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Sore Throat
Most sore throats are due to viral infections which cannot be cured with antibiotics, hence the best treatment for a sore throat can often be provided at home.
Treatment at home
- For adults-aspirin to help relieve the pain on swallowing. Use soluble aspirin dissolved in water so that you can gargle before swallowing. Repeat the treatment every four hours. If aspirin causes discomfort, use paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- For children- young children who may not be able to gargle, should be given paracetamol every four hours in the right dose for their age (see table below) up to four times in 24 hours. Do not give any aspirin to children under the age of 12.
- Rest
- Drink plenty
- Do not force yourself or the person suffering from the sore throat to eat if they do not want to
When to go to the doctor’s
Antibiotics may be helpful if you have a bacterial throat infection. Antibiotics are only available on prescription however so to acquire them you need to come into the practice and see your GP or our lead nurse, Sara Land. Symptoms of a bacterial throat infection include;
- A fever accompanying your sore throat
- The absence of a cough
- Swollen and tender glands
- ‘Exudate’ (fluid) coming from the tonsils
If you have less than three out of four of these symptoms your infection is unlikely to be bacterial and you therefore do not need antibiotics.
However you should also see the doctor as a precaution with a sore throat if;
- The sore throat is still getting worse after two days
- If the sore throat is accompanied by earache
- If yours/the patient’s temperature rises above 38.3ºc or 101ºF
- If the patient is very young or very old
- If you/the patient has altered immunity (e.g. from diabetes, leukaemia, AIDS)
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