What is a persistent sore throat?

This disease generally occurs among teenagers and young adults and is relatively synonymous with with 'mono', short for infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. This is not to be confused with Pfeiffer's syndrome, a genetic condition characterized by early fusion of certain skull bones (craniosynostosis) preventing the skull from setting properly.

Apart from a sore throat, you may suffer from a high fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, pharyngitis and extreme tiredness. Although in most cases there is no serious health risk for the patient, it may be an unpleasant experience with lymph node enlargement lasting a few weeks post-recovery.

The virus is contagious during its four to seven week incubation period to the moment the first symptoms are noticed. The virus spreads through saliva, coughing, sneezing and shared cutlery. It did not get its nickname as the 'kissing disease' for nothing!

There is no perfect medication although some treatments such as nucleoside analogues (i.e. acyclovir) may alleviate symptoms. It is unlikely to manifest the disease again if you have already had it, since your immunity will have built up against the virus. However, there are rare cases where individuals present months or years later. This is why maintaining an accurate history of your health can assist your primary care provider in determining the cause.

This occurs often with young children, although it may happen at any age. In most cases the infection is over within a couple of days, but sometimes the infection comes back a few times per year, creating worried caregivers along the way.
Symptoms associated with infected tonsils include:

• sore throat
• headache
• fever
• coughing

Although the symptoms are controllable in most cases, an antibiotic treatment may be necessary. If you suffer from severe and recurrent tonsil infections, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to have them removed. This surgery was very common forty or fifty years ago, but today it is not as frequent as medicine has learned more about managing the condition.

A throat infection is a general infection of various tissues including the pharynx or larynx which lead to a persistent sore throat, hoarseness or loss of voice. Most people recover within a week, just by giving their voice a rest and using medication to alleviate the pain. In some cases however, the infection can persist for several weeks.
The causes of a throat infection range from vocal overuse and exhaustion to smoking or a viral infection. It is important to determine the root cause in order to treat it accordingly.

The symptoms of persistent sore throat are varied:

• a sore throat lasting longer than 3 to 4 weeks;
• burning feeling or pain in the throat;
• painful swallowing;
• red and swollen throat mucous membrane and tonsils;
• mucus in the throat;
• swollen glands;
• fever

With a sore throat brought on by cold or flu, make sure to support your immune defense with some herbal assistance.

Echinaforce Sore Throat Spray
A.Vogel Sore Throat Spray is effective against the pain of swollen tonsils, pharyngitis and general throat pain and inflammation. It has a pleasant peppermint fresh taste. The long nozzle is particularly practical for applying the spray to the back of the throat, where the pain is located.

The main medicinal ingredients include Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and Sage (Salvia officinalis). Our preparation of Echinacea has demonstrated antiviral and antibacterial properties, in addition to the anti-inflammatory compounds concentrated in the root of the plant. Sage is also one of the most potent anti-microbial herbs with additional anti-inflammatory benefits.

A randomized, double-blind study conducted in 2006 compared Sore Throat Spray to a pharmaceutical spray known as Collunosol, a combination of chlorhexidine and lidocaine. They followed 133 patients with acute pharyngitis or tonsillitis with the herbal spray matching the efficacy of the pharmaceutical spray! So, when you've spent the day overusing your voice, or feel a tickle in the throat, be sure to have your Sore Throat Spray close at hand. More info

How can you help yourself when you suffer from a sore throat:

• Stop smoking and give your voice a rest.
• Try to breathe through your nose. Breathing through the mouth dries out the mucous membranes of the throat and lacks the cilia responsible for filtering pathogens.
• Keep your immune defenses up, to avoid the flu (a possible cause of sore throat).
• Minimize milk products if asthmatic as they may encourage the accumulation of phlegm.
• Improve your resistance by eating salads containing horseradish (a little, grated), watercress or garden cress.
• Drink herbal tea made of thyme, sage, juniper, goldenrod and parsley, sweetened with honey.

If you are in doubt whether you have a throat infection, you can contact your general practitioner. A throat infection is often characterized by a fever, but the following signs should be cause to seek more advanced treatment:

• after three days you still have a fever;
• drinking or swallowing are hardly possible;
• the sore throat is accompanied by a rash on your face and/or chest;
• the sore throat lasts more than seven days.
• you become persistently more ill.

With children, you should contact your general practitioner directly:

• if your child gives the impression of being very sick;
• if your child complains their breathing oppressed;
• if your child cannot swallow saliva. If there are other symptoms you are worried about, please consult your general practitioner as hoarseness or a sore throat may be a sign of a tumour from cancer affecting the larynx.