Monday, October 19, 2009
In this Apple Per Day, Dr. Graw talks about Sore Throat, various causes, symptoms, treatment options, home care, prevention techniques, and when to see a doctor. Subscribe for an update when the next video on Ear Infections is available. Stay Healthy!
Sore throat is a common clinical presentation for many illnesses. It can come from dry air while your sleeping, it can be caused by a viral infection, or by that dreaded worry – strep. Most viral infections are not associated with the symptoms of Strep – high fever, chills, headache, stomach ache, lethargy. Instead, most sore throats are associated with an irritating dryness and burning, particularly when you wake up in the morning. These symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter medications and gargling hot salt water.
The complications of strep include: cardiac disease, heart murmurs, heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney infection can be prevented if Strep is treated within the first nine days of its appearance.
The symptoms most associated with sore throat are burning, dryness, and aches in the pharynx (hence the name Pharyngitis). These symptoms are usually easily remedied by Tylenol or Motrin, gargling hot salt water, and keeping your nasal airway open. Try opening your airway through the night and sleeping with your head elevated while running a cool mist humidifier in the room.
Families, particularly on the East Coast, are likely to have several bouts of sore throat and upper respiratory infections through the year. It’s estimated that %20 of children are incubating viral infections at any one time. When you have a sore throat, you want to ensure that there are no secondary infections – streptococcal, otitis media ear infection, or post nasal drip leading to bronchitis. If those don’t occur, it is safe to return to work and school, however, be cautious sneeze into a tissue, dispose of the tissues properly, cough into your elbow, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, do not share water bottles and cups, and avoid direct contact with those who have a sore throat.
When you see your doctor, he/she will likely take a strep culture. If that strep culture is positive, he/she will choose an antibiotic and course of treatment, which he/she thinks is best for you. If your strep test is negative, don’t plead with your doctor for an antibiotic. There is no antibiotic that will improve a viral sore throat infection. In some cases, patients may be treated with an antibiotic for a secondary complication. Although your mother may have told you “you always get better with penicillin”, that is not the case with viral infections – you would have gotten better without the penicillin.
Be sure not to ignore those symptoms of progression – difficulty swallowing, high fever, severe pain. Be sure to reach out for your primary care provider if you are worried. You will never go to the doctor’s office too many times but you may miss the one critical time if you deny the symptoms. If you can’t see your primary care provider, look for Righttime Medical Care at www.MyRighttime.com or call 888-808-6483 for an appointment.
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