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Throat, sore Considerations:
Frequent and recurrent sore throats are common, especially in children between the ages of 5 and 10. There is no evidence that removing the tonsils decreases this frequency; therefore, tonsillectomy surgery is performed less commonly than in the past.
Sore throats can be caused by either viruses or bacteria. The majority of sore throats are caused by viruses; therefore, treating all sore throats with antibiotics (which can't cure viruses and can be unnecessarily expensive) would needlessly expose people to the risks of adverse reaction to the drugs.
Strep throat is a primary concern because it can occasionally lead to rheumatic fever . Strep should be treated with antibiotics. Strep throat often presents with a fever (greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit), white draining patches on the throat, and swollen or tender lymph glands in the neck, along with headache and stomach pain in children. Rheumatic fever is very rare in children under 3 and in adults.
Strep throat is very common in children under 3 years old and is much less common in adults. Strep throat is not likely if the sore throat is a minor part of a typical cold (with runny nose , stuffy ears, cough , and similar symptoms).
Common Causes:
Note: There may be other causes of sore throat. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for sore throat, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.
Home Care:
Time is the most important healer for sore throat pain. If the sore throat is caused by a virus, it will clear up on its own.
Cold liquids and over-the-counter pain medications are effective in treating the pain. Aspirin should be avoided in children under 15 years old (because of the risk of Reye's syndrome ). Home remedies such as gargling salt water, or drinking honey or lemon tea may help. Analgesic sprays and lozenges may be administered; however, they may make the pain of strep throat worse instead of better.
Call Your Healthcare Provider If:
- there is severe difficulty in swallowing , difficulty in breathing, or excessive drooling in a young child.
- there is a temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or greater.
- there are tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck.
- there is pus in the back of the throat.
- there is a fever , a red rash that feels rough, and increased redness in the skin folds.
What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting sore throat in detail may include: - time pattern
- How long has the sore throat been present?
- Have you had a sore throat before?
- What was the cause?
- Have other family members had recent sore throats?
- quality
- Is the pain increasing, staying the same, or decreasing?
- Are you able to swallow saliva, fluids, and food?
- Is there excessive drooling (infants)?
- Is the person able to talk?
- Is the person hoarse?
- Is the person able to sleep?
- aggravating factors
- Worse at night?
- Breathing through mouth?
- relieving factors
- Is the soreness better in the morning?
- Is the soreness better with moist air or mist?
- Is the soreness better with medications?
- other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Has there been a recent injury?
- Has there been a recent surgery?
- Are there swollen lymph glands in the neck?
- Are there sores or pus in back of throat?
- Is there a sensation of gagging?
- What medications are being taken?
- What is the typical daily diet?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: Intervention:
Usually, treatment will be delayed until the culture results are known. Doctors will often begin treatment of a sore throat immediately if there is a family history of rheumatic fever , if the patient has scarlet fever , if rheumatic fever is commonly occurring in the community at the time, or if a rapid strep test is positive.
If one child in a family has a strep throat , the chances are very good that other family members will also have a strep throat. Therefore, it is common for doctors to take cultures from brothers and sisters. If strep throat is diagnosed, it is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics as directed, even after symptoms improve.
For sore throat caused by infectious mononucleosis , rest and home treatment is recommended.
For sore throat caused by tonsillitis , antibiotic treatment may be recommended. Some tonsillitis is viral and will clear up without treatment. (Surgery is rarely necessary.)
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to sore throat to your personal medical record.
This throat is fiery red (erythematous) and represents the early appearance of streptococcal pharyngitis. Other throat infections can cause a similar appearance and it is difficult to differentiate strep from other causes by simply looking at the throat. A culture should be analyzed to determine the cause of severe throat irritation. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
A cross-section illustration of the mouth, nasal cavity, and throat. The nasal passages are also visible.
Streptococcus bacteria has caused the fiery red color and whitish
"exudate" (drainage) associated with strep throat. The child's right tonsil is infected (left side of the picture). (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
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