Sore Throat Diagnosis and Treatment
Sore throats seem to appear out of nowhere and can be quite painful. When your throat hurts, it’s hard to talk, swallow and eat, and you want immediate relief. At-home remedies typically alleviate symptoms, especially when you have a sore throat but no fever. However, your throat discomfort could be a symptom of a significant medical condition. Thus, check your symptoms to see if you need to go to Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care for diagnosis and treatment.
Go to the Emergency Room If You Have These Symptoms
If you only have a sore throat, you can manage it at home. However, go to the emergency room if you also:
- Have trouble swallowing
- Experience difficulty breathing
- Have swollen and painful joints
- Have a rash
- Run a fever
- Are dehydrated
In addition, if your child’s throat hurts and he or she is also drooling excessively, you need to visit the ER. The pediatric staff can diagnose and treat your child.
Should You Go to the ER for Sore Throat and Ear Pain?
Infections can cause you to experience sore throat and ear pain. Your primary care provider can make a diagnosis and provide medication if needed. However, you will need to bypass the primary care provider and go to the emergency room if:
- You also have a fever.
- You are vomiting.
- You’ve experienced hearing loss.
- Discharge is coming from your ear.
- Your ear is swollen.
- The pain lasts for several days without improvement.
Sore Throat Remedies
Even if your sore throat isn’t an emergency, it’s still uncomfortable. Fortunately, you can use some home remedies for sore throat relief. You can:
- Gargle with saltwater for pain relief
- Gargle with lemon juice to break up mucus
- Drink warm water and honey to alleviate the coughing
In each instance, start with an 8-ounce glass of water. Then, add a half teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of lemon juice, or two tablespoons of honey to the water. You can gargle with the mixture several times a day to get relief. Take special care when gargling with saltwater so you do not swallow it.
While these sore throat remedies are ideal for mild conditions, you need to visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care if you have additional symptoms. We have a full range of diagnostic tools to help us determine the source of your discomfort. Then, we will treat the underlying cause to alleviate your symptoms.
