Friday, September 17, 2010

Sore Throats - Measures for Self-Care



Symptoms:
Mild to severe throat pain, with or without swollen neck glands. The inside of the throat and/or tonsils could turn bright red or could be marked by white spots.

Measures for Self-Care

  • Mix one-fourth teaspoon of salt in half a cup of warm water. Gargle every few hours with this mixture, preparing it afresh each time.
  • Drink plenty of warm liquids, such as tea and soup.
  • Don't smoke at all.
  • Avoid eating spicy or hot foods.
  • Suck on a medicated lozenge frequently.
  • Take an over-the-counter medicine for relieving the pain and/or fever.
Call your doctor for
  • Sore throat that occurs along with: fever; swollen, enlarged neck glands; headache; chest, or ear pain; bad breath; skin rashes; abdominal pain; vomiting; or discharge of dark urine.
  • The back of the throat turning very red or developing white spots.
  • A mild sore throat that lasts for more than two weeks.
Get Immediate Care for
  • Extreme difficulty while breathing or if the lips turn purple.
  • Inability to swallow your own saliva.

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