Medicines and products for sore throat

Medicines for a sore throat aim at pain relief and, when the cause is bacterial, at curing the infection. Most viral sore throats need only symptom relief.

Pain and fever relief

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen in the correct dose for age and weight.
• Never give aspirin to children or teenagers.

Lozenges and sprays

• Soothing or mildly antiseptic lozenges and throat sprays can ease pain for a few hours.
• Avoid medicated lozenges in young children (choking and dosing risks).

Antibiotics

• Needed only for confirmed or strongly suspected bacterial infection, mainly strep throat.
• A doctor may use a rapid strep test or throat swab.
• When prescribed, take the full course even if you feel better. Incomplete courses risk complications and resistance.
• Antibiotics do not help viral sore throats.

Allergy and reflux medicines

• Antihistamines for allergy-related postnasal drip.
• Acid-reducing medicines for reflux-related throat irritation, on a doctor's advice.

Steroids

• A single dose is sometimes given by doctors for severe painful swallowing. Never self-medicate with steroids.

Products to avoid

• Leftover or shared antibiotics.
• Strong antiseptic gargles for children.
• Numbing sprays in young children without medical advice.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive) Herbal powders and teas can soothe symptoms but cannot replace antibiotics for strep throat.

When to see a doctor High fever, severe pain, rash, breathing or swallowing difficulty, or no improvement in a week. Call 112 for breathing trouble or drooling.

Remember Pain relievers and lozenges for comfort; antibiotics only when a doctor confirms a bacterial cause.