| Sore Throat |
Sore throats are one of the most frequent ailments we experience throughout our lifetime but, fortunately, they are also normally mild and self-limiting. Throat pain can result from a variety of causes such as infection (either viral, bacterial or fungal), environmental (such as smoke), or drainage (either post-nasal drip or refluxed stomach contents). Of all these causes, by far the most common is viral infection , which usually resolves within 3-5 days. In the meantime, Tylenol or Advil, as well as anesthetic lozengers or sprays can help decrease the discomfort. Antibiotics are not prescribed since they are not effective against viral illnesses.
A less typical, but potentially more serious cause, is bacterial infections -- the best known being strep throat. Strep throat is most common in children 5 to 15 years of age and occurs most frequently in the months of October through April. Symptoms may include fever greater than 100.5?, enlarged glands, reddened and/or painful throat, and exudate ("white patches") in the back of the throat. Unfortunately, these same symptoms can also occur with a viral throat infection. So, how do we know if it's strep or not? A sample from the pharynx or "throat culture" must be sent to a laboratory for analysis. If the culture is positive antibiotics are prescribed to resolve the infection.
Because symptoms vary from person to person, some individuals may have or had in the past a strep infection without knowing it. So you may be asking yourself - do I need to be concerned about strep? The answer is YES. Although rare, serious complications
can arise from an untreated strep infection. Starting antibiotics within 7-10 days of onset of sore throat symptoms will prevent these complications.
So, if you have had a sore throat for more than five days consult your health care provider! |
|
|
