Treatment for sore throat

A sore throat can be caused by a number of reasons or is itself, the symptom of an underlying disease. It can be a mild condition, part of a viral infection such as the common cold or an indication of something more serious such as a form of throat cancer.

Whatever the reason for your sore throat the issue you are concerned with how to treat it.

Sometimes there is nothing more annoying than a sore throat. It can affect your ability to do your job, to look after your family, to entertain (if you are a singer) and basically, to function as per normal.

So what can you do about it?

There are a range of treatment options which include:

• Home based treatment
• Over the counter treatment
• Prescription medicine
• Throat surgery

These are all discussed individually within this section.

In some cases a sore throat will heal by itself without the need for any treatment. This is the preferred option for many people who do not want the hassle and disruption that a sore throat can cause.

Other people especially those who are parents may prefer to talk to their GP or health visitor. Children are particularly susceptible to sore throats and will experience these on many occasions.

One example is frequent bouts of tonsillitis.

This is discussed in more detail in our sore throat in children section.

A good rule of thumb is this: if you are an adult and have a sore throat which has not eased even after a week or two then seek medical advice. Do this if the symptoms have worsened in spite of you trying various remedies.

Obtain urgent medical attention if your sore throat is causing breathing difficulties. This equally applies in the case of babies or young children.

In most cases a sore throat will resolve itself without the need for treatment but other more serious cases will require further investigation.