Sore throat is a fairly common infection, often occurring during seasonal changes. This is because it's a favorable time for viruses and bacteria to thrive and attack the respiratory tract, causing sore throat.
Typically, a sore throat will resolve on its own after about a week and does not leave any dangerous health complications. However, sometimes the illness can recur multiple times and lead to chronic sore throat complications, affecting the quality of life.
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4 causes of persistent sore throat
Patients often overlook mild symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and swelling, and coupled with their already weakened bodies, susceptibility to weather changes, and pre-existing respiratory illnesses, this can lead to the condition worsening into chronic pharyngitis.
Sore throat caused by coughing and spitting habits.
This habit causes the capillaries in the patient's throat to become strained and ruptured, leading to severe damage to the throat lining, creating opportunities for bacteria to invade and causing prolonged, recurring pharyngitis.
Sore throat due to weakened immune system.
If a patient frequently experiences prolonged sore throats, it may be due to a weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections. In this case, it's advisable to actively strengthen the immune system to limit the effects of these pathogens.
Sore throat caused by acid reflux.
Sore throat and acid reflux are also factors that cause the condition to persist without improvement. In this case, the most effective solution is to take medication to control acid reflux in parallel with medication for the sore throat;
Sore throat caused by sinusitis or allergic rhinitis.
People with sinusitis or allergic rhinitis are also more likely to experience persistent, recurring sore throats.
When should a persistent sore throat warrant a doctor's visit?
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When suffering from pharyngitis, patients experience discomfort due to a constantly sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and a persistent urge to cough or spit. Additionally, the condition can cause other symptoms such as: sore throat; fever; muscle and joint pain; headache; skin rash; and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
If the sore throat is caused by reflux, the patient may also experience symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, a fever above 38 degrees Celsius, and a mild headache.
Although a sore throat is not life-threatening, if it persists, it can affect daily activities and cause discomfort. Therefore, patients should visit reputable medical facilities for examination, to determine the cause, and to receive effective treatment.
What can be done to prevent prolonged sore throat?
To effectively treat chronic sore throat, in addition to taking medication as prescribed by a doctor, patients also need to apply the following preventive measures:
- It is important to clean your mouth, nose, and throat thoroughly every day.
- Limit exposure to things that can damage the throat lining, such as dust, ice water, and alcohol.
- If using air conditioning, avoid setting the temperature too low; it's important to keep your body warm during the winter.
- Limit your intake of spicy foods, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious, soft foods.
- Thoroughly treat any stomach and respiratory illnesses such as ear infections, sinusitis, and stomatitis to prevent bacterial, viral, and fungal infections from draining down and causing prolonged sore throat.
- When illness occurs, it is necessary to treat it promptly; however, antibiotics should not be overused as this will increase the risk of recurrence.
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