Why does my throat hurt?
There are many reasons for the development of such a symptom. Only a therapist can make an accurate diagnosis after a thorough examination and taking into account other patient complaints. The most common causes of pain are the following diseases, which can vary in severity:
Pharyngitis
This is a viral disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. The mucous membranes become loose and red. The patient also suffers from fever, but not higher than 38°C. Treatment of the throat for pharyngitis should not be started so that it does not move from the acute to the chronic phase.
Laryngitis
This term refers to a cold accompanied by inflammation of not only the larynx, but also the upper part of the trachea. The patient feels irritation in the throat and often loses his voice. He develops a dry cough. On examination, the throat is red. Various rinses, together with measures to prevent colds and drugs to relieve laryngeal edema, for example, Suprastin, are of great help with laryngitis.
Sore throat or tonsillitis
A dangerous disease of the upper respiratory tract caused by bacteria - streptococcus or staphylococcus. Sore throat has several varieties, but the main symptoms are a sharp sore throat, inability to swallow, inflammation of the tonsils with their enlargement, high temperature up to 39°C. Gray plaque or purulent rashes often appear.
If you have a sore throat, you should immediately consult a therapist, as complications from it can be very severe. Treatment involves antibacterial therapy, physiotherapy and various gargles.
Regardless of what symptoms accompany the soreness, it is important to start rinsing with folk remedies or special medications on the same day when the discomfort appears. The sooner the spread of the disease can be stopped, the faster the person will recover.
Symptoms of the disease
If the discomfort in the throat was caused by an infectious disease, the patient will have a headache, high body temperature, weakness and lethargy, accompanied by muscle pain, cough, chills, and nasal congestion. In some diseases, there is an increase in the size of the tonsils (adenoiditis, tonsillitis, mononucleosis), ear pain and hearing loss (otitis media), and a rash appears (scarlet fever, rubella, measles).
In non-infectious diseases, discomfort in the throat may be the only symptom (tumor) or accompanied by dry mouth and swollen lymph nodes (thyroid disease), nausea and vomiting (gastrointestinal diseases).
If discomfort in the throat is caused by a non-infectious irritant (tobacco smoke, spicy food), then it is enough to get rid of the provoking factor for the patient’s condition to return to normal.
Medicines for gargling
There are several inexpensive but effective remedies that therapists prescribe first.
Furacilin
A very effective medicine, available in the form of yellow tablets. It affects pathological organisms of various origins, including staphylococcus and streptococcus. Within a few days after regular use, the unpleasant symptoms go away.
This antiseptic is very easy to use.
- For a single rinse, crush two tablets in a glass and add 200 ml of warm water.
- After all the particles have dissolved, you can use the solution.
For ease of use, there are currently effervescent tablets that disintegrate in water themselves. To quickly achieve a therapeutic effect, add 2 tbsp to each rinse. spoons of hydrogen peroxide. The procedure is carried out every two hours.
Instructions for using Furacilin for gargling.
Chlorophyllipt
It has an antimicrobial effect aimed at eliminating inflammatory processes. It has a natural composition based on essential oils of eucalyptus and myrtle.
To treat a sore throat, use a simple solution - add 1 teaspoon of the product to half a glass of warm water. It can be used up to 5 times a day. But the drug must be diluted immediately before rinsing.
Read more about the proportions of Chlorophyllipt for the throat.
Rotokan
It is a regular alcohol tincture of chamomile, calendula and yarrow. These plants interact well with each other and together are able to eliminate irritation and kill pathogens. This remedy has proven itself many years ago.
Before each rinse, pour 1 teaspoon of Rotokan into a glass of warm water, mix and use as directed. However, this medication has serious contraindications, including possible allergic reactions. It can be used only if you are sure that there is no individual intolerance to the components. Otherwise, it is better to replace the medicine with a more neutral one.
Instructions for using Rotokan for gargling.
Boric acid
It is used to treat sore throat and other respiratory diseases accompanied by sore throat. Usually you buy the powder at the pharmacy in paper bags of 10 g.
To rinse, dilute half the package (5g) in a glass of boiled water at a temperature of 40-50°C. After this, use the solution immediately. The product will be effective if used frequently throughout the day, taking breaks between the procedure and meals.
