Sore throat: symptoms, causes and cures for disease

Definition

What is a sore throat?

Sore throat is a condition when the throat feels dry, sore, and painful. This condition is a symptom of certain diseases or health problems that cause pain when swallowing or speaking. The most common causes of sore throat when swallowing are viral and bacterial infections.

Sore throat caused by viruses that attack the respiratory system, such as the cold, flu or SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Meanwhile, a sore throat caused by bacteria is also known as s trep throat namely a throat infection caused by streptococcal bacteria.

Apart from viruses and bacterial infections, pain and discomfort in the throat are also often caused by allergies, sinusitis, and environmental factors such as dry air.

If it's caused by a mild infection, the sore throat will usually go away on its own. However, a sore throat that is chronic or long-term can be a sign of a more serious illness.

How common is this condition?

Sore throats are very common in anyone of all ages. However, children between the ages of 5-15 tend to experience it the most. Meanwhile, about 10% of sore throat cases that occur in adults are caused by a Streptococcus bacterial infection.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms that accompany a sore throat?

Sore throat is not a disease, but is a symptom or complaint of a certain health problem or disease. Pain, dryness, and burning in the throat are usually accompanied by other symptoms.

However, the symptoms that accompany sore throat can vary depending on the cause or underlying disease.

Other signs and symptoms that may appear while you have a sore throat are:

• Burning sensation in the throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swollen neck
• Red and swollen tonsils
• White patches or pus on the tonsils
• The voice becomes hoarse or lost
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of a sore throat will be more pronounced when eating, drinking and talking.

When to see a doctor

Immediately consult a doctor if sore throat and accompanying symptoms do not disappear in more than 5-10 days. In addition, go to the doctor immediately if you have severe sore throat symptoms such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Can't swallow at all
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Pain in the ear, especially when swallowing
• A red rash appears on the body
• Fever higher than 38.3 º Celsius
• There is blood in saliva or phlegm
• A lump appears on your neck
• Hoarseness lasts more than two weeks

Cause

What causes sore throat?

Based on the part of the throat that is affected, a sore throat can be caused by diseases such as:

1. Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is a disease that causes sore throat which is commonly referred to as strep throat (strep throat). Pharyngitis is caused by inflammation in the back of the throat which is generally caused by Streptococcus bacteria.

Apart from bacteria, inflammation in pharyngitis can actually also be caused by viral infections such as:

• Common cold virus (common cold)
• Influenza virus
• Mononucleosis viruses
• Measles virus
• Chicken pox virus
• Corona virus causes COVID-19

2. Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis, also known as tonsil disease, occurs when there is swelling and redness of the tonsils (tonsils), which are the soft tissues behind the mouth.

3. Laryngitis

Laryngitis occurs when there is swelling of the box or vocal cords, which is the mucosal layer located in the larynx. Swelling of the vocal cords causes the voice to become hoarse.

4. Epiglottitis

Epiglottitis is an inflammation that occurs in the epiglottic valve, which is located at the back of the mouth. The main cause is a bacterial infection Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib). Epiglottitis can be life threatening because it can block the flow of air in the throat.

Meanwhile, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, certain other diseases and conditions can also cause sore throats, such as:

• Allergy

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to allergens (allergens) such as pollen, grass, and pet dander. The overreaction of the immune system causes postnasal drip (mucus from the hedge that falls down the back of the throat) which can irritate the throat.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which acid from the stomach rises to the throat. These acids can burn the esophagus (digestive tract connected to the throat), causing symptoms of sore throat and pain in the upper stomach.

• Injury

Any injury that causes a sore on the neck can cause pain in the throat.

In addition to falling, bumping, or getting into an accident, you can get throat injuries from yelling, talking loudly, or singing for long periods of time.

Choking on food, drink, water, or any foreign object caught in your throat can also cause your throat to become irritated and irritated.

• Tumor

Tumors in the throat, vocal cords or on the tongue are less common causes of sore throats. You must immediately be alert and check with a doctor if the pain does not go away for a long time.

