Being sick is never fun, but getting a sore throat can be scary. Sore throats are very common and occur for many reasons. A sore throat is worrisome whether it slowly creeps in or arrives suddenly. It can take time to determine what is causing the sore throat, which can also be a cause for alarm. The unpleasant feeling is familiar and often indicates that other symptoms are soon to come. The reason for the sore throat is important to discover and can help treat it.
Pharyngitis vs. Sore Throat
The throat is essential for breathing and eating; it contains the tube responsible for food, air, and speech. The pharynx is the technical name for the throat, and therefore pharyngitis is the technical name for a sore throat. However, pharyngitis and a sore throat are not the same things. While a sore throat may mean pain in the throat, pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx which causes pain. A painful or sore throat can be caused by illness, trauma, or overuse. However, pharyngitis is caused by an illness that is infecting a patient. Therefore pharyngitis is a symptom of being sick and a sore throat is a pain in the throat for one reason or another. The common cold, flu, measles, chickenpox, and group A streptococcus or strep throat are just a few bacterial and viral causes of pharyngitis. The other outside causes of a sore throat can include allergies, the weather, smoking, and even pollution.
Treatment
Some remedies and medications can be used to reduce the severity and pain caused by a sore throat. Here are some sore throat remedies:
- Lozenges
- Gargling
- Over-the-counter medications
- Drinking fluids
- Over-the-counter pain relievers may ease the pain
Get Help
If a sore throat persists, it is recommended to see a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. A sore throat can be a painful symptom of a much more severe illness. Patients are advised to seek help from a healthcare professional if a severe sore throat persists for more than 1-2 days, keeps the patient from sleeping, is accompanied by a fever, or the patient has a noticeable rash or spots on the throat.
Urgent Care Treatment
Patients can reach out to a local urgent care to diagnose and treat a sore throat of any kind. Once the cause of the sore throat has been identified by the healthcare provider, treatments can be recommended, and medication can be prescribed. Urgent care can help relieve patients’ pain caused by sore throats and assist with treating the underlying cause of the sore throat or pharyngitis. If a sore throat is severe or a patient does not want to wait for an appointment with their regular physician, call an urgent care to book an appointment today.