Throat virus pain relief

Never give aspirin to children or teenagers because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain. If your or your child's sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor or pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics. You or your child must take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms are gone.

Failure to take all of the medication as directed can result in the infection worsening or spreading to other parts of the body. Not completing the full course of antibiotics to treat strep throat can increase a child's risk of rheumatic fever or serious kidney inflammation. If a sore throat is a symptom of a condition other than a viral or bacterial infection, other treatments will likely be considered depending on the diagnosis. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

Regardless of the cause of your sore throat, these at-home care strategies can help you ease your or your child's symptoms:. Although several alternative treatments are commonly used to soothe a sore throat, evidence is limited about what works. If you or your child needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, don't rely on alternative treatments alone.

Check with your doctor before using any herbal remedies, as they can interact with prescription medications and may not be safe for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with certain health conditions.

Herbal or alternative products for a sore throat are often packaged as teas, sprays or lozenges. Common alternative remedies include:. If you or your child has a sore throat, make an appointment with your family doctor or your child's pediatrician.

In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat ENT disorders or an allergy specialist allergist. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Your or your child's doctor may review the symptoms and medical history. He or she may conduct a physical exam that includes: Using a lighted instrument to look at the throat, and likely the ears and nasal passages Gently feeling the neck to check for swollen glands lymph nodes Listening to your or your child's breathing with a stethoscope.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Mix two tablespoons of honey in with a warm glass of water or tea and stir it well. Drink several times a day as needed. However, Dr. Similar to salt water and honey, lemons are great for sore throats because they can help break up mucus and provide pain relief.

Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice into a glass of warm water and drink for quick relief. It may sound strange to use hot sauce to relieve a fiery throat, but this condiment has actually been proven to provide relief for sore throats.

Hot sauce is made from peppers that are high in capsaicin, which can be used to fight inflammation and provide pain relief. So, while it may burn at first, dropping a few drops of hot sauce into a warm glass of water to gargle may just be the right remedy to cure your sore throat.

There are many different kinds of herbal teas you can try for quick sore throat relief. Clove tea and green tea both contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to fight against infections while providing relief.

Viral infections are the most common cause of sore throats in children and adults. Symptoms include a sore throat, fever, fatigue, congestion, runny nose, cough, or others depending on the specific virus. Less common symptoms that sometimes present in children include fluid-filled bumps on the hands, feet, or mouth, or, in adults, painful mouth ulcers. Treatment focuses on rest, hydration, and over-the-counter methods to alleviate symptoms.

Some cases require antiviral medications. Antibiotics are not useful for viral infections. You can gargle with salt water and use over the counter pain medication like Tylenol to treat your painful or sore throat. Some people with viral throat infections may have other symptoms depending on the specific virus causing their throat infection. Different viruses may cause different symptoms in addition to the throat infection, and the common causes of viral throat infections differ between children and adults.

Most causes of viral throat infections will resolve on their own without a specific antiviral treatment , especially in otherwise healthy individuals. Therefore, most treatment is focused on improving symptoms until the infection clears, including rest and hydration, soothing measures and pain medication, environmental changes and specific antiviral treatment.

Most people with viral throat infections will recover with a few days of rest and hydration. It is important to ensure an adequate intake of fluids, especially in children, as a sore throat may make the individual want to avoid drinking fluids. People with viral throat infections may experience symptom relief by making certain changes to their environment. These include using a humidifier to reduce environmental dryness and avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke.

Specific viral causes of throat infections may benefit from treatment with antiviral medications. For example, people with influenza virus may benefit from taking oseltamivir Tamiflu , zanamivir Relenza , or peramivir Rapivab if given within 48 hours of the start of symptoms.

People with HSV may benefit from acyclovir Zovirax if given within three to four days of the start of symptoms. If you or your child develop any symptoms of a viral throat infection, you should consider going to see a physician.

While viral throat infections by themselves are not dangerous, other disorders may also cause a sore throat and mimic viral throat infections.

Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions. Questions may relate to diseases, illnesses, or conditions you may have or that may run in your family. Your answers will help us provide you with medical information and identify services that may be relevant to your health. Buoy Health uses reasonable physical, technical, and administrative safeguards such as firewalls, encryption, identity management, and intrusion prevention and detection to protect your information.

We will not share your information with third parties unless you give your consent or unless permitted by applicable law. Try our AI assistant here. Informed by current CDC guidelines. Skip to main content Skip to accessibility services Buoy Logo.

Nav Close Icon. Nav Open Icon. Health articles Chevron Icon. Featured topics. Symptom checker. Editorial standards. Who we serve Chevron Icon. Brokers and Consultants. Solutions Chevron Icon. Sections Icon. What is a viral throat infection? When to see a doctor. Buoy Chat Icon. Symptom Checker.

Verified By Experts Icon. Verified by experts 6 min read. No Ads. Tom Liu, MD. Ophthalmology Resident, University of Pennsylvania. Jeffrey M. Last updated February 11, Heart Icon.