Gargle with 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of table salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water. Rest, drink fluids, eat soft foods and take pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to help ease symptoms.
Warm salt water and hot tea help your throat, but so do cold liquids, ice chips and popsicles. Popsicles are especially helpful for young children - the cold acts as a temporary numbing agent to ease the discomfort. Over-the-counter throat sprays and pain relievers can also help with pain control.
DO eat soothing foods such as soups, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, and yogurt. Very cold foods such as sherbet or frozen yogurt also may be soothing.
Drink lots of cool liquids, especially if you have a fever, so you don't get dehydrated. Stay away from orange juice, lemonade, and other acidic drinks because they can sting your throat. Frozen foods such as ice cream or popsicles can help to numb throat soreness.
With strep throat, your tonsils become very inflamed. This inflammation typically affects the surrounding area of your throat as well, which causes a sore throat (pharyngitis).
Generally speaking, avoid fatty, spicy, or acidic foods as they can all increase irritation. You should also avoid crunchy or hard textured foods like dry toast or cereals, as they can scratch your already delicate throat.
Salt water may be used to get rid of strep throat naturally. It might not provide immediate relief; however, it may be useful for killing the bacteria causing strep throat. It might also help to loosen mucus and ease the pain. You can take some table salt in a glass of warm water, stir well and use it to gargle.
Some people swear by a folksy remedy of Coca-Cola as a sore throat healer. Others combine it with lemon and ginger for a sore throat. Still many say drinking soda while sick isn't a good idea because it can dehydrate at a time when more fluids are best.
Strep throat typically resolves in three to five days if untreated. Despite the short duration, antibiotic treatment is recommended to reduce the risk of complications. Symptoms typically resolve within one to three days following the start of antibiotics.
How Long is Strep Contagious? People taking antibiotics for strep throat become less contagious over 24 to 48 hours. A person with untreated strep can infect others for two or three weeks.
Strep throat typically goes away in three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment. However, if you don't take antibiotics, you can remain contagious for two to three weeks and are at a higher risk for complications, such as rheumatic fever.
Strep throat symptoms are usually more severe than symptoms of a sore throat with a cold and may include the following: Sudden sore throat. Loss of appetite. Painful swallowing.
Sleeping on an incline can help you breathe easier and help clear mucus, which drip down the back of your throat and cause irritation. Rather than propping yourself up by using pillows, raise the head of your bed.
Although most cases of strep throat resolve within three to seven days with or without antibiotic treatment, leaving it untreated could cause a higher risk of complications, especially in children.
A glass of cold milk or a few bites of frozen yogurt may, in fact, soothe a sore throat and provide some nutrients and calories at a time when you don't feel like eating. You might also try a nutrient-packed fruit and yogurt smoothie, which provides zinc, calcium, probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants and fiber.
Close contact with another person with strep throat is the most common risk factor for illness. For example, if someone has strep throat, the bacteria often spread to other people in their household. Infectious illnesses tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather.
Drinking very cold ice water or sucking on something cold may seem counterintuitive, but cold can numb the throat. But don't choose cold orange juice or other acid-based liquids; they will only intensify the pain.
However, if left untreated, there is a chance it may lead to potentially serious complications. These typically involve the spread of the infection to other areas of the body and can include: sinusitis, an infection of the sinuses. otitis media, an infection of the middle ear.
Yogurt's creamy, cool texture is soothing for a sore throat. In addition, it's packed full of immune system-friendly ingredients like protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and probiotic bacteria, all of which help fight disease and offer nourishment to speed up the healing process.
Strep throat can cause intense pain that persists throughout the day. However, the pain may worsen at night due to increased postnasal drip or pain-relieving medications wearing off during the night. Other possible symptoms of strep throat include: pain when swallowing.