Throat Infection – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Throat infection which is also known as the sore throat is usually accompanied by the pain or irritation of the throat that produces difficulty while swallowing.

The most common cause of a throat infection or sore throat (pharyngitis) according to the ENT Specialist is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu.

In Strep throat (streptococcal infection), throat infection is caused by the bacteria and requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications.

Symptoms of throat infection

Symptoms of a throat infection differ from person to person depending on the cause of infection.

Symptoms of throat infection as suggested by the ENT Doctor involves the following-

1. Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat
2. Pain that gets worse with swallowing
3. Difficulty in swallowing
4. Swollen glands in your neck or jaw
5. Swollen or red tonsils
6. White patches or pus on your tonsils
7. A hoarse or muffled voice

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Other common symptoms causing a throat infection are-

1. Fever
2. Cough
3. Runny nose
4. Sneezing
5. Body aches
6. Headache
7. Nausea or vomiting

Treatment of throat infection

When to see a doctor?

Take your child to the best ENT doctor, if your child’s throat infection doesn’t go away then you should seek for the best ENT Treatment.

If you are an adult, then you should must see your doctor, when you have a throat infection and any of the following problems occurs-

1. Difficulty in swallowing
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Difficulty in opening your mouth
4. Joint pain
5. Earache
6. Rash
7. Fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
8. Blood in saliva or phlegm
9. Frequently recurring sore throats
10. A lump in your neck
11. Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks

A throat infection or sore throat is caused by a viral infection that lasts five to seven days and do not require any medical treatment.  But if the problem persists then you should consult an ENT Specialist.

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Treating bacterial infections

If throat infection is caused by a bacterial infection,then an ENT specialist will prescribe you antibiotics.

You must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by the ENT Doctor  even if the symptoms of throat infection are gone.

Most  throat infection are caused by viruses and can be treated successfully at home.

There are several remedies mentioned by the ENT specialist  that can be used at home for curing a throat infection. These remedies include-

• 1. Gargling with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) and then spitting it out.
  2. Drinking warm liquids (such as ginger,tulsi tea, water with honey, or warm soup).
  3. Using a humidifier to moisten dry air.

If the throat infection is caused by bacteria as suggested by the ENT Doctor, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and to rest in order to prevent dehydration and to allow your body to properly recover from the infection.

The throat infection is the most commonly occurring health problem faced by the people today which can be easily treated following proper medication and remedies quite effectively.