Depending on the cause of the sore throat, different treatment methods are needed to relieve the pain
As the weather gets colder, the number of people with sore throats increases. Many people suspect “sore throat” when they have a sore throat, but there are various causes. A sore throat is a sign of inflammation or a sore throat. Since there are many causes of sore throat, the treatment should also be different. The US health media “Prevention” introduced it.
“The causes of sore throat can be divided into infectious and non-infectious,” said infectious disease expert Dr. Stephan Parodi. Viruses, such as the common cold, and bacterial infections, such as strep throat, can cause a sore throat. Allergies and smoking can also cause it. There are tissues in the neck where some infections can occur, such as the tonsils and vocal cords. Depending on the site of inflammation, it is also called tonsillitis or laryngitis.
◆ Virus infection
Many viral infections, especially upper respiratory tract infections, can cause a sore throat. The most common is the common cold, the rhinovirus. Rarely, a sore throat can be caused by a virus that causes sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes.
“Viruses can attach themselves to cells in the throat and cause localized damage or inflammation, which can be painful,” says Benjamin Twiell, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Viral infections are very diverse. Viruses that cause sore throats include rhinovirus, influenza (influenza) virus, mononucleosis (which causes fever, sore throat, headache, arthralgia, swollen lymph nodes, etc.), peripheral blood coxsackie virus (which causes hand, foot and mouth disease), chicken pox virus (chicken pox) and causes shingles), herpes simplex virus and the like.
Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, and acetaminophen and NSAIDs help relieve symptoms.
◆ Bacterial infection
“Bacterial infections are rarer than viral infections, but antibiotic treatment can prevent complications,” says Dr. Parodi. The bacterial infection triggers an immune response, such as inflammation that causes a sore throat. Unlike viral infections, bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Strep throat (sore throat), staph infections, sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, and allergies can also cause strep throat.
◆ Smoking and secondhand smoke
Dr. Parodi warns that “coughing from smoking can cause a sore throat.”
◆ dry air
Like smoke, dry air can cause coughs and sore throats.
◆ Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Unlike the non-infectious causes of a sore throat, it can cause direct inflammation of the tissues and lining of the throat. When GERD and heartburn affect the throat, it is called reflux laryngitis. As acid and enzymes from the stomach move up the esophagus, the first place to reach the back of the throat is the voice box or vocal cords.
◆ Symptoms that need to be examined by a doctor
90% of sore throats are viral illnesses that aren’t treated with antibiotics, so they don’t require special care other than pain relief. It is not easy for the general public to determine whether a sore throat is caused by an infection or not. It is best to see a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur:
▲ Fever exceeds 38 degrees. ▲ Neck pain is very intense between the first and second day. The pain persists for more than 5 days. ▲ I can’t swallow my saliva, so it flows. ▲ Swelling of the throat or tongue. ▲ I can’t move my neck or open my mouth.