Malavit
The drug reduces inflammation in a sore throat and kills viruses and germs. Therefore, it can be used for sore throat, laryngitis or pharyngitis. The antiseptic effect is achieved due to the presence of silver, pine extracts and mumiyo in the biological complex. Glycerin as one of the components lubricates irritated mucous membranes and softens dry cough.
Children can also gargle with Malavit. The calculation of the number of drops per 100 ml of boiling water, cooled to 35-40°C, depends on age. Detailed information is provided in the instructions. The effect depends on how often the treatment is given. It is allowed to use Malavit several times a day.
Potassium permangantsovka
The use of this product must be done very carefully so as not to cause a burn to the mucous membrane . Add no more than two crystals of potassium permanganate to boiled water and stir until a barely noticeable pink tint appears. If the liquid turns out dark, it is better to pour a new glass and add about 1 teaspoon of a saturated solution to it.
The throat is treated several times a day, as in the case of other medications.
Miramistin
A fairly concentrated drug with a wide spectrum of action, which is also used to treat tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis. It comes in different forms, but for rinsing you need to purchase a solution. It is allowed for children aged three years and older. Recommended dosage of liquid added to rinse water: adults - 15 ml, from 7 to 14 years old - 7 ml, from 3-6 years old inclusive - 5 ml.
Pediatricians allow the use of Miramistin in newborns, but in this case it is simply instilled from a pipette. As a strong antiseptic, it kills pathogenic microorganisms, heals ulcers on the mucous membrane and reduces swelling.
Article on the topic - cheap analogues of Miramistin.
Despite the fact that all of the above drugs for treating sore throat at home have a relatively safe composition, and some consist entirely of natural ingredients, their use without consulting a doctor is unsafe . Due to individual intolerance, a severe allergic reaction may occur in the form of Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock, which threatens not only the patient's health, but also his life.
The most popular solutions
Most people are familiar with inexpensive oral antiseptics that have been used for many years for various diseases. Even some doctors still prescribe them, as they are safe and effective. Such products can be purchased at a pharmacy or found in every home. The main thing is to properly prepare an antiseptic solution for the oral cavity and follow the doctor’s recommendations for its use:
- "Furacilin" is a long-known local antibacterial drug. Most often it is sold in tablets that need to be dissolved in water. The result is a pale yellow solution, almost tasteless and odorless, but very effective in destroying bacterial flora.
- Potassium permanganate, or a solution of potassium permanganate, is known to all people over 40 years of age. Nowadays it is rarely found on sale, but many still use this pink solution to rinse the mouth and throat. It not only destroys bacteria, but also promotes the restoration of mucosal cells.
- "Chlorhexidine", despite its low price (it costs no more than 30 rubles), has established itself as the most effective antiseptic. The drug destroys any bacteria, promotes healing of the mucous membrane and retains its properties for a long time, preventing the spread of the disease.
- Hydrogen peroxide is also a budget antiseptic. It is rarely used for rinsing the mouth and throat, as it greatly dries out the mucous membranes. But the solution can relieve pain and inflammation.
Effective folk recipes for gargling
You may feel soreness and pain in the upper respiratory tract suddenly, as viral or microbial diseases develop quickly. A pharmacy is not always within walking distance, but symptoms must be mitigated in order to improve the patient’s condition. In this case, time-tested folk recipes will come in handy.
Baking soda
This product is present in almost every home, because it is used for different purposes. It turns out that it is also suitable for gargling. It is enough to add half a teaspoon of powder to a glass of warm boiled water, mix thoroughly and use as intended. Soda has no contraindications, so it can be safely used even by children.
Iodine with salt
This mixture serves as an excellent antiseptic, but slightly dries out the mucous membrane, so if you have a dry cough with poorly separated sputum, it is recommended to abstain from it.
Add 1 teaspoon of salt and a few drops of iodine to 200 ml of water. The pain will go away after a few days of regular rinsing every three hours.
An article on the topic - the proportions of soda, salt and iodine for gargling.
Lemon juice
This is one of the most pleasant folk medicines. To prepare it, take half a glass of water and add 60 ml of freshly squeezed juice. After the first use, the pain will subside and the patient will have an appetite. Sometimes it is advised to drink water or tea with lemon instead of rinsing, although the concentration will be much less - 1-2 thin slices are enough.
Beet juice
Preparing this remedy is a little more difficult. You need to gargle with it every 30 minutes. But the effect will come on the second day. Add 1 tbsp to a glass of beet juice. a spoonful of vinegar. Use the solution as directed.
