Sore Throat (cont.)
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- Sore throat facts
- What causes a sore throat?
- What are the symptoms of a sore throat?
- How long should a sore throat last?
- What are home remedies for a sore throat?
- What is strep throat and why is it different?
- When should I seek medical care for a sore throat?
- What is the treatment for sore throat?
- What if I have multiple recurrent episodes of strep throat?
- What can I do if I have a sore throat and am pregnant?
- Pictures of The Anatomy of a Sore Throat - Slideshow
- Pictures of Natural Cold & Flu Remedies - Slideshow
- Pictures of The Common Cold - Slideshow
What is the treatment for sore throat?
The treatment for a sore throat depends upon the cause:
- Viruses will run their own course and the infection usually will resolve when the body fights them off. Mononucleosis (mono) can take up to a month to resolve but there is no specific treatment for it.
- Bacterial infections of the tonsils or adenoids are treated with antibiotics. Chronic infections may require surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.
- Dry mouth caused by mouth breathing or smoking is treated by changing habits (quit smoking) or by changing sleeping positions. Home remedies such as lozenges and mouthwash may be tried. Mouth breathing at night may be a sign of other respiratory problems. Talk to a doctor about possible causes for nighttime mouth breathing.
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is treated with multiple medications to decrease stomach acid. Talk to a doctor about treatment options.
- Sinus drainage (post nasal drip) is treated with over the counter decongestants or nasal sprays.
- Bacterial infections such as strep throat are treated with antibiotics including penicillin, azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Dispermox, Trimox), and levofloxacin (Levaquin).
- Sore throat due to the yeast Candida (thrush) is treated with anti-fungal medications.
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