INFORMATION ON SORE THROAT:-

A sore throat may be defined as a disease primarily located in the area around the tonsils. Sore throat can be caused by both a virus and bacteria. A sore throat is partly a disease in itself and partly an effect of other diseases such as flu and glandular fever.

Sore throat disease is normally seen in children and young people.

CAUSES OF SORE THROAT:-

The main factors which are responsible for the development of sore throat are:-

1. Breathing through the mouth.
2. Common cold.
3. Viral pharyngitis.
4. Influenza.
5. Strep throat.
6. Fish, chicken bone, or other foreign substance stuck in the throat.

SYMPTOMS OF SORE THROAT:-

1. Pain in the throat and difficulty in swallowing.
2. Pain may spread to the ears.
3. The throat is reddish; the tonsils are swollen and may be coated.
4. Possibly a high temperature.
5. Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw and in your neck may occur.
6. If the sore throat is due to a viral infection the symptoms are usually milder. Usually they are connected to the common cold.
7. If the sore throat is due to the Coxsackie virus, small blisters may develop on the tonsils and in the soft palate. The blisters erupt in a few days and are followed by a scab which may be very painful.
8. If the sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection, the tonsils often swell and become coated and the throat is sore. The patient runs a temperature, has sour breath and may feel quite ill.

DIAGNOSIS OF SORE THROAT:-

Clinically sore throat can be identified by:-

1. Blood test.

TREATMENT OF SORE THROAT:-

Usually, treatment will be delayed until the culture results are known. Doctors will often begin treatment of a sore throat immediately if there is a family history of rheumatic fever, if the patient has scarlet fever, or if rheumatic fever is commonly occurring in the community at the time. Otherwise, antibiotics should NOT be given without a positive strep test (culture or rapid strep test).

When antibiotics are started, it is important to complete the entire course as directed, even after symptoms improve. Children can return to school or day care 24 hours after antibiotics are started.