A sore throat is an itchy feeling in the throat that makes it difficult to swallow or speak. These symptoms are caused by a variety of conditions, including dehydration, allergies, and muscle tension. However, the most common causes of sore throats are viral and bacterial infections such as the flu or strep throat. A sore throat will usually go away on its own in a few days, but you can take steps to speed up the recovery process.
Step
Part 1 of 6: Diagnosing a Sore Throat
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of a sore throat
The most common symptom of a sore throat is pain that gets worse when swallowing or speaking. A sore throat is sometimes accompanied by a dry or itchy feeling, and a hoarse or muffled voice. Some people experience pain and swelling in the glands of the neck or jaw. The tonsils also appear swollen or reddish in color, and white or pus-filled patches appear.
Step 2. Look for other signs of infection
Most sore throats are caused by viral and bacterial infections. You should also look for other signs of infection that may accompany a sore throat, including:
- Fever
- Freezing
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneeze
- Body pain
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
Step 3. Consider seeking a medical diagnosis
Usually, a sore throat will go away within a few days to a week with simple home remedies. However, if your sore throat gets worse or persists for a long time, you should consider a visit to your doctor for a physical examination. The doctor will look at the throat, listen for breath, and take a sample. While not painful, sampling is somewhat uncomfortable as it triggers the gag reflex. A sample taken from the throat will be sent to a laboratory to find the cause of the infection. Once it is determined whether the cause is viral or bacterial, your doctor can suggest a treatment for you.
The doctor may also require a complete blood count or CBC (complete blood count) or allergy test
Part 2 of 6: Treating Sore Throat at Home
Step 1. Drink plenty of water
Drinking can avoid dehydration and moisten the throat to reduce discomfort. Most people prefer room temperature water when they have a sore throat. However, you can drink cold or hot water if it makes you feel better.
- Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water daily, more if you have a fever.
- Try adding a teaspoon of honey to drinking water. Honey has antibacterial properties and can help soothe a sore throat and coat it.
Step 2. Humidify the air
Dry air will make your sore throat worse every time you breathe. To keep your throat moist and comfortable, try increasing the humidity level in the air. This is especially important if you live in a dry environment.
- Consider buying a humidifier for your home or office.
- If a humidifier is not available, place several bowls of water in a room that is used frequently.
- If your throat is really itchy, try taking a hot shower and sitting in the steamy bathroom for a while.
Step 3. Drink lots of soup and broth
The old recipe for treating colds with chicken soup is true. Studies show that chicken soup can slow the movement of certain types of immune cells. Slowing cell movement will make it more effective. Chicken soup also increases the movement of nasal hairs which can help reduce infection. In the meantime you should choose soft, light, non-sticky foods.
- Examples of soft foods include applesauce, rice, omelettes, cooked pasta, oatmeal, smoothies, and cooked beans and legumes.
- Avoid spicy foods such as chili sauce, stir-fry, or other foods that contain chili, curry, or garlic.
- Avoid hard or sticky foods that are difficult to swallow. Examples are peanut butter, crusty bread, toast or crackers, raw fruit or vegetables, and dry cereals.
Step 4. Chew the food until smooth
Cut food into small pieces with a fork and knife before putting it in your mouth. Make sure you chew long enough to make it smooth before swallowing. Chewing and letting the food soften by saliva will make it easier for you to swallow.
You can also use a food processor to puree the food to make it easier to swallow
Step 5. Make a throat spray
You can carry a small spray bottle with you everywhere and use it to relieve a sore throat if needed. Start by measuring cup of distilled water for every 60 ml of spray you want to make. Then, add two drops of menthol essential oil (pain reliever), eucalyptus essential oil and sage essential oil (antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory). Mix everything and pour into a 30 ml or 60 ml spray bottle. Store the remaining solution in the refrigerator for later use.
