These substances can irritate the throat and make it sore. Simple home remedies are often effective in treating sore throats, especially those resulting from a cold or the flu. In some cases, though, a person may require prescription medications from their doctor. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics for strep throat, whooping cough, and other bacterial throat infections.
As such, doctors may sometimes prescribe antibiotics to help prevent secondary bacterial infections. However, the antibiotics will not treat the virus itself. Antihistamines and other OTC and prescription medications can help prevent or control allergies that cause sore throats. There is no specific treatment for mono. However, a person may be able to speed up their recovery by resting, sleeping, and drinking plenty of fluids.
A person should see a doctor if their sore throat lasts more than a week , or if they experience any of the following symptoms:. If a pregnant woman thinks that she may have had any exposure to HFMD, she should contact her doctor. People who suspect that they or their child may have strep throat or whooping cough should contact their doctor. Early treatment with antibiotics can help prevent complications.
Most sore throats are due to cold and flu viruses. People can often treat the symptoms of these infections at home using home remedies and over-the-counter medications. Although it is less common, bacterial infections can also cause a sore throat. In some cases, a person may require antibiotics to speed their recovery and help prevent complications. A person should see a doctor if they or their child experiences a persistent or recurrent sore throat or other worrying symptoms.
Some causes of sore throats require prompt medical attention. A sore throat can make it difficult to eat and drink. Which foods can give the body the nutrients it needs for healing without worsening the….
A severe or long-lasting sore throat could be something like strep throat a bacterial throat infection. The symptoms are similar for children, but children can also get a temperature and appear less active.
Sore throats are usually caused by viruses like cold or flu or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria. Page last reviewed: 05 February Next review due: 05 February Sore throat. I may not want to take medicine if it won't help me get well faster. Do antibiotics work if a sore throat is caused by a virus, such as a cold?
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Get the facts. Your options Take antibiotics for a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection. Don't take antibiotics. Try home treatment instead. Key points to remember People often think antibiotics will cure their sore throat. But most sore throats are caused by a virus , such as a cold. Antibiotics won't work for sore throats caused by a virus. Most of the time, sore throats go away on their own. To relieve the pain from a sore throat, you can take over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or you can try lozenges or nasal sprays.
Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to shorten the time you are able to spread strep throat —which is caused by bacteria—to others.
Antibiotics will help prevent a serious but rare problem called rheumatic fever. Taking antibiotics too often or when you don't need them can be harmful and costly. And the medicine may not work the next time you take it when you really do need it. This is called antibiotic resistance.
What is a sore throat? How well do antibiotics work to treat a sore throat? What are the risks of taking antibiotics for sore throat? Antibiotics may cause side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and skin rashes. Antibiotics cost money. You will probably have to see the doctor to get a prescription. This costs you time. If you take antibiotics when you don't need them, they may not work when you do need them. Each time you take antibiotics, you are more likely to carry some bacteria that were not killed by the medicine.
Over time, these bacteria get tougher and can cause longer and more serious infections. To treat them, you may need different, stronger, and more costly antibiotics.
How can you relieve a sore throat without antibiotics? Home treatment is often all you need to soothe a sore throat. Try these tips: Gargle often with warm salt water if you are age 8 or older. This helps to reduce throat swelling and pain. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in mL 8 ounces of warm water. Drink extra fluids to soothe your throat. Honey or lemon in weak tea may help. Don't give honey to children younger than 1 year of age. Get plenty of rest. Take over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce fever.
Try throat lozenges that have a painkiller to numb your throat. At-home treatments and prescription corticosteroids can aid in reducing discomfort from a sore throat, which will typically be gone once the underlying infection is resolved. Compared to sore throats which are caused by other types of viruses, sore throats from mononucleosis can last up to a month. The Epstein-Barr virus causes mononucleosis, an infectious viral disease.
Unfortunately, antibiotics are not an effective treatment for mononucleosis. Corticosteroids is able to help reduce the associated swelling, inflammation, and discomfort. It is far less common for a bacterial infection to cause a sore compared to viruses.
When a bacterial infection does occur, the doctor may prescribe an antibiotics penicillin or amoxicillin. Antibiotics can help to shorten how long a sore throat lasts. They pain and inflammation may be reduced to just a day or two after you begin taking the antibiotic.
When not taking antibiotics, bacterial infections and the sore throats they cause may last anywhere from 7 to 10 days. In some cases, a sore throat from a bacterial infection may be due to a more serious illness.
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