Sore throat

The Sore throat or Sore throat is also called in medical terminology Pharyngitis designated. This is one of the most common diseases of the ear, nose and throat area, in which the mucous membrane of the throat is inflamed.

What is a sore throat?

To top it all off, the typical symptoms of pharyngitis are often accompanied by coughs and runny nose, sometimes also by feelings of weakness and sweating.
© snapgalleria - stock.adobe.com

One of the most common diseases of the throat is that Sore throat (pharyngitis); Here the doctor differentiates between two types: chronic and acute pharyngitis.

While acute pharyngitis is usually triggered by viruses or bacteria, the chronic form of this disease is a long-term irritation in the throat and neck area.

Numerous factors, such as environmental toxins or cigarette smoke, come into question for this. The acute form of sore throat is very contagious.

causes

Main cause of the acute Sore throat are viruses, and in a few cases also bacteria. There are many more causes for chronic pharyngitis: Both cigarette smoke and too dry room air are possible.

The radiation exposed during radiation therapy can also trigger a chronic inflammation of the throat. Other possible causes include alcohol, food that is too spicy or too hot, or allergies.

A few diseases, which in turn can lead to an inflammation of the throat, should not be left unmentioned. This includes an underactive thyroid as well as diabetes. Menopausal women are particularly likely to suffer from throat infections.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

A sore throat or pharyngitis usually announces itself with a scratchy throat. If the sufferer responds immediately by taking anti-inflammatory drugs, the symptoms of the sore throat may still be stopped or lessened.

A dry feeling in the throat will later add to the scratching. Swallowing becomes increasingly difficult. A sore throat radiating to the ears sets in. Sufferers clear their throats until they finally start coughing. With a fully developed sore throat, the main symptom is a severe sore throat. Swallowing is excruciating. Speaking can also be painful.

In many cases, those affected develop a mild fever. Children with a sore throat can have higher temperatures. You may experience chills. The lack of pharyngeal tonsils favors severe courses. It also creates a higher likelihood of illness.

To top it all off, the typical symptoms of pharyngitis are often accompanied by coughs and runny nose, sometimes also by feelings of weakness and sweating. There may be severe hoarseness and nocturnal coughing fits. The sick experience a strong feeling of illness. The throat feels like sore when swallowing acidic juices.

In the second stage of the sore throat, there is a lot of mucus. In addition to the symptoms of sore throat, side-cord angina symptoms may develop. These can lead to otitis media and severe ear pain.

Diagnosis & course

Sore throats and sore throats usually occur as part of a cold or tonsillar angina. But a sore throat can also be possible.

An acute one Sore throat is usually associated with a severe sore throat as well as difficulty swallowing. Fever and headache can also occur. The doctor usually recognizes an acute throat inflammation at the first glance into the throat, because it is then very reddened.

Often, however, he will also examine the nose, because obstructed nasal breathing can also trigger the sore throat. An inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane or sinuses, typical side effects of a cold, can also occur in the context of throat inflammation. In the case of chronic pharyngitis, on the other hand, patients usually feel a feeling of dryness in the throat area and there is also the feeling of constantly having to clear their throat. Patients also frequently complain of dry coughs. This can lead to sleep disorders, which severely restricts the patient's quality of life.

The doctor also recognizes chronic pharyngitis with the help of the so-called mirror examination and recognizes various signs here. In the atrophic form, for example, the mucous membrane is smooth and shiny, while in the hyperplastic form the pharynx appears thickened and the soft palate appears slack. The third form of chronic inflammation of the throat is simple chronic inflammation of the throat.

The progression of a sore throat depends on how quickly it is treated. An acute inflammation can quickly develop into a chronic inflammation. With the right treatment, however, both forms of the disease are curable and progress well.

Complications

Complications tend to occur rarely with an inflammation of the throat, but cannot be ruled out in principle. In medicine, a distinction is made between purulent and non-purulent sequelae. One of the typical purulent complications of pharyngitis is tonsillitis (angina tonsillaris).

This leads to a bacterial secondary infection of the tonsils, which is mostly caused by streptococci. A whitish-yellow coating develops on the almonds. These swollen pus specks cause severe sore throats and difficulty swallowing, and are often accompanied by a high fever. Because tonsillitis could lead to further complications such as blood poisoning, it must be treated immediately by a doctor.

Lateral cord angina is a further complication. It mainly affects patients who have undergone surgical removal of the tonsils. In addition to the severe sore throat, typical signs include swollen lymph nodes and general complaints such as fever, headache and aching limbs. The laryngitis, which causes severe hoarseness, is also one of the secondary diseases. The patient can even completely lose his voice.

