Expert Sore Throat Treatment in Indianapolis, IN
Sore Throat Treatment
A persistent or severe sore throat can affect your ability to work, go to school, or participate in hobbies and activities you enjoy. At Indianapolis Sinus Center, we specialize in the swift diagnosis and treatment of conditions and disorders affecting the ears, nose, and throat. Our medical specialists are highly skilled and have access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology. If you've been trying to determine how to get rid of a sore throat in Indianapolis, call us today to schedule a consultation for sore throat treatment.
What Is a SoreThroat?
A sore throat is a pain, tenderness, rawness, scratchiness, or irritation of the throat. These feelings typically worsen when you swallow or talk. In most cases, a sore throat is a minor symptom of allergies or illness and will go away in a few days without intervention. A sore throat can sometimes be a symptom of a more serious illness or health condition. If you have a sore throat that lasts more than a few days, is severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, rash, head or neck pain, or swelling of the neck or jaw, you should visit a doctor for a diagnosis.
Sore Throat Symptoms
The symptoms you experience with a sore throat depend on what’s causing the sore throat in the first place. The most common signs of a sore throat include:
- Pain, tenderness, or a scratchy sensation in the throat.
- Worsening pain when you swallow or talk.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Feeling like you have something in your throat.
- Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw.
- Red, inflamed, or swollen tonsils.
- A feeling like you have something hard or rough in your throat.
- White patches or pus on your throat or tonsils.
- hoarse or raspy voice or laryngitis.
If an underlying infection causes your sore throat, you may have additional symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Body aches
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
Sore Throat Causes
A number of different afflictions, from infection to injury, can cause a sore throat. The most common causes are:
- Cold or flu
- COVID-19
- Chronic rhinitis
- Chronic rhinitis
- Mononucleosis
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Allergies
- Mumps
- Strep throat
- Bacterial infections
- Cold or dry air
- Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants
- Injury to the throat
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Tumor
Viral vs. Bacterial Sore Throat
Viral or bacterial infections are two of the most common causes of a sore throat. A viral infection is a cold, flu, measles, or chickenpox. Viral infections and associated symptoms should clear up without medical intervention. A sore throat caused by a bacterial infection requires medical intervention and antibiotics to relieve symptoms, fight off the infection, and prevent complications. Bacterial infections include strep throat, meningitis, tonsillitis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Sore Throat Risk Factors
You may be at a greater risk of a sore throat if you have regular exposure to smoke, chemicals, or other irritants. Smoking tobacco, marijuana, or other substances can also cause sore throats. You're more likely to experience frequent sore throats if you have seasonal allergies. If you don't practice proper personal hygiene, you may be more likely to be exposed to bacteria or viruses that cause sore throats. Children are also at a higher risk of exposure to illnesses that cause sore throats. Talking loudly or often, yelling, and singing for long periods of time can strain your throat and cause a sore throat.
How to Prevent a Sore Throat
There is no surefire way to prevent a sore throat, but you can take precautions to reduce your risk:
- Maintain good personal hygiene.
- Avoid contact with people who are ill.
- Quit smoking.
- Avoid exposure to smoke and other irritants.
- Avoid exposure to allergens.
How a Sore Throat Is Diagnosed
A sore throat can be diagnosed by evaluating your symptoms, taking your temperature, discussing your health history and lifestyle, and examining your neck and the inside of your throat, ears, and nose. Your healthcare provider may take a throat culture if they suspect strep throat, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. They may run a mononucleosis spot test to rule out mono.
You should visit a doctor if you have a severe sore throat that won't go away or a sore throat combined with:
- Trouble swallowing or breathing, or pain when you breathe.
- Trouble opening your mouth.
- Neck pain, stiffness, or a sore neck.
- Headaches.
- Sore joints and/or leg stiffness.
- A fever.
- Blood in your saliva or phlegm.
Effective Sore Throat Treatment Methods
The most effective at-home sore throat remedies are:
- Drinking hot tea with honey and lemon.
- Gargling with warm salt water.
- Drinking cool liquids.
- Taking over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen
- Taking an antihistamine.
- Steam and humidity.
- Drinking a hot toddy.
- Resting.
- Avoiding irritants like dry air, smoking, acidic foods, and spicy foods.
- Using sore throat lozenges or a sore throat spray.
You may need antibiotics if you have a bacterial sore throat. Antibiotics prevent complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, and rheumatic fever.
Contact Us to Learn More About What Causes a Sore Throat
If you’re interested in finding an effective sore throat cure, call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Our team of medical specialists at Indianapolis Sinus Center has decades of experience in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating sore throats and other disorders. We'll work quickly to assess your symptoms and find an effective sore throat remedy.