• Dry air

Hot, dry air can reduce moisture around the mouth and throat. This can make your throat feel dry and itchy. Dry air is likely to occur between the transition from winter to summer.

• Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants

Pain in the throat can be caused by irritation from air pollution, cigarette smoke, chemicals in household cleaning products, and harmful pollutants from polluted environments.

Risk factors

What puts me at risk for this condition?

Anyone can get this condition. However, there are several factors that make a person more at risk of developing sore throats:

• Cigarette smoke exposure. Active smokers (who smoke) and secondhand smoke (who inhale secondhand smoke) can also get sore throats.
• Allergy. Allergies to dust, mold or pet dander are at a higher risk of triggering a sore throat
• Chemical exposure. Pollutants and household chemical waste can cause throat irritation.
• Sinusitis. Drains from the nose can irritate the throat or spread infection.
• Being in a closed environment. Viral and bacterial infections can spread easily in isolated locations such as child care centers, homes and schools.
• Weak immunity. You are more susceptible to infections in general if your immune system is low. Common causes of decreased immunity: HIV disease, diabetes, chemotherapy treatments, stress, fatigue, and an unhealthy diet.

Diagnosis

How do you diagnose the cause of a sore throat?

In determining the cause of your sore throat, your doctor will perform a physical exam to look for signs and symptoms.

Some symptoms can indicate that the illness you are experiencing comes from a bacterial infection, but a viral infection can show similar symptoms.

To determine the cause, the doctor may need to examine the throat fluid through rapid test or a more accurate PCR test. The test is done by taking a sample in the throat which is then analyzed in the laboratory.

In addition, blood tests may also be done if the doctor suspects a possible cause of another disease.

Treatment

How to treat a sore throat?

For sore throats caused by a mild infection from a cold or flu, there is actually no specific drug to treat it. Generally, your condition will get better within a few days.

However, you can do simple treatment methods to reduce sore throat and speed up the recovery process by:

• Consuming warm foods and drinks such as broth, warm water, or herbal teas mixed with honey.
• Gargle with a salt water solution (¼ spoon of salt to ½ cup of water) several times a day.
• Get plenty of rest and drink water.
• Use a humidifier to clean the air and increase humidity, which tends to dry out at night.
• Eat nutritious foods with a regular diet.
• Eating cold foods or drinks such as ice cream.

To relieve sore throat, you can also take over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that are sold in pharmacies such as:

• Pain relievers such as paracetamol (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and Aspirin.
• Lozenges (lozenges)
• Topical drops or lozenges containing menthol
• OTC cough medicine if accompanied by cough symptoms

As for the symptoms of sore throat caused by bacterial infection, the doctor will give antibiotics. Pencillin is a type of antibiotic that is commonly used as a medicine for sore throat (caused by Streptococcus bacteria).

If a sore throat is caused by GERD, you need to take medications for acid reflux problems, such as:

• Antacid drugs like Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, and Mylanta
• H2 blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), and ranitidine (Zantac)
• Proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs) such as lansoprazole (Prevacid 24) and omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid OTC)
• Low-dose corticosteroid drugs can treat this condition without causing any serious side effects

Not all of these stomach acid drugs can be obtained at the pharmacy. To find out the right stomach acid medicine to cure the cause of your sore throat, you should consult your doctor directly.

Prevention

How to prevent sore throat?

The best way to prevent sore throat is to avoid sources of bacteria, viruses, exposure to allergens or irritants that cause you to become infected.

Given that in general the cause of a sore throat comes from a disease that can be passed from one person to another, here are some preventive tips you can do:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap or hand sanitizer alcoholic. Especially before eating, after eating, after and before using the toilet, and after sneezing or after coughing.
• Avoid sharing food through cutlery, plates and glasses with other people.
• Avoid close, direct contact with people who have the flu or other contagious disease for a while until they have completely recovered.
• Wear a mouth and nose mask when traveling to public places and polluted environments.
• Keep your body fit and healthy by eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly to boost your immune system.

If you have other complaints and questions related to sore throat conditions, immediately consult a doctor for the best solution.