Sore throat

Sore throat is marked by pain, itchiness or irritation of the throat, which is mostly caused by a virus but can also be caused by a bacteria. Moreover, environmental factors like pollutants, smoking & seasonal or food allergies can also cause sore throat. A painful throat can simply come along with a cold or runny nose but sometimes, it can be a sign of some underlying problems such as respiratory tract infections. 

In most cases, a sore throat usually goes away on its own. But to relieve the pain from a sore throat, you could take over-the-counter medicines or throat lozenges. If you get a persistent cough along with sore throat, you can try a cough syrup based on the type of your cough. However, antibiotics are not required to cure a sore throat in most cases. So stop taking antibiotics for sore throat & consult your doctor, if your symptom fails to improve or worsens.

One of the best & simple ways to prevent a sore throat is to stay away from people suffering from respiratory infections & practise good hand hygiene such as washing hands. You can even try home remedies such as drinking hot water or gargling to soothe sore throat at home.