Pharmacy First – Sore Throat

Symptoms of a Sore Throat

The NHS outlines, six typical symptoms associated with a sore throat:

• A painful throat, especially when swallowing
• A dry, scratchy throat
• Redness in the back of your mouth
• Bad breath
• A mild cough
• Swollen neck glands

Symptoms of a sore throat can mild or severe. Additionally, any of the symptoms could be a signal of further underlying health problems such as a bacterial infection. When you suffer a severe sore throat it’s important to address the symptoms swiftly in order to lessen the risk of further problems.

Since this condition affects the respiratory tract it’s important to monitor any deterioration. If you develop breathing issues please seek immediate medical by dialling 111. That said, if breathing is not significantly affected you can instead simply book to see our pharmacist under the free NHS service, Pharmacy First:

Risk Factors & Potential Causes

A sore throat commonly presents moderate risks. However, certain risks concerning the respiratory system should not be overlooked, these risks include:

Strep A infections are usually mild and easily treatable. However, occasionally they can escalate into a more serious state. In these cases where they become more serious you will also develop more symptoms for example if you develop Scarlet Fever it will result in a rash alongside the sore throat. In instances when you believe there might be a serious Strep A infection it's imperative to seek an immediate consultation with a health professional.

https://www.pierremontpharmacy.com/book-an-appointment



Allergies in some cases a sore throat can result from an allergic reaction. Triggering similar symptoms. Depending on the severity of the allergy, it may require immediate treatment. Fortunately, in such cases, the person will usually be aware of the allergy making it far easier to identify and treat.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) can be a risk factor or potential cause of your sore throat. This occurs when there has been an infection in a part of your respiratory system. This will cause persistent coughing & a sore throat, along with breathlessness and muscle ache. An RTI can be caused by either a virus or bacteria. These are more prevalent if your immune system is weakened due to allergies or other health conditions.

Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in your throat sometimes referred to as “postnasal drip”. This is usually caused by a cold, the flu or sinusitis. However, catarrh can be caused by a wide range of factors. Anything that causes a build-up of mucus will in turn lead to excessive coughing additionally causing a sore throat.

Air pollution can cause a sore throat due to inhaling harmful chemicals or particles that irritate the lining of the throat. Living or working in a particularly polluted environment can cause a chronic sore throat and is hard to treat unless you can improve your working/living environment.

Smoking will have severely detrimental effects on your respiratory system and throat. Long-term side effects of smoking are too numerous to discuss here. Smokers often have a persistent cough and sore throat; this is referred to as “Smoker’s cough” (So common it has a name!). Those who smoke are much more likely to develop a sore throat and many further throat conditions. Without going into the weeds about smoking (which we will cover in an entirely separate blog) the best thing you can do to improve a sore throat, if you do smoke is, is to quit. We can help with that, too: just ask one of the pharmacy team.

Complications

At times, your sore throat can persist longer than usual or worsen. In these cases, you might have contracted other illnesses or diseases, such as:

• Tonsillitis: When a sore throat leads to an infection of the tonsils, they will become red and swollen. This is usually a mild risk to your health and can be simply more bothersome than a simple sore throat.

• Ear Infections: like our blog on earache a throat infection has the potential to spread to adjacent parts of the body most notably your ear.

• Sinus Infections: Inflammation and congestion in the throat and nasal passages can contribute to a sinus infection (sinusitis).

• Scarlet Fever: A rare but severe and highly contagious disease is an infection from Strep A. Although less common in modern times. Scarlet Fever manifests with a sore throat and is transmitted through coughs. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat this condition if necessary.

• Rheumatic Fever: This is a rare complication of Strep A infection and can cause painful joints and heart problems. Once contracted, rheumatic fever becomes more likely to reoccur in the future. So, if you had this condition, you should ensure close monitoring of future sore throats.

• Airway Obstruction: In rare instances of sore throat, you may have difficulty breathing. Often, this can be the result of swelling in the throat. If you start to notice a restriction in your own or someone else’s breathing call NHS 111 or go directly to A&E.

To reinforce the message: if you notice any problems with your breathing due to a sore throat or one of the listed complications call 111 or go directly to A&E.

Alternatively, should you notice any signs or symptoms of a sore throat pop in and book a free, NHS consultation with our pharmacist who can provide you with free NHS treatment and advice on how to deal with your sore throat. Or book online here:

Treatment for a Sore Throat

There exist numerous ways to treat a sore throat varying from full prescription treatments to home remedies. The appropriate treatment hinges on the severity of your symptoms:

Home Remedies

When ill it is easy to become dehydrated. In the case of a sore throat, water can also help relieve uncomfortable symptoms. Other ways to relieve symptoms of a sore throat can be to quit smoking altogether (or at least stop during the time you are ill). Smoking can aggravate and worsen symptoms of a sore throat. Yet another reason to quit! A few other home remedies you could try include gargling with warm salty water, or sucking on ice cubes, lollies or hard sweets. Please chose the low-sugar option! (NB we do not recommend these last options for young children as this can be a choking hazard).

Medications

Here are some of the Over-The-Counter medications you can assist in soothing symptoms of a sore throat: Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can help relieve symptoms, as can medicated lozenges, and anaesthetic sprays. In cases when allergies might be the source of a sore throat antihistamines can be helpful. Our pharmacy team are always on hand to aid.  

NHS Pharmacy First to the rescue!

Pharmacy First is ready to provide swift and effective relief for your sore throat as well as the six other conditions that the service covers. Pierremont Pharmacy can provide rapid treatment for the unpleasant symptoms that come with sore throats. Just a short walk to our pharmacy, this service means you don’t have to wait for an appointment with your GP if you need a prescription. Instead, you can come to us direct “cutting to the chase”. We are excited by the potential of this new service and the support we can offer our local communities.

If you want to book an appointment under the NHS Pharmacy First service, click here: (or pop in and speak to a member of our pharmacy team)

Conclusion

To conclude: a good understanding the symptoms, causes and treatment options for a sore throat can assist patients to enhance their overall health and well-being. No matter the cause of symptoms Pharmacy First is a free, NHS service that can help support patients with swifter access to treatment. All of that said, its imperative that patients are proactive and understand ways they can help mitigate the symptoms themselves through homely remedies or seeking help from pharmacists when needed. Combined this approach can help you take charge of your health and minimise the chances of this infection causing a real threat to your health. Ultimately, awareness of symptoms and self-care practices are the keys to reducing the impact a sore throat on your daily life. When symptoms become a problem, Pharmacy First is here to help.

Pharmacy First to the rescue??