A sore throat is one of the most treated conditions by doctors today. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, in the United States, 40 million people go to the specialist for this annoyance.
The pain in this area is caused by an inflammation of the tissues that form the throat, as they are frequently exposed to infections.
A Sore Throat as a Symptom of the Disease
This disease is associated with the appearance of various diseases, most of the infections caused by viruses and contagious bacteria. The most frequent pathologies caused by a viral process are flu and colds, but also measles or chicken pox. The organism itself generates the antibodies that end with the virus.
One of the viral diseases that especially affects the throat is mononucleosis. The virus affects the lymphatic system and causes a very painful inflammation of the tonsils. It is transmitted by saliva and affects young people more severely, which is why it is also known as Sickness of the Kiss.
Symptoms
Among the symptoms that a person can experience when having a sore throat, we can mention:
• Redness of the throat.
• Fever.
• Hoarseness.
• Pus in the throat.
• Swollen and sensitive glands in the neck.
• Ear pain: you can feel pain in the ears even if the problem is in the throat.
• Swollen tonsils.
• Blisters on the tonsils and on the soft palate.
• Bad breath.
• Vomiting.
Causes
• Viral infections, such as pharyngitis, influenza, infectious mononucleosis or the common cold.
• Breathe through the mouth, which can cause dryness and irritation of the throat.
• Ingest any food that has damaged the throat when passing, such as a chicken bone, fishbone, very hot liquids or even spicy foods.
• Endotracheal intubation or insertion of a tube for some medical test.
• Operations such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
• Allergies.
• Acid regurgitation of the stomach towards the back of the throat, reflux or heartburn, where there is intense irritation of the throat.
• Pollution or cigarette smoke.
• Tumors Presence.
Regarding the bacterial cause, the most frequent infections are caused by a Streptococcus bacterium and are the origin of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, pneumonia or scarlet fever. They are usually treated with antibiotics.
Other Causes of a Sore Throat
In addition to the aforementioned diseases, there are other factors that cause pain in the throat. In spring it is very frequent pains derived from allergies to pollen, but also allergies to animals, dust, and mold.
In winter, dry heat heating to fight low temperatures often causes irritation and dryness. For this reason, humidifiers from the environment should be used.
Tobacco smoke and air pollution, acid regurgitation of the stomach, especially at night, and excessive voice forcing also cause this discomfort.
Treatments
Here we present the best home remedies for a sore throat that we have collected.
• Chamomile poultice
• Mauve gargle
• Gargarisms of water with salt
• Infusion of lemon leaves
These sore throat remedies are meant to help you stay informed, but they should never replace a medical consultation. It is essential that you consult your doctor about this or any other natural treatment, as well as possible contraindications or incompatibilities.
Feeding/Diet of a Sore Throat
It is very good in these cases to eat liquid and semi-liquid foods that are mild and do not irritate the throat, such as soups, purees or pasta. In addition, vegetable purees containing foods rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C are especially important.