What to eat when your throat hurts really bad

How to treat a sore throat yourself

To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can:

• gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
• drink plenty of water
• eat cool or soft foods
• avoid smoking or smoky places
• suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
• rest

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

1. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water (warm water helps salt dissolve).
2. Gargle with the solution, then spit it out (do not swallow it).
3. Repeat as often as you like.

Video: how to treat a sore throat

This video shows you how to treat a sore throat.

Media last reviewed: 1 June 2020
Media review due: 1 June 2023

A pharmacist can help with sore throats

You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen
• medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
• anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help)

You can buy these treatments from a supermarket or from a pharmacist without a prescription.

Information:

Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.

Find a pharmacy

Antibiotics

You do not normally need antibiotics for a sore throat because they will not usually relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

They'll only be prescribed if a GP thinks you could have a bacterial infection.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• your sore throat does not improve after a week
• you often get sore throats
• you're worried about your sore throat
• you have a sore throat and a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of diabetes or chemotherapy

A severe or long-lasting sore throat could be something like strep throat (a bacterial throat infection).

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

You or your child:

• have difficulty swallowing or breathing
• are drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
• are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe (called stridor)
• have severe symptoms and are getting worse quickly

Sore throat symptoms

If you have a sore throat you might have:

• a painful throat, especially when swallowing
• a dry, scratchy throat
• redness in the back of your mouth
• bad breath
• a mild cough
• swollen neck glands

The symptoms are similar for children, but children can also get a temperature and appear less active.

Causes of sore throats

Sore throats are usually caused by viruses (like cold or flu) or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria.

A sore throat occurs when your pharynx, the back of your throat, becomes inflamed. The common sore throat is caused by a virus — like the flu or the common cold — and usually goes away in a few days. Strep throat is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes and should be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

In areas where the summers are warm and winters are cold, viral sore throats usually peak in the winter and early spring, when people are mostly inside. Viruses are spread by droplets in the air from sneezes and coughs. Viral sore throats go away on their own for most healthy people.

Other causes of sore throat include:

• Acid reflux
• Allergies to mold, dust, dander, and pollen
• Dry indoor air
• HIV
• Irritants like air pollution, chemicals, smoking, spicy foods, and drinking alcohol
• Muscle strain from yelling or singing loudly for extended periods
• Throat cancer

Sore throat can also be a symptom of COVID-19, but it is not as common as a fever or a cough. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, you should get tested and self-quarantine until you get the results.

In adults, the most common symptom of a sore throat is throat pain. Other symptoms may include:

• Aches and pains
• Cough
• Fever
• Headache
• Hoarseness
• Inflamed tonsils
• Runny Nose
• Scratchiness
• Swallowing difficulty
• Swollen glands
• Vomiting

Children with sore throat may also experience:

• Bloody phlegm
• Breathing difficulty
• Drooling
• Joint pain or swelling
• Rashes

Sore Throat Remedies and Treatments

There are many ways to treat and ease the symptoms of the common viral sore throat. Because it’s caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help the common sore throat — but it will help strep throat. For mild bouts of sore throat, you can try the following home remedies.

Rest and Hydration

Get plenty of rest and sleep. You should drink a lot of fluids because they prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. Stick to comforting beverages like a simple broth, soup, warm water, or caffeine-free tea with honey. Avoid alcohol or any caffeinated drinks like coffee, because they can dehydrate you.

Over-the-counter Pain Relievers

You can use a numbing throat spray or over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to keep you comfortable as you rest. If your sore throat is caused by allergies, you can take over-the-counter antihistamines to decongest your nose and get rid of postnasal drip that may be irritating your throat.

Alternative Medicine

While you need to check with your doctor before relying on alternative medicines such as herbal teas or lozenges, many of them can be bought over the counter. You must find out if there are any interactions with prescription medications or possible risks due to your medical history before you take any herbal remedy. Common alternative medicines for sore throat contain licorice root, marshmallow root, and slippery elm.

Gargling with Salt Water

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with a cup of water and gargle. You can do this when your throat feels itchy or painful. By using salt, you’re pulling out fluids from your throat tissues, which helps wash the virus out. It may also loosen mucus that needs to come out.

Sucking on Ice Chips or Lozenges

You can suck on ice chips or popsicles to relieve the pain and coughing from a sore throat. Over-the-counter lozenges and cough drops work, too — but they’re not recommended for children under the age of two.

Purified and Humidified Air

Use a humidifier in the room where you are resting. It will prevent dry air from irritating your sore throat. You can also sit in a steamy bathroom for several minutes at a time. An air purifier may also help, as people with a sore throat should also avoid airborne irritants like cigarette smoke or some cleaning products.

When to See a Doctor

You should see a doctor if you suspect you are dealing with strep throat, especially if you have the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Lymph nodes that are swollen
• Pain and difficulty when swallowing
• Red spots on the roof of your mouth
• Sore throat that started quickly
• Tonsils that are red and swollen

Your doctor can test you for strep throat using a simple test. A swab is used to collect a sample from the back of your throat, then sent to a lab for testing. If it is a bacterial infection causing your sore throat, your doctor will prescribe a 10-day course of antibiotics. It is important to take the full course of antibiotics even if you start to feel better after only a few days.

Remedies for Children

Some over-the-counter medications are not recommended for children under certain ages. Always check the label.

Never give aspirin to a child. Only acetaminophen should be given to children under 6 months. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are fine for children 6 months or older.

Do not give any cough or cold medicine to a child under 4 years of age. For children over 4 check with the child’s doctor if the medication is safe and what dosage is appropriate for the child’s size and age.

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