Sore Throat - Treatment, Causes, Home Remedies & More

When to See a Doctor for a Sore Throat

If home remedies for sore throat haven’t helped your throat pain go away, & symptoms aren’t easing, contact your Medcare team. A long term, persistent sore throat can be a sign of a more serious underlying medical condition, & we can rapidly assess & advise on the best course of management & treatment to help you back to full health.

Diagnosis of a Sore Throat

Sore throats often go away on their own within 5–10 days, & home treatment is usually satisfactory in alleviating the symptoms. But sometimes medical treatment is necessary.

See your Medcare doctor if you have:

• A severe, persistent sore throat
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Swelling of the neck or face
• A fever of 101F/38C or above
• Blood in the saliva or mucus
• A lump in the neck
• Hoarseness that lasts more than a fortnight
• Earache, or
• A rash

Taking a Swab

If your doctor suspects the sore throat is bacterial, they may take a throat swab for lab testing, to determine the presence of strep infection. The sample is taken by touching the back of the throat & tonsils with a cotton-tipped applicator. A rapid strep test provides results in minutes, but doctors will often recommend an additional 48-hour culture test to confirm the rapid strep test results.

If a test is negative, this means the infection is viral, & antibiotics will not cure it.

If it is positive, your Medcare doctor can provide antibiotic treatment.

EBV Test

If a doctor suspects Epstein Barr Virus, a blood test can confirm this.

Treatment for a Sore Throat

Sore throat treatment depends on the suspected – & diagnosed - cause.

• Bacterial infection: In bacterial infection, such as strep throat, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic.
• Viral infection: Sore throats caused by a viral infection usually start to improve within seven days & do not require medical treatment. Mild over-the-counter pain relievers may help with pain & fever.

If you are diagnosed with epiglottitis, you may need to spend time in hospital. In severe cases, intubation to help you breathe may be required. If the examination reveals a tumor or another cause, appropriate treatment options will be discussed.

Medicine for Sore Throats

Over-the-counter medications to relieve sore throat pain include:

• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Aspirin
• Sore throat sprays with numbing antiseptic &/or cooling ingredients
• Throat lozenges
• Cough syrup

Some herbs, including licorice root, slippery elm & marshmallow root are available as sore throat remedies. Medication to decrease stomach acid can help with GERD-related sore throats. These include:

• Antacids: to neutralize stomach acid
• H2 blockers to reduce stomach acid production
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which block acid production

Low-dose corticosteroids can also help with sore throat pain, without causing serious side effects.

Home Remedies for Sore Throats

Most sore throat cases can be treated at home. A range of simple, straightforward home remedies and care may help relieve sore throat symptoms:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Cold foods, like popsicles
• Gargling with warm saltwater
• Lozenges or oral spray
• Soothing drinks including honey, lemon & ginger - consuming warm liquids can help ease discomfort
• Zinc acetate lozenges
• Slippery Elm
• Marshmallow root (for a cough)
• Ginseng
• Garlic supplements
• Vitamin C
• Echinacea
• Vitamin D

Unproven home remedies should be avoided by those:

• Aged under 18 years, or
• Who are pregnant, or
• Who have certain health conditions

Always check with your Medcare health professional before taking alternative remedies, to make sure they are safe & will not interact with other medication.