Is It Only A Sore Throat, Or Is It More Than It Appears?
Sore throats can often be painful and annoying
. When you have a cold or flu it is not uncommon to experience a sore throat. Fortunately, most sore throats are caused by a minor illness and will go away without medical treatment. However, there are also other reasons why you may be experiencing a sore throat that may be symptomatic of more serious problems. Children tend to have sore throats more often than adolescents or adults, with sore throats being the most common during the winter months when upper respiratory infections are more frequent. If you have a sore throat that lasts for more than five to seven days, you should visit your local Hackensack ENT for diagnosis and treatment.
Maybe it's Strep Throat?
Strep throat is a contagious disease that is caused by infection with streptococcal bacteria. Some of the symptoms of strep throat include fever, pain, redness, and swelling of the throat and tonsils. The symptoms can be mild or severe and is most common among school-aged children and teens. The bacteria present in the nose and throat, so normal activities such as sneezing, coughing, or shaking hands can spread the infection to other people.
Additionally, the infection can be acquired by touching objects such as books, tables, or other hard surfaces that were handled by an infected person. The majority of sore throat cases are caused by viruses and are not strep throat. Viral sore throats generally do not need treatment, as they improve on their own.
Could Your Tonsils and Adenoids be inflamed?
Your tonsils, found at the back of your throat, are part of your body's immune system. Sometimes bacteria will invade their territory and causes viruses. Your tonsils then get infected and become swollen, inflamed and enlarged. Often, your adenoids, which sit near the tonsils in the throat and trap viruses and bacteria, will become swollen as well.
Anyone, regardless of age, can fall victim to a viral infection causing the tonsils and adenoids to swell. However, these infections occur more often in children, but rarely in kids younger than two. There are several symptoms that go along with swollen tonsils and adenoids including:
*Pain when swallowing
*Chills and fever
*Inflamed, enlarged and engorged tonsils and adenoids
*Tender and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck and jaw area
*Respiratory problems
*Headaches
*Runny nose and nasal congestion
*Severe sore throat
Watch Out for Irritants and Injuries
If your sore throat lasts longer than a week, irritants or injuries such as can often cause it:
*Throat irritation due to low humidity, smoking, air pollution, yelling, or nasal drainage down the back of your throat.
*Breathing through the mouth when you have allergies or a stuffy nose
*Stomach acid that backs up into the throat - this may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
*An injury to the back of the throat, such as a cut or puncture from falling with a pointed object in the mouth.
*Chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a condition that causes extreme tiredness.
Treatment for a sore throat due to irritants and injuries will depend on the specific cause. An at home treatment may be just what you need to obtain relief.
Contact your Hackensack ENT if you are experiencing a sore throat that won't go away. Your ENT will help diagnose and treat your symptoms
by: Gen Wright
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