Seek ER treatment if the cough or sore throat is accompanied by: Difficulty breathing. Shortness of breath. High fever.
If your immune system is compromised and you are coughing or have a sore throat, seek emergency care immediately.
In rare cases, a sore throat can be considered an emergency. If you or someone in your care experiences difficulty breathing, drooling, and significant difficulty swallowing, visit a hospital ER immediately. Otherwise, your sore throat can be treated at any FastMed.
You should contact a healthcare provider if your sore throat lasts longer than a few days or if you have a sore throat and the following issues: Severe throat pain. Trouble breathing or swallowing. A fever, especially if it's over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
Knowing whether your sore throat is viral or bacterial is usually determined by symptoms. Viral sore throats usually consist of a cough, swelling in the throat, and runny nose whereas bacterial sore throats are typically accompanied with nausea and vomiting, stomach ache, and there is no cough.
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better within a week. Most are caused by minor illnesses such as cold or flu and can be treated at home.
Usually, sore throats go away without treatment within 3 to 4 days. Seek medical attention if: you have trouble breathing or swallowing (or if your baby is drooling) you have a stiff or swollen neck.
Strep throat, epiglottitis, and esophagitis are some possible causes of pain when swallowing. Throat infections are one of the most common causes of pain when swallowing. These include strep throat, which is an infection with Streptococcal bacteria.
Contact a doctor if your sore throat is severe, doesn't feel better after a few days, or is accompanied by a high fever or swollen glands. These symptoms could be signs of a bacterial infection, such as strep throat.
Severe pain: Tonsillitis can be painful, but if the pain is severe and not relieved by over-the-counter pain medication, it may require emergency medical attention. High fever: A high fever (over 103 degrees Fahrenheit) can be a sign of a bacterial infection, which can lead to complications such as sepsis.
When to seek medical attention for a sore throat: If the pain is severe or lasts more than a few days. If the sore throat is accompanied by swollen glands that cause difficulty breathing or prevent the person from swallowing fluids.
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus. Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck. Fever.
“If there is fever, rapidly spreading redness, rapid heart rate, or extraordinary pain that is disproportionate to the wound or injury, that is when you tell the patient to visit the hospital,” he said.
Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent sore throat that lingers for a few weeks or returns frequently. Chronic pharyngitis may be caused by infection, environmental pollutants, allergies or acid reflux.
A viral sore throat is typically accompanied by other cold-like symptoms, such as cough, sneeze, runny nose and a hoarse or raspy voice. “A strep infection can make it feel very painful to swallow, and often comes with fever of 101-degrees or higher,” said Schairer.
Excess mucus in the throat can lead to itching, irritation, and soreness. Postnasal drip typically increases when a person is lying down. As a result, a sore throat may worsen at night or first thing in the morning. Exposure to certain allergens at night may also worsen postnasal drip and sore throat.
Doctors most often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin (Amoxil) to treat strep throat. They are the top choices because they're safer, inexpensive, and they work well on strep bacteria.
Rapid strep test kits are available over the counter at drugstores and do not require a doctor's prescription. These tests are quick and easy to use, giving you results in as little as five minutes. It works just like a rapid test that doctors perform.
If you have a sore throat, you can treat the pain with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. If the soreness in your throat is still there after two days, call your doctor.
Because COVID-19 is an illness caused by a virus, a COVID-19 sore throat may look and feel like other viral sore throats. One clue that you have viral pharyngitis is that it is often accompanied by other common symptoms.
Left untreated, strep throat can lead to kidney inflammation or rheumatic fever, a serious illness that can cause stroke and permanent damage to the heart. Fortunately, strep throat can be easily diagnosed with a simple throat culture, and promptly treated with a course of antibiotics.