A sore throat and difficulty swallowing can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, diseases, cancers, or environmental problems. Young people are more prone to strep throat. Home remedies can often treat a sore throat, but serious symptoms require medical attention.
A person who has a sore throat and difficulty swallowing most often has a virus, such as the common cold, although bacteria, allergies, other diseases, cancers, or environmental problems can cause these symptoms. Young people are more prone to developing strep throat, due to how often they develop viruses. Most of these cases are not serious and go away without the need to visit a doctor.
The most common viruses that lead to sore throats and swallowing problems are viruses associated with colds, mononucleosis, and the flu. Less frequently, someone infected with measles, croup, or chicken pox may experience these symptoms. They can also be caused by strep throat, tonsillitis and diphtheria, which are bacterial diseases.
People infected with HIV may develop a sore throat and have difficulty swallowing due to compromised immunity and the presence of oral thrush or cytomegalovirus. People with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may have trouble swallowing and develop a sore throat due to stomach acid backing up into the windpipe, irritating the throat. Tumors that develop in the throat, or on the voice box or tongue can lead to similar symptoms.
Smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke can also have throat problems. Exposure to chemicals, both in the workplace and from household cleaners, can lead to a sore throat as well. Exposure to allergies and air pollution can also irritate the throat, making it sore and causing trouble swallowing. Yelling, such as at concerts or sporting events, can strain the vocal cords and lead to these problems as well.
Most people can treat a sore throat with simple home remedies. They should drink more water than usual to soothe their throats and keep their bodies hydrated. For pain relief, you can gargle with a solution of 0.5 teaspoon (3 grams) of salt in 1 cup (236.5 mL) of warm water. A patient can also add the juice of one lemon and a tablespoon of honey to a glass of hot water and stir until the honey dissolves, then drink the liquid once it has reached a comfortable temperature. Resting your voice can also ease discomfort. If the symptoms are combined with fever, rash, pus in the back of the throat, trouble breathing, or swollen lymph nodes, the disease may require treatment by a healthcare professional.
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