Sore Throat

Sore throat symptoms

When you have a cough and sore throat, you will feel pain and often a feeling of dryness in the throat or larynx. Mucous membranes, tonsils and sometimes the vocal cords are red and swollen . Inflammation of the vocal cords can make you hoarse or even lose your voice for a while. Especially with a sore throat (medical: pharyngitis), itching in the throat is sometimes noticeable.

Difficulty swallowing is a common symptom of a sore throat . Typically, a sore throat occurs with a cold. This usually lasts for several days and, in addition to the sore throat, can be accompanied by a cough, runny nose, fever, exhaustion, earache or swollen lymph nodes .

difficulties swallowing

Difficulty swallowing with a sore throat often shows up as unilateral or bilateral pain, scratching or burning in the upper throat area. However, they must be differentiated from a real swallowing disorder, dysphagia. Dysphagia is a disorder of the swallowing process itself, which is often painless but can also be associated with pain. If you feel

• that food often gets stuck in your throat,
• you have to regurgitate more food,
• you lose weight unintentionally, or
• you have to throw up when swallowing ,

you should definitely see a doctor to have your swallowing disorder clarified.

Causes of Sore Throat

The most common reason for a sore throat and difficulty swallowing is viral infections . A sore throat is almost always associated with a cold. The patient usually feels better after a few days. Especially if you have a severe sore throat for several days, an infection with bacteria can also be the cause.

Sore throats are commonly caused by the following conditions :

• sore throat
• tonsillitis
• Flu
• glandular fever
• Laryngitis
• thyroid inflammation
• Diphtheria
• reflux disease

diagnosis of sore throat

Of course you feel a sore throat and difficulty swallowing – almost everyone knows the scratching and burning in the throat area. But especially when it comes to relieving a sore throat in a targeted manner, a doctor can help to find the cause . His diagnosis is also a prerequisite for prescribing prescription medication for a sore throat.

The doctor will pay particular attention to whether a more serious illness such as mononucleosis, scarlet fever or reflux disease is present. If necessary, he will do a blood test or a throat swab in order to then prescribe an antibiotic if necessary.

When to seek help for a sore throat

If you have a sore throat associated with shortness of breath, cramps, stiff neck, or threatening swallowing difficulties, you should see a doctor immediately . You should seek medical help as soon as possible in the following cases :

• If you have an extremely severe sore throat.
• If you have frequent sore throats.
• If you have a sore throat and high fever at the same time.
• If you have had a sore throat for more than 1 week.
• If you are unsure due to previous illnesses.
• If you have serious underlying diseases.

You can do this yourself if you have a sore throat

You can relieve your sore throat without resorting to sore throat medication. It is important that you allow yourself plenty of rest and relaxation . Soft foods such as soup or porridge irritate the mucous membranes less than hard foods such as crispbread or biscuits.

If you are hoarse, you should definitely protect your voice , i.e. talk as little as possible. You smoke? A sore throat is a prime reason to swear off the harmful fags once and for all, i.e. to quit smoking .

If you do want to use sore throat medication, you have a wide selection in the pharmacy: non-prescription lozenges, throat sprays and gargling solutions can both relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also relieve a sore throat. For all medicines, follow the instructions on how to take them on the package insert!

Treatment options for sore throat

Whether cough, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing are caused by viruses or bacteria, they usually go away on their own after a few days . A visit to the doctor or sore throat medication is then not necessary.

For more serious problems, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics , provided the causative agents are bacteria. But this is rather the exception when it comes to relieving a sore throat. Finally, taking antibiotics is associated with various potential side effects.

This is how Med-Healths can help with a sore throat

Do you have a sore throat, cough or difficulty swallowing? A video consultation via Med-Healths can help you determine the exact cause of your symptoms . The doctor can prescribe appropriate medication for a sore throat and, if necessary, issue a sick note.