Often a mild sore throat is due to low humidity, smoking, air pollution and perh aps yelling.

People who have allergies or stuffy noses may breathe through their mouth while sleeping, causing a mild sore throat. Sore Throat can affect a person of any age but is most common among children fiv e to ten years old. The most common causes of sore throat are viruses and bacter ia. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections. A sore throat caused by a viru s must improve on its own. Pain relievers like lozenges, anesthetic sprays and o ther medications may relieve symptoms. Strep throat is what we commonly call sore throat caused by a streptococcal bacter ium. Strep throat is more common in children than adults. If one child in a fami ly has a strep throat, other members with a sore throat are likely also to be in fected with strep. A sore throat is unlikely to be strep if the person has several other cold sympt oms like runny nose, stuffy ears, cough and so on. A Strep throat should be treated immediately by a Physician to avoid the following complications: 1. Throat abscess Suspect a throat abscess if a child drools excessively or has great difficulty in swallowing or opening his/her mouth. 2. Rheumatic Fever This condition appears one to four weeks after the sore throa t and results in painful joints, skin rashes and heart damage. Antibiotic treatm ent of strep throat can prevent rheumatic fever. 3. Inflammation of the Kidney the sore throat. How to prevent Sore Throat: Humidify your home, especially the bedroom. Identify and avoid irritants that cause sore throat, Don t smoke, Avoid contact with people who have strep throat Home Treatment for Sore Throat: Humidify the home, especially the bedroom, Gargle with warm salt water. The salt reduces swelling. Some over the counter lozenges have a local anesthetic to deaden the pain. A vaporizer will moisten the air and ease dry air passages. Drink more fluids to soothe a sore throat. Honey and lemon or weak tea may help. Stop smoking. This condition also comes ont to four weeks after

When to See a Doctor Sore throat is very common. Most are caused by a viral infection, as part of a c old, and will resolve on its own in several days. Severe sore throats can be caused by mono (mononucleosis), which often affects y oung adults, or strep throat. Sore throats can also be a symptom of other condit ions, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, or laryngitis. A doctor's visit is necessary to rule out a more serious condition, especially i f any of the following are present: Sore throat or hoarseness that lasts for more than several days Severe throat pain or difficulty swallowing or breathing Blood in saliva, sputum, or phlegm Rash Tender or swollen lymph nodes in the neck White or yellow patches or pus at the back of the throat A temperature of more than 101 degrees Excessive drooling in children Severe pain in the sinuses Pus at the back of the throat Cough that produces mucus