Cures for a Throat Infection

As in everything, to know is half the battle won. Once the cause of throat infection is confirmed, the cures are dime a dozen. And so, if ever you run into a throat ailment, just to make sure it is infection, ascertain if it is related to common cold or viral infection, a strep throat with fever, or some vague allergy. But it may not appear so simple to diagnose the ailment yourself in such a rational way, unless you are trained in medicine. Nonetheless, plain common sense suggests starting somewhere (often right where you are), before expecting a more complicated diagnosis such as Coxsackievirus (causing blisters in the throat) or infectious mononucleosis or flu, and the inevitable treatment with your physician.

Home Cures

Most throat infections associated with viruses resolve on their own, but for speedy recovery, start off with warm liquids (honey and lemon tea, for example). Gargle with saline water a few times daily. And unless you are a young child, throat lozenges and ice pops can help soothe your inflamed throat, as can a warm humidifier or vaporizer inside your room. If the throat infection has been a minor nuisance, any of these home remedies should clear your infection. Any recourse to over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen should be the last resort, according to advice at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Physician Intervention

Any fever, pus inside the throat, rash, swallowing difficulties or swollen glands in the neck should warrant a prompt and immediate visit to your physician or a walk-in clinic. As rational as the cures are meant to be, your physician is trained not to interfere until she has a few specialized test results before prescribing cures for your throat infection. Based on throat culture, rapid step test, monospot test and complete blood test results as needed, your physician may prescribe appropriate antibiotics. If you have a family history of rheumatic fever, or you have scarlet fever, your physician will write a prescription.

Range of Drugs

A physician won't generally prescribe antibiotics if the strep test or throat culture results prove negative. Even when the infection is traced to infectious mononucleosis, all you might need are rest and home cures. But if it is a case of bacterial tonsillitis, your physician will prescribe appropriate antibiotic. For acute sore throat, effective treatment (less than 24 hours) includes the option of steroids and NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), caffeine and acetaminophen, and for longer term (over 24 hours), physicians can choose acetaminophen, NSAIDs, super-colonisation with benign bacteria or vaccination against influenza and pneumococcus, according to the National Institutes of Health. Viral tonsillitis will seldom require treatment. In case of recurrent sore throats that are probably linked to allergies instead of infections, anti-allergic therapies may be the solution.