Sore throat? Here’s What to Do
Here, we have gathered some of our top tips to help you ease symptoms and promote healing.
Q. Help! I’ve a Sore Throat. What’s The Best Course of Action?
A. The trick is to commence treatment as soon as you feel a sore throat coming on – even if it wakes you from your sleep! There are several medicines available without prescription on an ‘over-the-counter’ (OTC) basis which, when started early, can ease symptoms and might just help avoid a visit to your doctor.
Q. What OTC Medicine Should I Use?
A. Treat with a TCP gargle – one part TCP solution should be diluted with five parts hot water. Then sip and gargle with it for 10 minutes. Don’t swallow the solution; just spit it out when you’re finished gargling it. This can be repeated every four to six hours until the sore throat eases.
Q. I’ve Trie Gargling and My Throat Still Hurts a Bit.
A. You can also try either regular paracetamol (that is 2 x 500mg tablets) every four to six hours or 2 x 200mg tablets of ibuprofen every eight hours. This helps keep a fever under control and can help ease the pain from the sore throat. Also, you can try some Strepsils Plus Throat spray which is very useful to numb a sore throat when you want to eat or take fluids.
Q. Any Other Tips?
A. Fever usually accompanies a sore throat, therefore you lose more fluids and so become relatively dehydrated. Ensure you increase your fluid intake to compensate for this (drinking fluids also helps to ease associated muscle pains and headaches).
These measures need to be continued regularly for three to four days. If symptoms get worse, particularly if you cannot swallow your saliva, then you must seek medical attention. You can speak to an Irish-registered GP from the comfort of your own home with our convenient Online Video Consultation service.