How to treat a throat - sprays, tablets or lozenges

Why does my throat hurt?

Most cases of sore throat are caused by bacteria. It appears as a result of acute inflammation. The focus is located either in the tonsils, and then they talk about tonsillitis, or in the pharynx (pharyngitis).

With bacterial infections, pain appears suddenly and quickly intensifies, accompanied by a sharp increase in temperature and a significant deterioration in general well-being. You should immediately contact a therapist. The following treatment is usually prescribed:

a course of antibiotics, and it is important to drink them to the end;
regular rinsing: timely cleansing of mucus and pus is of fundamental importance for a quick recovery;
lozenges;
antiseptic spray;
plenty of warm drinks.

Another large group of pathogens that cause throat diseases are viruses. The sore throat gradually intensifies, the person feels weak, aches throughout the body, and has a headache. The throat may not hurt very much, but it is constant, and in some cases quite sensitive, and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes is also observed. The temperature rises slightly or remains within normal limits. The disease is accompanied by a profuse runny nose.

In such cases, antiviral drugs are prescribed and the same recommendations are given as for bacterial throat infections: antiseptic sprays, rinses, lozenges.

Another common cause of sore throat is irritation of the mucous membrane, which can occur due to allergies, inhalation of tobacco smoke, or prolonged exposure to dirty or dry air. It is accompanied by severe itching, but the general condition does not worsen, the temperature remains normal. If the pain is the result of an allergy, then itching, sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and dry cough may also occur.

Treatment for irritation is as follows:

elimination of the allergen irritant;
rinsing with a warm solution of sea salt;
Irrigation of the throat with soft moisturizing sprays.

Why is a sore throat dangerous?

Never wait for a sore throat to go away on its own. You can drown out unpleasant symptoms with lollipops or folk remedies, but you will not remove the cause of the disease.

Throat infections that are not treated in time become chronic: as soon as local immunity weakens a little, inflammation will certainly arise again. In addition, bacterial and viral infections can cause serious complications.

When should you see a doctor?

Sometimes the pain goes away with self-treatment. But it’s best to immediately start treating your throat by contacting the clinic for help, especially if you are concerned about the following symptoms:

pain lasts more than 48 hours, and there are no signs of flu or cold;
the temperature rose sharply;
accumulations of mucus and pus are observed at the back wall of the throat;
The lymph nodes in the neck area are greatly enlarged, which causes pain when moving the lower jaw. If mononucleosis develops, then other lymph nodes also enlarge;
hoarseness, shrunken voice;
pain occurs when swallowing, localized on one or both sides;
sensation of lump, soreness, dryness.

Herbal cough lozenges Doctor MOM®

To treat a sore throat, you can use a natural preparation - Doctor MOM® herbal cough lozenges with the “FITO BRONHO formula”1 with extracts of 3 medicinal plants. The drug is approved for use in adults (from 18 years of age) for resorption in the oral cavity - 1 lozenge every 2 hours, up to 10 lozenges per day. Herbal cough lozenges Doctor MOM® have a complex anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic and expectorant effect. The active components of the product reduce the manifestations of inflammation and irritation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, which helps eliminate soreness, discomfort and a feeling of dryness in the throat. Doctor MOM® lozenges are indicated for the symptomatic treatment of infectious and non-infectious inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract (including “lecture” laryngitis ), accompanied by a sore throat and an unproductive, obsessive cough.

What is more effective: sprays, tablets or lozenges?

The choice of dosage form directly depends on the cause of the disease and the nature of the pain. In particular, if the sore throat is caused by bacteria, then the best choice is a spray with a pronounced antiseptic effect. It is important to consider that with prolonged use, infectious agents develop resistance to the drug, so if after 2-3 days you do not feel relief, the medicine needs to be changed. So, how to treat a throat?

For a disease of viral origin, it is best to choose a throat spray that relieves pain and fights inflammation. In the case of chronic pain, it is necessary to regularly irrigate the throat with a spray with a moisturizing effect that does not contain aggressive substances and carefully relieves unpleasant symptoms.

Many drugs reduce symptoms due to the local anesthetics they contain - phenol, benzocaine or dyclonine. Under their influence, the mucous membrane becomes numb, and the pain noticeably weakens.

