What is a sore throat?

Sore throats don't generally appear as a symptom on their own, but tend to be the result of some other cause. The most common causes are viral infections associated with colds and flu, or a secondary infection caused by bacteria. Other sources of sore throats include:

• Excessive use of the voice – for example, shouting and singing during a concert
• Injury or trauma to the back of the throat as a result of eating something such as a fish bone
• Hayfever or other forms of allergic rhinitis - air-borne allergens can cause inflammation at the back of the throat
• Irritation caused by atmospheric pollutants or self-inflicted by cigarette smoke
• Acid reflux – acid rising up from the stomach and irritating the back of the throat
• Certain types of medication such as the class of drugs known as DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
• A weakened immune system such as that seen with HIV and AIDs can cause 'normal' infections to become more severe
• Certain rare medical conditions such as cancer can cause a persistent sore throat.

Sore throat has various associated signs and symptoms:

• burning feeling or pain in the throat;
• pain while swallowing;
• red and swollen mucous membrane and/or tonsils;
• excess mucus in the throat;
• swollen glands in the neck;
• fever.

A sore throat is often confused with a throat infection. However, with a throat infection, the throat is not only irritated, but the mucous membranes are also red and swollen and there are systemic symptoms indicative of infection. These could include swollen lymph nodes around the neck and jaw, fever, and feeling changes in energy level.
There are two kinds of throat infection: acute and chronic.

• The acute form appears suddenly and will typically subside within 14 days. Acute causes are often attributable to a pathogen such as a virus or bacteria.
• A chronic throat infection lasts a long time and is difficult to get rid of. It's possible that an acute infection can turn into a more chronic form if unresponsive to treatment or nothing is done to manage the initial infection. This might require further investigation by your primary care provider to determine the cause.

This is far from an uncommon question for our staff here at A.Vogel. With a sore throat, whether due to the flu or a cold, it is imperative to take steps to ensure you have a strong system capable of handling infection.

Echinaforce Sore Throat Spray fast acting sore throat remedy
A.Vogel Echinaforce 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 you can help yourself:

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

Do not hesitate to contact us for professional advice about the treatment of a sore throat.

Do you not only suffer from a sore throat, but also feel fatigued as you battle a fever? Then, you probably have the flu. If you want to know if it is the common cold or the flu, do the test!

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:

• if after three days you still have a fever;
• if drinking or swallowing is hardly possible;
• if the sore throat is accompanied by a rash on your face and/or your chest;
• if the sore throat persists for more than seven days; look here for more information about a persistent sore throat;
• if your illness becomes persistently worse.

With children it is necessary to contact your general practitioner:

• if your child gives you the impression of being very ill;
• if your child complains their breathing feels oppressed;
• if your child cannot swallow saliva.