The whole country is suffering from pharyngitis. What is going on? Here are 6 tips to relieve sore throat

After the May Day holiday, more and more people suddenly suffered from sore throats.

Many netizens posted that their throats started to itch for no apparent reason, and then felt as painful as swallowing a razor blade. Even swallowing saliva hurt. They went to the hospital and were diagnosed with acute pharyngitis.

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The pharynx and larynx are actually two parts. The larynx is located in the front and lower part of the pharynx. They are close to each other and often appear together when inflamed.

What is pharyngitis? How to relieve a sore throat? When should you see a doctor? Today, we invite Dr. Li Dongzeng, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Beijing You'an Hospital, to talk about it in detail.

01

What is strep throat?

Pharyngitis is a common throat disease, which refers to the inflammatory response occurring in the throat mucosa and surrounding lymphoid tissue.

70% to 80% of pharyngitis is caused by viruses. For example, influenza, new coronavirus infection, Epstein-Barr virus infection, streptococcal infection, etc. are all common causes of sore throat .

In addition to viruses, pharyngitis can also be caused by bacteria or irritation from substances such as dust and smoke, or allergic rhinitis or sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, etc.

Regardless of the cause, most patients with pharyngitis present with dry throat, itchy throat, and burning throat in the early stages of the disease. When the inflammation affects the throat, coughing, hoarseness, difficulty speaking, and even loss of voice appear, followed by symptoms such as sore throat, which worsens when swallowing.

In addition, sore throat is often accompanied by neck pain or swelling, as well as fever, headache, fatigue and other discomforts.

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In general, the systemic symptoms of acute pharyngitis are generally mild, with local symptoms being the main symptoms. Most cases can heal on their own within 7 to 10 days. Just get more rest, drink plenty of water, and pay attention to protecting your throat, such as not eating rough or spicy foods.

02

These 6 methods

Can effectively relieve sore throat

Many patients with pharyngitis suffer from severe sore throats, and even swallowing saliva is so painful that they cannot bear it. Is there any way to relieve the pain?

1. Oral painkillers

Oral analgesics are very effective in relieving the pain of acute pharyngitis in adults, among which acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the most commonly used and safest analgesics .

The drug usually takes effect within 1 to 2 hours and relieves not only the sore throat symptoms but also other symptoms that may accompany the sore throat, such as fever or headache.

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However, there are a few things to keep in mind when taking pain medication:

Be sure to take the recommended dosage in the instructions. Even if you have multiple symptoms, do not increase the dosage on your own, especially when taking the medicine for children.

Avoid taking it with other cold medicines, especially combination cold medicines. Many combination cold medicines also contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and mixing them can easily lead to an overdose.

For people with renal or liver dysfunction, this product should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

2. Eat something cold

Very cold foods, such as ice cubes, frozen popsicles, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, have a numbing effect and can temporarily reduce or relieve swallowing pain.

If your throat is particularly sore, you can try putting ice cubes or popsicles in your mouth , which can last longer. Note that drinking room temperature liquids or cold drinks may not work, so be sure to eat icy food.

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3. Try to eat warm food

Compared with irritating foods and room temperature liquids, people with sore throats are more likely to tolerate warm liquids and foods, such as warm water, tea, chicken soup, porridge, etc.

Please note that it is warm, not hot. Overly hot food or liquid may burn our throat and aggravate the pain.

4. Eat some throat-soothing food

Honey and hard candy can also relieve sore throat to a certain extent, especially throat lozenges containing mint.

The throat lozenges commonly found on the market usually contain mint ingredients, which have an anesthetic effect. They give a cool feeling after eating and can make people temporarily forget the pain in their throat.

But be careful, this mint candy should be used with caution by children under 6 years old, as it may have a depressant effect on nerves.

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5. Drink plenty of water

Organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the UK National Health Service (NHS) recommend that patients with sore throats drink plenty of water, which is beneficial to recovery from the illness.

You can choose room temperature water, cold water, or warm water, just avoid overscalding.

6. Improve air humidity and avoid air pollution

Dry air and air pollution can aggravate sore throat. You can use a humidifier to improve the humidity of the environment, which can help relieve sore throat symptoms.

It should be noted that when using a humidifier, try to choose purified water or boiled and cooled water, or choose a humidifier with a sterilization function. After each use of the humidifier, clean it according to the instructions.

Also, be careful to stay away from secondhand smoke and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke to prevent smoke irritation from aggravating sore throat.

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03

Severe pharyngitis, which can be life-threatening

In these 6 situations, you must seek medical attention immediately

Severe pharyngitis is relatively rare, but it carries the risk of airway obstruction, which can be life-threatening . Therefore, it is very important to learn to recognize danger signs and seek medical attention in time.

When the following 6 situations occur, it means that the disease causing sore throat may have some risks and you need to seek medical attention in time:

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References:

[1] UTD: Symptomatic treatment of acute pharyngitis in adults

[2] UTD: Evaluation of adults with acute pharyngitis

[3] UTD: Evaluation of sore throat in children

Author: Li Dongzeng, Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital

Reviewer: Pan Chunchen, deputy chief physician of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China; Pang Yufeng, deputy chief physician of Otolaryngology and Otolaryngology Department, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital

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