One of the most serious complications of pharyngitis is the formation of an abscess. An abscess (encapsulated collection of pus) occurs when the local inflammation of the throat spreads to the adjacent connective tissue. Depending on where the abscess occurs, medicine speaks of a parapharyngeal abscess, a peritonsillar abscess or a retropharyngeal abscess. The parapharyngeal abscess appears to the side of the pharynx, the peritonsillar abscess in the almond connective tissue and the retropharyngeal abscess behind the pharynx.

When should you go to the doctor?

A sore throat, a scratchy throat or discomfort with the act of swallowing indicate a health irregularity. If the symptoms persist for several days or if they increase in intensity, a doctor should be consulted. Redness in the throat, dry mucous membrane in the mouth or loss of appetite should be examined and treated. If hoarseness, a general feeling of illness or coughing fits occur, the person affected should have the complaints clarified. A sore throat is characterized by an increase in coughing fits during night sleep and a difficult act of swallowing.

In the event of slight discrepancies, various self-help measures can be used to alleviate the situation. If after a restful night's sleep there is already relief from the symptoms, in many cases there is no need to consult a doctor.

However, if heavy night sweats, pain in the jaw or swelling of the lymph develop, a doctor is required. A doctor should be presented with a fever, problems in the area of ​​the ears, internal weakness and a decrease in physical and mental performance. Colds and restrictions in the voice should also be examined. Refusal to eat, weight loss, or internal dryness are causes for concern. In the event of dehydration, an ambulance service must be alerted, as the person concerned is in a life-threatening condition.

Treatment & Therapy

Treating a Sore throat depends on whether it is the acute or chronic form of the disease. Acute pharyngitis can often be managed with simple home remedies such as throat rinses, lozenges or cold throat compresses.

Antibiotic drugs are usually of little help here, as bacteria rarely trigger the disease. Lots of warm fluids can help relieve sore throats in an acute sore throat, similar to a normal cold.

If there is a chronic inflammation of the throat, the cause must first be clarified and this then remedied. Inhalations with chamomile or sage also usually help quite well. Surgery is only necessary in some cases if nasal breathing is impeded.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for sore throats and difficulty swallowing

prevention

The acute Sore throat can only be prevented to a limited extent. However, it is important to strengthen the body's defenses. This includes a healthy diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables as well as plenty of exercise in the fresh air. At best, you should completely refrain from smoking and alcohol. If you work in the office, make sure you have enough fresh air here - humidifiers can help very well here. Likewise, one should not fail to drink enough, especially in strongly air-conditioned rooms.

Aftercare

A slight sore throat often heals on its own. It does not require any further intensive aftercare. If the inflammation is more severe, the person concerned will feel pain in the throat, which gets worse when eating. Symptoms include malaise, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Follow-up care is advisable here to counteract the symptoms. Complete healing is the short to medium-term goal of treatment.

In the case of a sore throat, the classic home remedies are effective in addition to antibiotic medicine. Keeping calm, protecting your neck from the cold with a scarf and drinking warm tea provides relief and speeds up the healing process. Mint tea or chamomile tea are best served as drinks.

Chamomile tea is said to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Sucking sage sweets moisturizes the irritated mucous membranes. This will relieve the difficulty swallowing. If the inflammation has not noticeably improved after a week, a further visit to the doctor is advisable. This prevents the disease from spreading. Other illnesses can hide behind the symptoms.

For example, tonsillitis expresses itself through similar symptoms. During the follow-up, the patient is examined more specifically. Once the actual cause has been identified, the specialist will treat these complaints until they can be successfully eliminated.

You can do that yourself

With a sore throat, lozenges and gargle solutions from the drugstore help. Herbal teas and sprays also bring short-term relief due to their local anesthetic effect. Sick people should also drink a lot and keep their necks warm. Well-known home remedies such as warm compresses, milk with honey or gentle massages reduce the pain.

The mucus in the nose and sinuses is loosened by inhalation with chamomile tea or special preparations from the pharmacy. Appropriate products also relieve hoarseness and sore throats. If the symptoms do not go away despite using these home remedies, a visit to a doctor is recommended. Chronic sore throat is best treated by removing or avoiding the irritant causing it. Depending on the cause, this can be achieved, for example, by stopping smoking or ventilating regularly. A stay at the lake has just as positive an effect on the mucous membranes as the inhalation of salty water. Natural remedies such as Icelandic moss or sage help with severe pain with inflamed airways.

In general, sufferers should avoid speaking during a sore throat and instead take it easy. Sports and strenuous physical work are not allowed. Those affected should also avoid stress so that the sore throat can quickly subside. Which measures make sense in detail should be discussed beforehand with your family doctor or ear, nose and throat doctor.