Part 3 of 6: Treating Sore Throat by Gargling
Step 1. Gargle with salt water
Add about 1 tsp. table salt or sea salt into 250 ml of warm water and stir until the salt dissolves. Gargle with this solution for 30 seconds and spit it out. Repeat once every hour. Salt can reduce swelling and draw water from the swollen tissue.
Step 2. Use apple cider vinegar
Although there is no scientific explanation, apple cider vinegar seems to be far more effective at killing bacteria than other types of vinegar. Unfortunately, apple cider vinegar tastes a little off, so be prepared to wash your mouth afterward.
- Add 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar to 1 cup warm water. If you want, you can also add 1 tbsp. honey to make it taste better.
- Gargle with this solution 2-3 times a day.
- Do not give honey to children under the age of two. Babies are susceptible to bacterial poisoning (botulism) which can contaminate honey.
Step 3. Consider baking soda as an alternative
Baking soda is alkaline which can help relieve a sore throat. Baking soda also changes the pH of the throat to help fight bacteria. Baking soda is an alternative for people who can't stand gargling with apple cider vinegar.
- Add tsp. baking soda into a glass of very warm water.
- Add tsp. table salt or sea salt.
- Gargle with this solution every 2 hours.
Part 4 of 6: Soothe the Throat by Drinking Herbal Tea
Step 1. Make a red chili drink
While you should avoid spicy foods, drinking red chili peppers can actually relieve a sore throat. Chili acts as a counteracting irritant, a second trigger that counteracts the real trigger. Chili also depletes Substance P in the body. Substance P is a neurotransmitter associated with inflammation and pain.
- Stir - tsp. red chili powder in one cup of boiling water.
- Add about 1–2 tsp honey. according to taste and sip constantly.
- Stir the drink occasionally to distribute the chilies.
Step 2. Drink licorice water
Licorice drink is made from the licorice plant, Glycerrhiza glabra. Licorice root has antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice drink is good for treating sore throats, both those caused by viral and bacterial infections. Today many shops sell herbal teas, and liquorice is one of them. Use one bag for each cup of boiling water and add honey to taste.
Step 3. Drink clove or ginger water
Cloves and ginger are also known to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. Even if you don't have a sore throat, you can also enjoy the taste and aroma of this delicious drink.
- To make clove water, add 1 tsp. whole cloves or tsp. clove powder to one cup of boiling water.
- To make ginger water, add tsp. ground ginger into hot water. If you are using fresh ginger (this is the best method), use tsp. chopped ginger that has been peeled.
- Add honey to taste.
Step 4. Add one cinnamon stick to your drink
Cinnamon is high in antioxidants and has antiviral and antibacterial properties. You can soak a cinnamon stick in boiling water to make a special cinnamon drink, or just use it as a stirrer for other drinks. Cinnamon not only helps fight infection, but also adds a delicious taste to the drink.
Part 5 of 6: Treating Sore Throats in Children
Step 1. Make popsicles from yogurt
You should be aware that cold temperatures can aggravate some types of sore throat. If this method doesn't work, stop. Gather the necessary ingredients, namely 2 cups of greek yogurt, 2-3 tbsp. honey, and 1 tsp. cinnamon powder. Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that can help boost the immune system. Greek yogurt is sharper and thicker, so it doesn't drip as easily as it melts. You can use plain or fruit-flavoured yogurt, whichever your child prefers.
- Mix all ingredients in a food processor or mixer until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the popsicle mold, stopping pouring about 1 cm from the top.
- Insert ice sticks and place in the refrigerator for 6–8 hours.
Step 2. Prepare the popsicles to eat
If you try to remove the popsicle from the mold straight from the refrigerator, you'll only end up holding the stick with no ice. Before pulling the stick, place the mold in hot water for five seconds. This will loosen the popsicle a bit and make it easier to remove it from the mold.
