A sore throat is like an uninvited guest that you have to take care of even if you don’t want to. It almost always happens at the worst moment when you least expect it. But, what if there was a way to cure a sore throat without having to search for ancestral herbs that only grow in a specific creek during a full moon of September? Here, we will talk about what causes a sore throat, the symptoms, and what to do in order to get rid of this annoying infection once and for all.

What’s a sore throat?

A sore throat (or pharyngitis) is a type of infection located in your throat. The latter can last for a couple of days, and sometimes, for a couple of weeks, it all depends on your immune system and how well you take care of your body.

Commonly speaking, a sore throat is often a side effect of a cold or flu, but can also be caused by a virus on its own. Moreover, you will notice a sore throat when you get an irritable feeling of itchiness in the back of the throat that’s going through your nose and often causing a bit of pain.

Can a sore throat be dangerous or severe for your well-being, you may ask? No, in general, such an infection won’t last that long and will just be an annoying phase from which you will need to pull through.

How long does a sore throat last?

Most of the time, a sore throat will disappear after a few days without the need of a doctor or specialist. In more severe cases, however, you may want to consult a professional or at least visit a pharmacy to get some over-the-counter medicine. If your throat really hurts and that you have a hard time breathing, this may be due to something bigger than just a plain sore throat, thus why you should see a doctor as soon as possible in that case.

What are the different types of sore throats?

There are in fact, 3 main types of sore throats that are determined by their respective zone of attack. Here is a detailed description of each sore throat type:

• Pharyngitis
  This is probably the most common type of sore throat. If you ever felt itchy and irritated in the back of your mouth, then it was certainly pharyngitis. The latter can be easily cured with a few days of good rest, warm showers, and orange juice.
• Tonsillitis
  Now, this one is a bit more severe than pharyngitis. As a matter of fact, tonsillitis should not be taken lightly, as this virus attacks the soft tonsil tissues in the back of your mouth. Sometimes, it can lead to complications, so you should see a pharmacist as soon as possible and take a good rest while taking lots of Vitamin C.
• Laryngitis
  And finally, if your voice becomes harsh, hoarse, or raspy, then it means you might have caught what we call a laryngitis. This type of sore throat attacks your voice box and can last 2 weeks, and in some cases, even longer. To get rid of a laryngitis sore throat, it is best to rest your voice as much as possible, and also to drink lots of fluids containing good vitamins. If the pain is chronic and long-lasting, then we recommend seeing a doctor.

Is a sore throat a COVID symptom?

A sore throat is not really a primary symptom of COVID-19, however, it can be an early sign that you got the coronavirus. That being said, it is quite unlikely that your sore throat infection is linked to the COVID disease. If you are wondering what are the main COVID symptoms, here’s a list of them below:

• High fever
• Strong Coughing
• Feeling tired
• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell
• Hard time breathing

As you can see, a sore throat is not part of the common COVID symptoms, so you should not worry too much if your throat hurts.

What are the different symptoms of a sore throat?

Before we go on with the best ways for curing a sore throat, here are the symptoms you should look for to determine whether or not you have this kind of infection:

• Your tonsils are swollen
• You’re having a hard time swallowing your food
• Your voice is a bit muffled
• Sore neck or jaw
• You feel like a scratchy sensation in your throat
• You have white patches or pus on your tonsils

Top 5 Solutions to cure a sore throat

Here are the best tricks to get rid of a sore throat in no time:

Salt water gargle

This method has been scientifically proven through the years as an efficient way to deal with a sore throat. Also, saltwater costs almost nothing and is easy to prepare at home. The salt will help draw the water out of the oral tissues and clean your throat. Just gargle some water with salt a few times a day and you should be all good.

Lots of Vitamins!

That’s right, a lot of vitamins, especially vitamin C, will help cure a sore throat. Drink a full glass of orange juice in the morning and in the afternoon, or vitamin water can also work, and you will see the difference right away.

Herbal Tea

There are so many different herbs you can use in a nice cup of tea to make yourself feel better, it would require an entire article just for this topic alone! Although, here are a few ideas of herbal teas that are good for a sore throat:

• Licorice root tea
• Horehound tea
• Chamomile tea
• Turmeric tea
• Green tea

Sleep, rest, stay hydrated

Simply put, take good care of yourself and take a good rest during the day. Watch some movies while drinking a warm herbal tea or orange juice, and sleep whenever you feel tired. By the way, taking a hot shower before going to bed will do wonders!

Sore Throat Treatment Pills and Medicine

And of course, if nothing works, you can always go to the pharmacy and get yourself some ibuprofen or naproxen. Just ask the pharmacist what’s best for your situation and he or she will be happy to help you out.