is very sore, than you do not know how to treat, try to establish the root cause. As a rule, this symptom accompanies about 80 percent of upper respiratory tract diseases - tonsillitis, colds, pharyngitis, and so on.
Establishing the reason
The intensity of pain will vary over a wide range, depending on the specific ailment. First of all, it should be called chronic pharyngitis. In addition to mild sore throat (which can worsen with swallowing), symptoms are complemented by perspiration and dryness.
As for ARVI, in this case, pain syndrome can occur even in a state of complete rest. Often, discomfort accompanies allergic reactions and becomes a consequence of inflammation of the palatine or pharyngeal tonsils. Allergy pain always manifests itself along with other signs:
- severe bouts of sneezing;
- redness of the mucous membrane (hyperemia);
- burning sensation in the eyes;
- profuse rhinitis;
- fine skin rash;
- swelling of facial tissues;
- itching and so on.
In the autumn-winter period, patients are often diagnosed with bacterial sore throat. This is a disease that causes severe redness and burning sensation in the throat. Inflammatory processes develop rapidly and in most cases are accompanied by headaches, fever, chills and other characteristic signs of intoxication of the body.
In addition, prolonged public speaking, shouting, or high-pitched conversation may precede severe sore throat.
Slightly less often, mechanical injuries of the pharynx, as well as the ingress of foreign bodies, act as the main reason. In this case, pain appears as a result of a throat injury, for example, fish bones.
When you can't do without a doctor
If you do not seek professional help in a timely manner, then infectious and viral ailments can quickly transform into dangerous complications. The pathogenic microflora that has affected the mucous membrane of the oropharynx develops rapidly. It is able to descend into the lower respiratory tract and provoke pneumonia, pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and other diseases.
But, unfortunately, not in all cases, patients with a sore throat turn to a specialist. Most often, they prefer to independently select medications. Improper treatment contributes to the fact that the most common rhinitis is transformed into a sluggish chronic form.
We strongly advise you to make an appointment if your sore throat is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- rapid weight loss;
- frequent dizziness;
- swollen lymph nodes;
- difficulty breathing;
- rapid pulse;
- muscle and joint pain;
- temperature above 38 degrees;
- severe swelling in the throat;
- the presence of blood clots when coughing up;
- the appearance of white plaque on the tonsils;
- sore throat that does not go away for 7 days.
Pregnant girls should be especially careful. In this case, self-medication or delay in seeking medical attention is unacceptable. Otherwise, you can harm not only your own body, but also the unborn child.
Effective medicines
Today, a wide variety of medicines are used to treat throat pain. To eliminate severe discomfort when swallowing and reduce the intensity of pain, we advise you to pay attention to the following drugs (they are available in a pharmacy without a prescription):
- Grammidin helps treat severe sore throat and is available as a lozenge. Thanks to its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, this medicine quickly eliminates discomfort. It can also be used by children, but only from the age of 6. Before taking pregnant women, it is imperative to consult with your doctor.
- Aerosol for local application "Bioparox". It contains an antibiotic. In other words, it not only relieves inflammation and anesthetizes the affected areas of the mucous membrane, but also fights pathogenic bacteria at the local level. Can be used by both adults and children (from the age of three).
"Septolete Neo" has a pronounced antiseptic (disinfecting) effect. Such a remedy is ideal for symptomatic therapy. It is used in combination with other drugs and serves as an effective supplement, destroying bacteria locally. However, it is undesirable to use it in the first trimester of pregnancy and during lactation (breastfeeding).- Lozenges for sucking under the name "Strepsils" are well known to almost all of us thanks to advertising. They do an excellent job with pain in the throat, while they have an antiseptic and analgesic effect. This product contains natural additives, which has a positive effect on the treatment of seasonal colds.
- Pay attention to "Geksoral" - an aerosol with a powerful antifungal and antibacterial effect. It is not only actively used to treat sore throat, but also to eliminate inflammatory processes in dental pathologies. It can be consumed from 4 years of age.
- We all remember from childhood about the high effectiveness of a local remedy called "Lugol". Such a drug is presented in the form of a solution for lubricating the affected areas of the oral mucosa. Although it has a strong antibacterial effect, it should be used infrequently and carefully. The fact is that "Lugol" greatly dries the mucous membrane.
- Don't forget about rinsing your throat and oral hygiene. Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solution "Aqualor" should be especially highlighted. It is created on the basis of sea water, fortified with extracts of aloe and chamomile. Copes well with pathogenic microflora at the local level and eliminates pain.
