A sore throat and cough can be cause for concern this time of year, and rightfully so. Is it Strep or the Flu? Centra Care physicians have diagnosed them all this week, so if you or someone in your household is feeling the pain, it may be best to see a doctor to find out the cause.
The only way to know for sure if the cause of a sore throat is a virus or a bacteria is to get a strep test. Every Centra Care location offers rapid strep tests on-site, without an appointment. If your sore throat is viral in nature, antibiotics won’t help, but there are some things that can help reduce the pain:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids including, warm fluids like herbal teas
- Gargle with salt-water (mix 2 teaspoons salt to 1 pint water)
- Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Spray the throat with over-the-counter products like Cepacol, or try throat lozenges
Seek medical attention immediately if your sore throat is accompanied by a fever over 101 degrees or if you have trouble breathing.
