Remedies for Sore Throat: What to Do and When to See a Doctor

Table of Content

• Symptom checker
• Honey
• Common Winter Illnesses: Are You Contagious?
• Quick Relief For Yeast Infection
• How can you tell if you have strep throat?
• What Are the COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects?

Honey is a traditional home remedy for sore throats. According to a 2016 study, taking 1 tablespoon of honey twice daily can help ease a sore throat. The study stated that honey has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that can provide relief from sore throats and promote a faster recovery. Now let’s see how the benefits of these three natural antibiotics are used synergistically for an effective sore throat remedy that will heal and not just relieve symptoms. If a virus causes a sore throat, antibiotics will not help. Most sore throats will get better on their own within one week.

People with strep throat usually start to feel better 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. The only way to diagnose strep throat is with a throat swab. Your healthcare provider will rub the back of your throat with a medical swab that looks like a long Q-tip. A rapid strep test or a throat culture can look for the streptococcus bacteria on the swab.

Symptom checker

Other studies have found that chamomile may help fight infection and reduce pain . Limit coconut oil consumption to about 2 tbsp (30 milliliters ) per day, as it can have a laxative effect at higher dosages. When using coconut oil for the first time, start with 1 tsp at a time to minimize potential side effects. That said, studies have reported that after surgery, licorice could significantly reduce throat pain due to breathing tube removal . Combine 1 cup of warm water with 1 tsp of salt and stir to dissolve.

The common sore throat is caused by a virus — like the flu or the common cold — and usually goes away in a few days. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes and should be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Someone who tests positive for strep throat but has no symptoms usually does not need antibiotics.

Honey

People with a Strep throat do NOT typically have a cough, runny nose, hoarseness, mouth ulcers, or conjunctivitis. If these symptoms occur there is more likely to be a viral cause for the sore throat. Sweets and ice cream (!).You don't have to seek out dedicated throat sweets, Professor Kumar says that sucking on a hard sweet also helps. It's an effective way of increasing saliva release to help lubricate your mouth.

Reduces the number of patients who had one or more upper respiratory tract infections and reduced antibiotic use. The use of probiotics resulted in a reduction of upper respiratory tract infections. Proper hydration is the key to flushing out the virus or bacteria from your system and keeping your throat hydrated. Try to drink at least 8 ounces of water every two hours.

Common Winter Illnesses: Are You Contagious?

It is important to keep the throat’s mucous membranes hydrated so that they can heal. Animal studies suggest that it may help fight infection and reduce inflammation in areas exposed to it . Lemon contains vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants.

Facial flushing is common although a pale area may remain around the mouth. After seven days, the rash fades and some skin peeling may occur over the next month or longer, particularly around the fingertips, toes, and groin area. Anecdotal evidence suggests ingesting cayenne mixed with warm water and honey can help with sore throat pain, but this hasnt been proven scientifically. Once youre properly diagnosed and treated for a bacterial infection, your sore throat should clear up within a day or so. It really depends on whats causing your sore throat. Most sore throats will dissipate within three to 10 days if its caused by a viral infection like a cold, says Dr. Allan.

Add one half-teaspoon of baking soda with the saltwater to kill bacteria as well. If you just need a mild sore throat soother, I use a cinnamon and raw honey paste. First of all, it’s important to understand which remedies alleviate symptoms only versus those that will destroy the virus or bacteria at the root of the problem.

Less than 1 in 3 sore throats is caused by a bacterial infection. Some sore throats are caused by the bacteria Strepococcus pyogenes. If bacteria are the cause, you tend to become very unwell and your infection seems to get much worse. If the sore throat is caused by bacteria, you may benefit from antibiotics. If you have a sudden, severe sore throat without coughing, sneezing, or other cold symptoms, you could have strep throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat and tonsils.

How can you tell if you have strep throat?

Besides side effects, there are other good reasons not to use antibiotics unless you really need them. Unlike delta, omicron is more likely to populate the upper respiratory system. This is a shift from earlier variants that replicated in the lower respiratory tract, in the lungs, Dr. Galiatsatos says.

It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Streptococcal infections, a sore throat can be a sign of tonsillitis as well. Of course, streptococcal can cause tonsillitis, so it can be a combination of issues leading to a sore throat.