Sore Throat

Sore throat, throat irritation, or, using its medical term - Pharyngitis, is a common year-long medical problem.

A sore throat is fortunately short-lasting and temporary but sometimes if it persists there may be an underlying sinister pathology.

SYMPTOMS

There are many common symptoms of sore throat

  • Desire to clear the throat, hawking
  • Soreness/ pain in the throat
  • Foreign body sensation in the throat
  • The feeling of a lump- Globus
  • Cough
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Postnasal drip
  • Excessive saliva/ mucus in the throat

CAUSES


1. Allergy - Throat irritation is quite often caused by an allergy to something in the environment (like dust, pollen, pollutants, smoke) or to something that we eat or drink. There is usually a clear history of eating indiscretion like too much ice in the beverage, very spicy food like chutneys and pickles, etc.


2. Virus - There are many viruses that cause a sore throat. Viral sore throats last for a short while and are usually self-limiting. There may be accompanying pain and fever. Upper Respiratory viruses transmit mainly by the droplet route and are spread amongst humans. The Coronavirus currently causing the Covid-19 infection is an example. Scrupulous hand hygiene, maintaining a safe distance from infected persons, wearing a reliable face mask are the best protection against catching this infection.

Infectious Mononeuclosis (Glandular fever) is a common cause of a severe sore throat amongst the younger person. Transmitted by saliva, it is caused by the Epstein Barr virus and leads to a serious infection. Symptoms will include fever, severe pain in the throat, the formation of a thick white membrane on the tonsils, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, and great difficulty in swallowing. Some blood tests including a simple Complete blood count will point towards the diagnosis. The infection takes longer than the usual sore throat to go away.


3. Bacteria including Strep Throat - Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Haemophilus are the commonest bacteria implicated in Acute bacterial Pharyngitis or Tonsillitis. Apart from the usual symptoms, the patient is usually sicker. In Strep Throat there are white spots on the tonsils, fever may be high and neck nodes may be enlarged. Out of all the many types of sore throat, this is the only one where an antibiotic may be needed.

4. Fungal Infection- Usually in immune-compromised patients and in those who take steroid inhalers, the infection is usually caused by Candida fungus. There is a white membrane on the affected part, usually the tongue or palate. Simple local application usually works in treating this disorder.

5. Acidity and Reflux- Regurgitation of acidic content from the stomach into the throat, usually at night causes the sore throat. There is scratchiness and a raw sensation in the throat. Sometimes there may be throat dryness or choking sensation, more often after lying down at night.

6.  Cancer - Throat cancers are amongst the commonest cancer in India. The causes are use of Tobacco, bad oral hygiene, alcohol intake, sharp and carious teeth etc.  Persistent throat symptoms specially pain localised to one spot, associated neck swelling, pain radiating to the ear, blood stained oral secretions are danger signals. Please have these checked out immediately.

HOME REMEDIES

Some simple home remedies

  • Avoid a heavy meal at night. The last meal should be at least 2 hours before you go to bed.
  • Avoid spicy, fried food, very cold things, and ice or aerated waters.
  • No Smoking.
  • Maintain hand hygiene, wear a mask and keep a safe distance (2 meters) from a person known to be infected with a respiratory virus.
  • Gargle - simple saline or Povidone-Iodine gargles are a good home remedy.
  • Avoid drinking too many hot and spicy things like 'Kadha' etc - they may cause more problems in the long run.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP

The danger signals are

  • Prolonged symptoms
  • Persistent pain localized to one spot
  • Associated neck swelling
  • Bloodstained oral secretions
  • Pain going to the ear
  • History of Tobacco use (with alcohol intake).

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