Home Remedies for a Chronic Sore Throat Home Remedies Whether or not you’re taking medication, here are steps you can take at home to soothe an itchy, scratchy, painful throat :e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e0791f0-ea4a-43d7-95db-7156040cff1f Suck on a throat lozenge, ice pop, or ice chips. Stay hydrated and drink warm beverages, such as herbal teas.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762934041869-7349-4b3c-b30f-c47e11f6d7d8 Try honey to relieve a cough. Ask your doctor about over-the-counter pain relievers, such as naproxen (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Use a humidifier or vaporizer. Try gargling salt water. Use saline nasal rinses.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bd32b253-f297-448c-a997-d8382d23b6db If your sore throat is from an infection, replace your toothbrush once you’re no longer contagious to avoid reinfection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762920db9509-c4a5-4aec-8279-e304361b3194 While these remedies can help ease your symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor if you have a chronic sore throat. They can diagnose the cause and recommend the best treatment plan.
Treatment for a Chronic Sore Throat Treatment Depending on the cause of your persistent sore throat, treatment may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b6861ddd-deea-47aa-8801-a62c48b7d80e Medications to fight infection, like antibiotics, antiviral medications , or antifungal medications Lifestyle changes, surgery, or medications like antacids , H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors for GERDe60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bc65de19-fa2f-4d5a-b396-6d619e063dfd Nasal corticosteroids and other medications to treat allergy symptoms Tonsillectomy (surgery to remove your tonsils) for chronic tonsillitis
Less Common and Potentially Serious Causes of a Chronic Sore Throat Other Causes While less common, other causes of a chronic sore throat can include: Throat Cancer Rarely, a serious condition like throat cancer can cause symptoms similar to a chronic sore throat. Other symptoms can include hoarseness, trouble swallowing, and a lump in the neck.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e5c6c242-8a50-4ea4-978f-7ae0fde35ccc Peritonsillar Abscess A peritonsillar abscess, also called quinsy, is a swollen, pus-filled pocket that typically forms near one of the tonsils. It’s usually a complication of untreated tonsillitis .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b4512a08-a372-4109-837f-792e4ed049c8 Epiglottitis While it’s very uncommon today, epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis, a flap that covers your windpipe when you swallow. Early symptoms include a high fever and sore throat.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f81f16e6-a7db-4acf-b340-b8fd44bc5402 Mononucleosis Mononucleosis , or mono, is a contagious infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Common symptoms include a sore throat, fever, and extreme fatigue.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762952717d0f-8843-4c28-9858-2d0453fd22e7 ACE Inhibitors ACE inhibitor medications that treat high blood pressure can cause persistent throat irritation and a dry cough.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629eb882925-aa61-459b-9a29-c2dbefdc8c9a Sexually Transmitted Infections A sore throat can be a symptom of sexually transmitted infections, like oral chlamydia and gonorrhea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b1501f00-070d-4470-bccc-9640dddce22c
When to See Your Doctor About a Chronic Sore Throat Seeing a Doctor See a medical provider if your sore throat is severe or lasts longer than a week and you experience any of the following symptoms:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297f0f954c-3bcf-4ac7-8e25-c11fcc569965 Difficulty swallowing, breathing, or opening your mouth Hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks Swelling on your face or neck Fever Lump in your neck Joint pain Earache Rash Without treatment, some infections that cause a chronic sore throat can potentially be life-threatening. While uncommon, throat pain can also be a symptom of throat cancer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296fa01e62-451b-40a9-808c-97d9c1069f72
The Takeaway A sore throat is considered chronic when it lasts for more than 10 days or keeps coming back. Most sore throats are caused by a bacterial or viral infection, such as the cold, flu, or strep throat. But a chronic sore throat may have other causes. Common causes of a chronic sore throat include allergies, tonsillitis, acid reflux, and air pollution. Less common and potentially serious causes include throat cancer, epiglottitis, and peritonsillar abscess. Treatment for a chronic sore throat depends on the cause but can include antibiotic or antiviral medications, antacids, antihistamines, and nasal corticosteroids. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary. Home remedies for easing a sore throat include hydration, over-the-counter pain relievers, and throat lozenges. Seek immediate medical treatment if your sore throat lasts more than a week or you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, swelling, or a lump on your neck.
Common Causes of a Chronic Sore Throat Common Causes A sore throat, also called pharyngitis, can have many different causes. Sore throats that go away on their own are typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295d12be05-1db6-4a1c-abfa-422327f62952 Common causes of a chronic sore throat include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762912667c6e-ca01-4f65-8a4d-4c30ed8ecefa Mouth Breathing During Sleep Breathing with your mouth open during sleep reduces saliva production, which can dry out and irritate your throat. Common causes of sleeping with your mouth open include nasal congestion, allergies, and sleep apnea.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293a2d527a-b027-426f-a791-850b32c0defc Allergies Allergens, like pollen, mold, or pet dander, can cause cold-like symptoms, including a sore throat and runny nose. Mucus dripping from the back of your nose into your throat, or postnasal drip, can also cause throat irritation. Your symptoms may last for as long as you are exposed to the allergens.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f5bb326f-6fdd-407d-bbc0-6b5264ac543be60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629871bcc4e-71ab-4617-936c-13d78cd4e1c2 Chronic Tonsillitis and Tonsil Stones Tonsillitis is inflammation and swelling of the tonsils, usually caused by a viral infection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762970b8d069-978a-4764-a4ba-421eb72535a9 Chronic tonsillitis , or recurrent acute tonsillitis, is repeated episodes of tonsillitis. It’s usually caused by Streptococcus, the same bacteria that causes strep throat .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d99d4746-a3ec-42b0-a313-8ebc3a34da80 Tonsil stones can also inflame your tonsils and irritate your throat, causing a sore throat or scratchiness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629325e66a4-4e1c-4dd4-bedc-b215a81a1fe2 Gastrointestinal Issues Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) cause acid from your stomach to go into your throat or esophagus, causing irritation. Environmental Irritants Exposure to smoke from smoking or other toxins, like air pollution, can cause a chronic sore throat.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762988005318-c635-4680-92ff-7fc6234daf45 Inhaled Corticosteroids Hoarseness is a common side effect of asthma inhalers containing corticosteroids.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762999cc292a-79e7-4510-a5ae-b709adb6dc8f
Most sore throats are caused by a bacterial or viral infection and go away on their own or with medications like antibiotics . But in some cases, a sore throat can persist due to other causes, like allergies , toxins, or gastric reflux . A sore throat that lasts for more than 10 days or keeps coming back is considered chronic.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b4c0c89b-00ba-4898-9731-7be380c1e0ec
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