How To Treat A Sore Throat And Cold

Photo courtesy of Victoria Schofield (Flickr.com)

A sore throat and cold are common ailments that can be caused by a lot of factors, and many people would like to know how to treat a sore throat and cold on their own. The term ‘cold’ is a non-medical term; a cold is a condition that has the combined symptoms of fever, malaise, nasal congestion and runny nose. Although the most common causes of sore throats and colds are respiratory infections, it can also be caused by non-infectious factors, like cigarette smoke. Other factors such as weather changes and allergies to pollen can also trigger these conditions.

How To Treat A Sore Throat And Cold On Your Own

Although it’s advisable to seek first the opinion of a doctor, sore throats and colds can be treated at home. Here are the things that can be done:

• Gargle with warm saline solution or oral antiseptic solutions if symptoms persist.
• Get ample sleep.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Sneeze out nasal secretions to clear the upper respiratory tract.
• In case of fever, take antipyretics such as Paracetamol every four hours as needed.
• Get fresh air.
• Stay away from irritants such as cigarette smoke. Don’t smoke while symptoms persist.
• Avoid known allergens such as pollen or dust.

 How To Treat A Sore Throat And Cold If Self-Treatment Doesn’t Work

If the sore throat and cold is caused by infection, and if the above self-treatment is followed, it is expected for the condition to subside. But if symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you should consult a doctor and follow professional guidelines on how to treat a sore throat and cold. Here are the things that you must bear in mind:

• Always take antibiotic treatment on schedule. Don’t skip or miss doses.
• In case decongestants are prescribed, don’t stop the treatment abruptly to prevent rebound congestion.
• In case the patient has difficulty breathing, follow the proper guidelines in nebulization.
• If the patient develops symptoms of allergy from medication, stop taking them and consult the doctor.

 How To Check If Treatment Is Effective

• Ask the patient if swallowing is still difficult.
• Note for any signs of dyspnea (difficulty of breathing), such as grunting, labored breathing, and shortness of breath.
• Observe if the patient is still sneezing and coughing.
• Ask the patient if he is still experiencing a runny nose.
• Check the temperature.

 When You Should Seek More Medical Help

However, if symptoms still persists even with the doctor’s advice, the person experiencing the illness must seek further consultation and emergency treatment. Here are some things can indicate the need for further medical treatment:

• When the tonsils become more swollen
• When the patient is unable to talk or breathe
• When the patient verbalizes increased difficulty of breathing
• When fever is not subsiding
• When the patient becomes unconscious
• When the patient becomes cyanotic (bluish discoloration of the skin)

The key is to prevent the worsening of symptoms and avoiding allergens and other respiratory tract irritants. In addition, it would be very beneficial if we maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet to increase our body’s resistance. How to treat a sore throat and cold can be relatively easy.