Sore Throat

Overview

Sore throat is one of the common diseases that afflict thousands of people across the world every day. Symptoms of a sore throat may range from a mild sensation of scratchiness to severe pain. It can occur in any part of the throat. Most commonly, a sore throat is felt in the back of the throat when a person swallows. This condition may also be accompanied by ear pain, because the throat and ear are connected by the Eustachian tubes. Any type of throat pain or sore throat can result from infection, allergies, trauma to the neck or throat regions; rarely, cancers and systemic disorders can also be indicated by sore throat.

Sore throat is often accompanied by dried mucus membranes in the mouth, which makes swallowing difficult for the person who suffers from it. Often, this condition is commonly felt as a result of the following factors: excessive usage of the vocal cords, smoking, or breathing chemicals such as ammonia, and alcohol consumption. When experiencing a sore throat, determine if any other symptoms such as fever, ear pain, or difficulty in speaking or swallowing and sometimes redness in the mouth and throat area and swelling is accompanied with it.

Many times, a sore throat may feel worse than it actually is, due to its location and necessity for constant functioning such as speaking, breathing, and eating. While most cases of the sore throat are inconsequential and will show a reduction of symptoms within a few days, other more serious issues may be present. If a sore throat persists for more than a few days, and is not accompanied by other signs and symptoms of flu or cold, you may need to get a little more serious about the condition.

Acute bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even common cold may precipitate a sore throat. When symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, headache, and fatigue accompany a sore throat, cold or flu might be suspected. With severe bronchitis, lower throat pain is often felt in conjunction with a cough, muscle and back pain, and fever and chills. More severe cases of sore throat may be an indication of contact ulcers, which are commonly found in men and women, who undertake stressful jobs. The pain of this ulcer is often aggravated by talking and may be accompanied with ear pain as well. People suffering from the flu often feel sore throats that range from hard and raspy to achy and throbbing.

A sore throat may also be a sign and symptom of tonsillitis, causing mild to severe throat pain. In this case, pain may radiate to the ears accompanied with a headache, fever with chills, and general overall fatigue.

Treatment

When seeking treatment for a sore throat, many people initially take up home remedies. This may include salt-water gargling, common over-the-counter throat sprays, and warm tea liberally laced with honey and other medicines. However, if a sore throat does not clear up within seven to ten days, it is a good idea to visit a physician to determine its cause to avoid any other serious medical condition in future.