You can treat a sore throat in a number of ways. The goal is to relieve the complaints you feel, especially if these complaints are already interfering with your activities. To find out what methods or drugs are effective for treating sore throat, consider the following reviews!
Common symptoms of strep throat are difficulty swallowing or speaking, as well as pain, itching, and dryness in the throat area. In addition, this condition can also be accompanied by fever, cough, and flu.
Various Kinds of Sore Throat Medicine
Generally, strep throat is caused by a virus and will subside on its own in about 5-7 days. However, to speed up recovery and relieve symptoms, you can use sore throat remedies, both natural and medical.
Choice of natural sore throat remedies
There are several kinds of natural sore throat remedies that are considered effective for relieving or treating sore throats, including:
- Honey
Research has shown that consuming honey when a sore throat can relieve symptoms more quickly without causing side effects. Just mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a glass of warm water or tea and drink as needed. - Saltwater
Gargling with salt water is an effective way to kill bacteria, relieve swelling and pain, and reduce mucus. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of warm water and gargle any throat discomfort. - Lemon juice
Lemon can relieve pain and loosen thick mucus and make the throat uncomfortable. In addition, lemon contains a lot of vitamin C which can support the work of the immune system to fight the cause of a sore throat.
You can use lemon as a sore throat remedy by drinking 1 glass of water or warm tea with a teaspoon of lemon juice. - Chili powder
Chili contains capsaicin which has pain-relieving properties. You can use this ingredient as a sore throat medicine by gargling with 1 cup of warm water mixed with honey and a little sprinkling of chili. - Humidifier :
Dry throat conditions can make a sore throat worse. You can improve this condition by using a humidifier when you have a sore throat. You can also add 1–2 tablespoons of rubbing balsam to the water used in the humidifier to ease breathing.
You can also use various kinds of tea as a sore throat remedy. Herbal teas, such as peppermint tea, chamomile tea, green tea, or clove tea, are known to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and fight bacteria that can make a sore throat worse.
But if these simple methods have not been able to treat a sore throat, you can use medical drugs that can be purchased freely at various pharmacies.
Medical sore throat medicine
In addition to the natural remedies above, sore throat medications that can be purchased over-the-counter at pharmacies include:
- Paracetamol
Besides being able to reduce fever, paracetamol is also useful in relieving pain due to inflammation, including inflammation of a sore throat. - Aspirin
This drug can also relieve sore throat. However, aspirin should not be given to children and adolescents because of the potential for causing Reye‘s syndrome. - Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain. However, avoid taking ibuprofen if a sore throat is accompanied by a fever and dry cough.
In addition to the medications above, you can also use a throat spray that contains an antiseptic or a cooling agent such as menthol. The cool feeling of menthol can suppress inflammation and soothe the throat even if only for a moment.
Efforts to Prevent Sore Throat
Since the most common cause is a viral infection, you can catch strep throat from other people. To prevent sore throat, observe the following steps:
- Avoid close contact with people who have a sore throat.
- Wash hands regularly.
- Avoid direct contact with tissues, handkerchiefs, or towels used by an infected person.
In addition, maintaining overall health, for example by eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, and exercising regularly, can also boost your immune system and prevent you from strep throat.
Most sore throats are harmless, but often this condition can be uncomfortable for the sufferer. Therefore, you can use sore throat medications as above to reduce complaints.
If your sore throat doesn’t improve within 1 week, see your doctor because it could be a bacterial infection and require antibiotics.
Although rare, sore throat can also be caused by a serious illness, such as diphtheria. If your symptoms get worse, such as difficulty breathing, high fever, or stiff neck, seek help immediately to a clinic or emergency room at the nearest hospital for treatment.