"Septolete Neo" has a pronounced antiseptic (disinfecting) effect. Such a remedy is ideal for symptomatic therapy. It is used in combination with other drugs and serves as an effective supplement, destroying bacteria locally. However, it is undesirable to use it in the first trimester of pregnancy and during lactation (breastfeeding).Immunomodulators and antibiotics
If sore throat is the result of a bacterial infection, then it is necessary to eliminate not only the symptom, but also the cause of the disease. In this case, antibiotics are used. It is impossible to select antibacterial drugs on your own. The group and the specific drug should be prescribed by the doctor after diagnosing and establishing the exact cause of the discomfort in the throat.
For the treatment of tonsillitis and other bacterial ailments, antibiotics from the groups of penicillins, macrolides and cephalosporins are used. Moreover, the choice in favor of one or another drug is made only after establishing the sensitivity of the bacterial agent to the active substance. In addition, the choice depends on the individual tolerance of the patient himself, his physiological and age characteristics.
How to evaluate the effectiveness of an antibiotic? Everything is extremely simple - if after 3 days of therapy the sore throat remains, then the medicine should be replaced with another.
In some cases, fungi, in particular, representatives of the Candida family, can cause discomfort. In this case, antibiotic therapy is unlikely to be appropriate. Instead of antibiotics, immunomodulatory drugs are prescribed.They increase general and local immunity and quickly cope with uncomfortable sensations.
One of the most effective immunomodulators is Imudon with a ten-day course of treatment.
Remedies from the arsenal of traditional medicine
Of course, folk recipes should not be considered as an alternative to drug therapy. This is just an additional aid to the body, although very effective.
It is useful to carry out inhalation based on boiled vegetables. As a rule, potatoes are used for this. Starch together with hot vapors gently affects the affected mucous membrane, moisturizes it and reduces the intensity of inflammation. Hot inhalation can be carried out only if there is no fever.
As for essential oils (eucalyptus, anise, mint and so on), they also quickly eliminate pain. With their help, rinse solutions and bases for hot inhalation are prepared.
Do not forget about the rule of drinking plenty of fluids. Warm (but not hot) teas and decoctions with raspberries, honey and lemon reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, reduce discomfort in the throat. In addition, they help to strengthen the body's immune forces.
Try the time-tested recipe based on milk, honey and butter. Heat the milk, add honey to it, and then melt a lump of butter. Drink slowly, in small sips. This cocktail gently envelops the throat and soothes sore mucous membranes.
Warm rinses based on the following medicinal herbs have proven themselves well:
- mint;
- chamomile;
- calendula;
- sage;
- eucalyptus;
- St. John's wort and some others.
Features of the diet
To minimize throat discomfort, we recommend paying attention to your diet. What can and is undesirable to eat with throat pain? It should be noted right away that it is better to refuse from excessively cold and hot food so as not to provoke inflammation. We advise you to eat small meals, but every 4 hours. In addition, it is advisable to introduce wheat bread, dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, kefir) into the diet. But such food should not be excessively fatty.
Prefer low fat chicken and fish broths. They perfectly relieve general fatigue and headache, saturate the body well. Eat more fresh vegetables. It is not only a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, but also a source of fiber, which is so important for the body. Chicken eggs are best consumed boiled.
As for fish dishes, you need to be careful with them. We do not recommend eating fish with bones. It is best to give preference to fish fillets or minced meat. Otherwise, you can damage the already painful throat and further aggravate the clinical picture.
Honey is a sunny product that will go well with any table. It has pronounced antibacterial properties, is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It improves immunity well and has a positive effect on the whole body.
Now about what is not allowed:
- fresh bread;
- spicy and sour dishes;
- spices;
- alcohol;
- heavy meat dishes for digestion (pork, lamb);
- creamy and custard cakes;
- carbonated drinks;
- coffee.
Remember that sore throat can occur for a variety of reasons. In one case, they are the harmless consequence of high-pitched talking or singing. In the other, they may indicate dangerous viral or bacterial pathologies.
Therefore, before starting treatment, you need to find out about the root cause of the discomfort. It is not necessary to eliminate the symptom, it is necessary to fight the cause that caused it. Otherwise, the disease will easily pass from active to chronic form.
Therefore, if you experience pain, see your doctor immediately. He will be able to accurately diagnose and advise which medications and in what dosage are best used.