Throat tablets can be divided into several groups. For example,

with enzymes that eliminate viruses and bacteria;
NSAIDs that relieve inflammation;
with fragments of bacteria and viruses that enhance local immunity;
with extracts of medicinal plants that reduce pain.

Throat lozenges are effective only in the initial stages of the disease. They usually contain menthol, which has a distracting effect rather than a therapeutic one. Therefore, you should not get carried away with candies.

TOP 5 sprays against sore throat

Miramistin is a broad-spectrum antiseptic spray to combat bacterial and fungal infections. Quickly reduces pain. It is odorless and tasteless. Suitable for adults and children from three years of age, as well as for pregnant women. Disadvantage: relatively high price, analgesic effect lasts several hours.
Hexoral destroys infections of bacterial and fungal origin. It has an analgesic, disinfecting, deodorizing and enveloping effect. The therapeutic effect occurs within 1-2 minutes after treatment and lasts 10-12 hours. Application: twice a day after meals. Cons: components of the drug can cause allergies, read the instructions carefully.
Yox can be called an analogue of the legendary Lugol's drug. It has a powerful antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal effect. Reduces pain well. Processing Disadvantages: cannot be used for a long time, contraindicated for people with iodine intolerance.
Proposol contains propolis extract and a large amount of vitamins. Complete disappearance of pain occurs within 5-7 days. It works well as part of a complex treatment of inflammation. Cons: not suitable for people allergic to bee products.

TOP 5 tablets for sore throat

Faringosept copes well with pain and fights inflammation in the oral cavity. Has a pleasant sweet taste. Recommended course is 3-4 days. Quickly relieves pain and restores voice. The packaging is enough for a full course. There are few contraindications. Disadvantage: effective at the initial signs of the disease.
Hexoraltabs contain a local anesthetic, peppermint oil and menthol. They have an antiseptic effect. A decrease in pain is observed during the first minute of resorption. Available in different flavors. Cons: the drug only helps with the initial signs of the disease.
Neo-Angin has a pronounced disinfectant and anti-inflammatory effect, relieves pain well, quickly restores the voice, and relieves coughing attacks. Large packaging. Dosage: one tablet every 2-3 hours. The permissible number of tablets per day is six. Cons: irritates the gastric mucosa.
Grammidin contains the antibiotic gramicidin C; tablets with lidocaine are also available, which not only destroy pathogens and cleanse the mucous membrane, but also immediately relieve pain. The anesthetic effect lasts about 40 minutes. Enhance the effectiveness of medicinal rinses. Disadvantage: cannot be taken during pregnancy and lactation.
Lizobakt has a powerful antiseptic effect. The drug contains vitamin B6, which increases local immunity, and the protein enzyme lysozyme, which breaks down bacteria, fungi and viruses. Suitable for pregnant and lactating women. It is used for all infectious lesions of the oral cavity.

TOP 5 lozenges for sore throat

Strepsils plus. The active ingredients fight bacteria, lidocaine reduces pain, anise and peppermint oils have a distracting and enveloping effect. Dosage: no more than 1 lozenge within 2 hours. Disadvantage: short period of action, effective at the initial signs of the disease.
Halls. Due to eucalyptus oil and menthol, it temporarily relieves pain, cools a sore throat, and relieves hoarseness. Minus: it is not a medicine.
Carmolis contains extracts of medicinal herbs, honey, and vitamin C. The drug quickly reduces pain, refreshes the oral cavity, has a pleasant taste, but does not last long.
Gorpils quickly relieves pain and has a pronounced antiseptic effect. Helps with initial and acute forms of the disease. Available in different flavors. Disadvantage: short period of action.
Agisept relieves pain, has a pronounced antimicrobial effect, and significantly reduces unpleasant symptoms at the onset of the disease. Disadvantage: not suitable for people with allergies to medicinal herbs.

These recommendations do not replace visiting a doctor. There are contraindications. Before purchasing the drug, be sure to consult with your physician.

