Sore Throat and Fever

Dealing With a Sore Throat and Fever

While a sore throat and fever are common symptoms of the flu as well as the cold in children, they could also be symptoms of other illnesses as well. The large majority of the world’s population has a sore throat and fever at least once a year or more. So, what do you do when you experience this combination? Do you need to go to the doctor right away? Should you be taking over-the-counter medication or do you need a prescription? These are all questions that may go through your mind so it is helpful to know how to handle your symptoms effectively so you can feel better faster!

Causes

Viruses – The large number of viruses that circulate around every year are primarily to blame for the sore throat and fever combination. Unfortunately, none of these are treatable with antibiotics. They can cause a really high fever and the best thing you can do is stay in bed, away from other people and drink plenty of fluids.

Cold and Cough – The common cold can cause quite a severe sore throat. Although a fever is not usually present in adults with a cold, it is with children.

Strep Throat – This is one of the few illnesses that causes these symptoms that is treatable with antibiotics. In fact, antibiotics are a must to avoid serious health complications from the strep bacteria.

Allergies – While allergies do not cause painful or sudden sore throats, they can cause that irritation along with a fever.

Coxsackie Virus – This is a mouth, hand and foot disease. The virus causes an extremely high fever, sore throat and canker sores on the cheeks, throat, lips and gums.

When are Antibiotics Needed?

Although you would assume that antibiotics would always be needed to treat a sore throat and fever, they are usually only given out with strep throat. Antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria not viruses so taking them with the common cold or flu would serve no purpose.

It is also important to note that antibiotics always offer a risk of allergic reaction each time they are taken which can be mild to severe. They can also cause an upset stomach and diarrhea as well. Not to mention, bacteria can become easily resistant to antibiotics if they are over used.

Treating a Sore Throat

While there isn’t a whole lot that you can do to treat a fever, you can make your sore throat a little more tolerable.

Herbal Tea – There are quite a few herbal teas that will soothe your throat. Not to mention, green tea is used in many cultures to treat the flu so these are drinks that are good for you and will help you feel better. You will find that there are medicinal teas that are designed to coat a sore throat. You may also want to try wild cherry, licorice root or slippery elm as well.

Honey and Lemon – While many people see great benefits from adding this combination to their tea, you can also make a syrup with it and drink it straight.

Apple Cider Vinegar – There are many healing uses of apple cider vinegar. You can either drink it straight or mix a bit with honey and/or water. Alternatively, you can also mix it with water and salt and gargle with it.

Zinc – Pop one of these lozenges in your mouth and just allow it time to dissolve and work its magic.

Garlic – Slice a garlic clove in half and put one in each cheek and suck on them just like a cough drop, pressing them against your teeth to release their healing chemicals.

Gargles

In addition to gargling with apple cider vinegar, there are a few other helpful alternatives you can try.

Salt Water – Dissolve a good amount of salt in some lukewarm water and gargle.

Sage – One teaspoon of sage mixed with one cup of water is a great remedy. Gargle three times per day.

Aloe Vera – If you don’t have a plant handy for this sore throat and fever remedy, stop at a health food store and pick up pure aloe vera juice to gargle with it. If you have a plant, dissolve the gel well with water.

Garlic – Boil one clove of garlic with about a cup of water. Allow to cool to lukewarm temperature and then gargle with the liquid.