Step 3. Try making popsicles from herbal teas
You can also freeze the drinks described in this article. Simply pour the red chili, liquorice, clove, or ginger drink into the molds and freeze for 4–6 hours. Especially for children, you may need to add sweetness with honey and/or cinnamon.
Step 4. Make lozenges for children over the age of five
When given to younger children, lozenges can cause them to choke. But in older children and adults, lozenges can increase the flow of saliva and moisten the throat. This candy also contains ingredients that soothe and heal sore throats. Shelf life of about six months if stored in a cool, dry and dark place. To make it, prepare the necessary ingredients, namely tsp. marshmallow root powder, cup powdered smooth elm bark, cup distilled hot water, 2 tbsp. medicinal honey.
- Dissolve marshmallow root powder in hot water.
- Add 2 tbsp. honey into a measuring cup and add the marshmallow liquid to a total of cup. Pour into a bowl and discard the rest.
- Add cup of slippery elm bark powder to a bowl, and make a hole in the center of the powder.
- Pour the honey/marshmallow mixture into the hole and mix all the ingredients. The result is a rectangular shape about the size of a grape.
- Roll the candy in the remaining slippery elm bark powder to reduce stickiness and place on a plate to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Once dry, wrap each candy in wax paper or parchment. To use, open the package and put it in your mouth until it crumbles slowly.
Part 6 of 6: Treating Sore Throat with Medicine
Step 1. Know when to seek medical help
Most sore throats will resolve with home treatments within a few days to two weeks. However, if the pain doesn't go away after two weeks, there may be an infection serious enough to require medical attention. In addition, children should be seen by a doctor if their sore throat does not go away by drinking water in the morning. Call the doctor right away if your child has trouble breathing or swallowing. Unusual drooling and a sore throat should also be checked as soon as possible. Meanwhile, adults can gauge whether they need medical attention. You can wait a few days for your sore throat to go away, but see your doctor if you experience:
- Sore throat that lasts more than a week or seems severe
- Difficult to swallow
- Difficult to breathe
- Difficulty opening the mouth or pain in the jaw joint
- Joint pain, especially new joints
- Earache
- Rash
- Fever higher than 38, 3°C
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
- Recurrent sore throat
- Lumps or lumps in the neck
- Hoarseness more than two weeks
Step 2. Determine if your infection is caused by a virus or bacteria
Viral infections in the throat generally do not require medical treatment. The condition will recover by itself in five to seven days. However, bacterial infections can be easily treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
A medical lab analysis of the throat sample will determine whether your infection is viral or bacterial
Step 3. Take antibiotics for bacterial infections as directed
You should take the prescribed antibiotics until they are finished even if your condition is getting better. If you don't take antibiotics for as long as your doctor prescribes, your symptoms may return. This is because antibiotic-resistant bacteria can survive antibiotic treatment halfway. If so, the population of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the body will increase. This puts you at risk for complications or recurring infections.
If antibiotic-resistant bacteria survive in the body, you are more likely to become infected again. This time, you need a stronger antibiotic
Step 4. Consume yogurt with active cultures while on antibiotic treatment
Antibiotics not only attack the bacteria that cause infection, but also the bacteria in the gut. The body needs normal gut bacteria for digestion and the immune system. Healthy bacteria are also important for the production of certain vitamins. Yogurt that has "active cultures" contains probiotics, which are healthy gut bacteria. Eating yogurt while on antibiotic treatment will keep you healthy while the antibiotics do their job.
Look for the term "active culture" on yogurt packaging. Pasteurized or processed yogurt will not help restore gut bacteria
Tips
Most people feel their throats feel better by drinking hot beverages, but this is not absolute. If you feel better by drinking hot or cold tea, go ahead. Drinking ice can also help, especially if you have a fever
Warning
- Make sure you see a doctor if your condition doesn't improve within 2-3 days.
- Do not give honey to children under the age of two. Although rare, there is a risk of infant botulism because honey sometimes contains bacterial spores and the baby's immune system is not fully developed.
