It's common but that doesn't make it any less unpleasant. Having a sore throat can be a real downer. Not only does it make you feel miserable it can seriously affect your ability to speak. Not very good if you need to get your point across to others at work or at home. Before we look at some of the sore throat remedies that are available, let's get an understanding of what a sore throat actually is.
A sore throat can be caused by either a bacterial infection or by a virus. This is quite an important distinction to make from the point of view of treatment. The infection can be present by itself or it may be part of a wider range of symptoms from a condition such as glandular fever.
Most of us will be familiar with the symptoms of a sore throat, which include pain and difficulty in swallowing. The tonsils maybe swollen and some people will be able to feel the (lymph) glands in their neck are swollen. This swelling is part of the body's natural defence to fighting infection.
The way that we usually get a sore throat is by inhaling the bacteria or virus that causes the infection. It is common for these agents to be present in microscopic droplets in the air such as when a person sneezes. It is also possible to pick up the infection if you touch your nose or mouth after touching an object shared with another person with the condition. This is the reason some schools introduce a policy of cleaning door handles when there is an outbreak. Once you've been affected, it can take between 2 and 4 days before any symptoms are shown.
The treatments for sore throats are many and varied. There are a number of sore throat remedies that can be bought from the chemist without seeing your doctor. Lozenges and pastels are often formulated with antibacterial agents to fight infection. Some also have mild analgesic (pain-killing) properties effects. In severe cases of bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
If the sore throat is caused by a virus, symptomatic relief using painkillers such as paracetomol will reduce pain and fever. Antibiotics are no use against a viral infection.
Non-drug therapies that are popular as sore throat remedies include using warm salty water as a gargle and mixing up cayenne pepper with water to make a gargle. These are not proven to cure the problem but they may provide symptomatic relief. Honey and lemon has long been a favorite used for people with sore throats. Honey has antiseptic properties. The vitamin C in the lemon juice may help the body's natural defences fight the infection. A common way to take it is to mix the honey and lemon with hot water.
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