Honey
The name of this natural component comes to mind first when talking about colds. However, not everyone can afford such treatment procedures due to individual intolerance. If there is no allergy to this beekeeping product, you can safely gargle with it. A natural antiseptic will kill germs and restore damaged tissue.
You can prepare the medicine for several rinses at once. To do this, take a half-liter jar of boiling water that has cooled to 40°C, put no more than 1 teaspoon of honey into it and mix thoroughly. When the liquid becomes homogeneous, pour a little into a mug and gargle. Repeat the procedure after 30 minutes.
Calendula with plantain
It is necessary to have collections of these and other useful herbs in your home medicine cabinet. They will come in handy at any time, and their shelf life is unlimited. To prepare a drug to get rid of a sore throat, add a teaspoon of dried and crushed calendula and plantain to a glass. Pour boiling water over it and brew for a quarter of an hour. When the liquid has cooled to 35°C, you can start rinsing.
Chamomile with linden
Similarly to the previous recipe, brew dry herbs by adding 1 teaspoon of each type to a cup and pour boiling water over it. Gargle every 3 hours during the day.
Folk remedies have a more gentle effect; no chemical elements are added to them. If irritation or rash occurs after using them, stop rinsing and consult a physician for other instructions.
Antiseptics for the oral cavity for children
For children, decoctions of medicinal herbs are most often used to rinse the mouth and throat. They do not cause side effects and are safe if accidentally swallowed. The following herbs have the best antiseptic properties: calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, oak bark. They are used for stomatitis, tonsillitis and other inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat. Synthetic drugs are usually prescribed to children over 3 years of age, but only if the child knows how to rinse well and does not swallow the solution. Miramistin or Furacilin are considered the safest for children.
All antiseptic solutions for rinsing the mouth and throat are only an auxiliary means of treating inflammatory diseases. It is better to use them after consulting a doctor.
Useful tips
The success of treatment depends not only on what you use to gargle a sore throat. It is very important to perform this procedure correctly.
- The temperature of the solution immediately before use should not be lower than 35°C.
- There's no need to rush. The duration of one procedure is at least 5 minutes.
- You need to inhale, take the medicine into your mouth and make guttural sounds as you exhale. The head will be tilted back to prevent the liquid from spilling out.
- It is important to use the entire solution.
- You can drink or eat food only after an hour.
- It is necessary to gargle a sore throat at least 4 times a day.
If you follow these recommendations, relief will occur by the evening of the first day. However, these measures are not the only way to get rid of the symptoms of the disease. It is necessary to undergo a course of complex treatment, which can only be prescribed by a qualified therapist.
Sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis or other viral and bacterial diseases of the upper respiratory tract are accompanied by a sore or even acute sore throat. You can get rid of this unpleasant sensation with the help of medications or traditional recipes. Independent choice of a remedy is possible only if it is not possible to immediately get an appointment with a doctor.
The diseases listed above have serious complications that are highly likely to develop if treated incorrectly. For this reason, rinsing can only be an auxiliary measure on the path to recovery. But just like antiviral drugs or antibiotics, it should be recommended by a therapist or pediatrician, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.
When to use antiseptics
Rinsing with such solutions makes it easier to tolerate conditions associated with inflammatory diseases of the tonsils, pharynx or oral cavity. This is the most common method of treating stomatitis, sore throat, tonsillitis, and colds. Dentists also prescribe rinses for most inflammatory dental diseases. After all, gingivitis, periodontitis and other diseases are caused by the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity. Therefore, by removing them by rinsing, you can speed up recovery. The use of antiseptic solutions after tooth extraction is also effective. This prevents infection from multiplying in the hole.
Procedure algorithm
For proper rinsing proceed as follows:
- Prepare a solution at body temperature or room temperature.
- Take a full sip, throw your head back and gargle for 10-30 seconds.
- The spent solution is spat out.
- After the procedure, do not drink or eat for at least 20 minutes.
Most rinses are harmless if ingested. But if a substance intended for external use has entered the stomach, you need to drink 2 glasses of water and take activated charcoal.
To avoid addiction, it is not recommended to use one rinse recipe. It’s even better to alternate several different formulations throughout the day.
Children are given rinsing from the age of 4–5 years. Before this age, throat irrigation is done.
