Sore throat in adults. OVERVIEWA sore throat pharyngitis is a common problem and usually is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Sore throat usually resolves on its own without complications in adults, although it is important to know when to seek medical attention. White Patches On Throat Negative Strep Culture' title='White Patches On Throat Negative Strep Culture' />Viruses can cause a sore throat and other upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold. Sore throat caused by a virus is not treated with antibiotics but instead may be treated with rest, pain medication, and other therapies aimed at relieving symptoms. Strep throat is a particular kind of pharyngitis that is caused by a bacterium known as group A Streptococcus GAS. Strep throat is treated with a course of antibiotics. A topic that discusses sore throat in children is available separately. See Patient education Sore throat in children Beyond the Basics. SORE THROAT SYMPTOMSViral pharyngitis  Most people with a sore throat have a virus. The most common viruses are those that cause upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold. See Patient education The common cold in adults Beyond the Basics. Symptoms of a viral infection can include A runny or congested noseIrritation or redness of the eyesCough, hoarseness, or soreness in the roof of the mouth. Some viruses cause a fever and can make you feel quite ill. Strep throat  Approximately 1. School is in full swing, its fall, and strepthroat season is about to begin. All physicians and most parents by now know the importance of recognizing. Natural remedies for strep throat are a sound alternative to antibiotics. Help your family recover from strep with safe, natural treatment options. Sore throat is generally caused by viral or bacterial infections, toxins, irritants, trauma, or injury to the throat. Sore throat can be contagious. Common symptoms. Signs and symptoms of strep throat include the following figure 1 Pain in the throatFever temperature greater than 1. F or 3. 8CEnlarged lymph glands in the neckWhite patches of pus on the side or back of the throatNo cough, runny nose, or irritationredness of the eyes. Other infections  Many other less common but more serious infections can cause a sore throat, including mononucleosis mono, influenza the flu, Neisseria gonococcus gonorrhea, human immunodeficiency virus HIV, and others. See Patient education Symptoms of HIV infection Beyond the Basics and Patient education Gonorrhea Beyond the Basics and Patient education Influenza symptoms and treatment Beyond the Basics and Patient education Infectious mononucleosis mono in adults and adolescents Beyond the Basics. When to seek urgent help  See your doctor or nurse immediately if you have a sore throat along with any of the following Difficulty breathingSkin rashDrooling because you cannot swallowSwelling of the neck or tongueStiff neck or difficulty opening the mouthUnderlying chronic illnessmedication that may impair your immune system. SORE THROAT DIAGNOSISMost people with a sore throat get better without treatment. There is no specific treatment for a sore throat caused by usual cold viruses. Is it strep or not  A combination of symptoms fever, enlarged glands in the neck, white patches on your tonsils, and no cough can help in determining if you have strep. If you have two or more symptoms, a rapid test or throat culture may be done. People with fewer than two symptoms usually do not need testing or treatment for strep throat, though they may benefit from treatment with modalities for symptom reduction. Rapid test  The rapid test determines if there are Streptococcus bacteria on a throat swab. The test may be done in a clinicians office, and the results are available within a few minutes. The test is accurate in most cases, although a small percentage of tests are falsely negative the bacteria are present but the test is negative 1. Throat culture  A throat culture involves swabbing the throat, sending the swab to a laboratory, and waiting 2. Throat cultures are slightly more accurate than the rapid test. TREATMENT OF SORE THROATSore throat treatment  Antibiotics do not help throat pain caused by a virus and are not recommended. Inappropriate use of antibiotics for viral illness can unnecessarily expose patients to side effects like diarrhea, rash, or more serious allergic reactions. Sore throat caused by viral infections usually lasts four to five days. During this time, treatments to reduce pain may be helpful. Several therapies can help to relieve throat pain. Pain medication  Over the counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen Tylenol or a nonsteroidal anti inflammatory agent such as ibuprofen or naproxen Motrin or Aleve have been shown to provide fast and effective relief of sore throat pain. The Princess Man Korean Drama. Oral steroids are not routinely used because steroids come with potentially serious side effects, the benefit in treating sore throat pain is limited, and over the counter treatments help most patients. Oral rinses  Salt water gargles are an old standby for throat pain. It is not clear that salt water works to relieve pain, but it is unlikely to be harmful. Most recipes suggest 14 to 12 teaspoon 1. L of warm water. Sprays  Sprays containing topical anesthetics eg, benzocaine, phenol are available to treat sore throat. However, such sprays are no more effective than sucking on hard candy. Lozenges  A variety of lozenges cough drops containing topical anesthetics are available to treat throat pain or relieve dryness. Lozenges may persist longer in the throat than sprays or gargles and, thus, may be more effective for symptom relief 2. Other treatments  Other treatments that may help with throat pain include sipping warm beverages eg, honey or lemon tea, chicken soup, cold beverages, or eating cold or frozen desserts eg, ice cream, popsicles. Alternative therapies  Health food stores, vitamin outlets, and internet websites offer alternative treatments for relief of sore throat pain. We do not recommend these type of treatments due to the risks of contamination with pesticidesherbicides, inaccurate labeling and dosing information, and a lack of studies showing that these treatments are safe and effective. Strep throat  Although strep throat typically resolves on its own within two to five days, treatment with antibiotics is recommended for adults whose rapid test or throat culture is positive for strep throat 3. Penicillin, or an antibiotic related to penicillin, is the treatment of choice for strep throat. It is usually given in pill or liquid form two to four times per day for 1. A one time injection of penicillin is also available. People who are allergic to penicillin are given an alternate antibiotic. It is important to finish the entire course of treatment to completely eliminate the infection. If symptoms do not begin to improve or worsen by three days of antibiotic treatment, you should see your doctor or nurse again. Return to workschool  If you have been diagnosed with strep throat, stay home from work or school until you have completed 2. Within 2. 4 hours of beginning antibiotic treatment, you will feel better and will be less contagious 4. If you have a sore throat not diagnosed as strep, you may participate in your usual activities as soon as you feel well, though practical prevention measures such as good hand washing and cough etiquette should be observed. SORE THROAT PREVENTIONHand washing is an essential and highly effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Wet your hands with water and plain soap, and rub them together for 1. Pay special attention to the fingernails, between the fingers, and the wrists. Rinse your hands thoroughly, and dry them with a clean towel. Alcohol based hand rubs are a good alternative for disinfecting hands if a sink is not available. Hand rubs should be spread over the entire surface of hands, fingers, and wrists until dry and may be used several times.