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Causes of sore throat

All causes of a sore throat can be divided into two large groups:

infectious:
these include, among others, various colds of the upper respiratory tract, for example, pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa) and laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx mucosa). They can develop against the background of viral, bacterial and fungal infections. In addition to a sore throat, such diseases are accompanied by fever, symptoms of intoxication (headache, weakness, loss of appetite), runny nose, dry or wet cough;
non-infectious:
in this case, tickling may be due to:
allergic reactions - to dust, plant pollen, particles of epidermis and animal hair, to food and drinks;
excessive load on the vocal cords - among teachers, singers, actors;
inhalation of substances with an irritating effect (tobacco smoke, hot, cold and dusty air, industrial and chemical dust);
neurotic reactions;
injuries to the pharynx and foreign bodies (fish bone, food particles stuck to the mucous membranes, small parts of toys in children). allergic reactions - to dust, plant pollen, particles of epidermis and animal hair, to food and drinks;
excessive load on the vocal cords - among teachers, singers, actors;
inhalation of substances with an irritating effect (tobacco smoke, hot, cold and dusty air, industrial and chemical dust);
neurotic reactions;
injuries to the pharynx and foreign bodies (fish bone, food particles stuck to the mucous membranes, small parts of toys in children).

Treatment of throat with tea

Tea is one of the most effective ways to relieve a sore throat. Warm liquid speeds up metabolism and helps quickly remove pathogenic bacteria from the body, and the tea ingredients contain beneficial substances.

How to quickly cure a throat with tea? To make tea, use chamomile or sage, rose hips or sea buckthorn, mint, lemon or calendula. These ingredients have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and softening properties. They help destroy bacteria on the mucous membrane of the throat, restore its integrity, relieve swelling and relieve pain.

Chamomile tea for throat: Pixabay

To prepare medicinal chamomile tea, take two tablespoons of dried chamomile, pour boiling water over it and let steep for 10–15 minutes. After this, you can add honey and lemon to the drink.

To relieve a sore throat, drink peppermint tea. It contains menthol, which has a mild anesthetic effect. This allows you to quickly relieve pain and soothe the mucous membrane. Mint can be added to any tea.

Ginger tea will help with an itchy throat. To prepare the drink, put black or green tea in a teapot, add a slice of fresh ginger root and pour boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes.

Treatment for a child with a sore throat

Prescriptions must be made by a doctor based on the established diagnosis and the identified or suspected pathogen. Self-prescription of medications by parents is unacceptable. This can lead to serious consequences for the child's health.

Farnigitis caused by GABHS infection is a disease that goes away on its own. However, treatment with antibiotics in this case provides rapid relief of symptoms, prevents purulent (otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis) and non-purulent complications, and also reduces the possibility of transmission of infection. Antibiotics reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever by more than two-thirds.

Clinical features, epidemiological criteria, and the judgment of an experienced clinician, with or without additional testing, usually indicate the need for antibiotics. The currently used pharyngitis decision score was adapted by adding age to the four components of the original Centor score (no cough, no swollen and tender anterior cervical nodes, temperature >38°C, tonsil plaque or swelling. Each component is given 1 point. age from 3 to 14 years is also given 1 point. Children or adolescents with a score of 0 or 1 do not need antibiotic therapy. Patients with a score of 2 or 3 points should undergo microbiological diagnosis of the pathogen and receive antibiotics if the results are positive. Children with A score of 4 or higher is at high risk for streptococcal GABHS pharyngitis and should receive antibiotic therapy.

Due to cost, narrow spectrum of action, safety and effectiveness, penicillin is the drug of choice. A shorter duration of treatment increases the risk of bacteriological relapse of the disease. The unjustified use of macrolides for the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis has become the main reason for the formation of resistant strains of pathogens.

Throat treatment with inhalations

When inhaled, beneficial substances enter the body with steam or gas. In medicine, inhalations with drugs are used, and at home, essential oils, mineral water, salt, and soda are used for this.

How to quickly cure a throat with inhalations? At home, you can use inhalers and a nebulizer. If you don’t have special equipment, you can breathe steam over a saucepan or kettle.

Throat treatment with inhalations: Pixabay

At home, you can prepare inhalation with eucalyptus, clove, and tea tree oil. To do this, you need to boil water and add a few drops of essential oil to it. Then sit over a saucepan or kettle, without touching the heated surfaces, cover your head with a towel and take a deep breath. Continue the procedure until the water cools down. Essential oils have an antiseptic effect, soften the throat and make breathing easier.

You can also boil mineral water or make a solution with soda. To do this, you will need still water and 1 teaspoon of soda per liter.