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Signs
and Symptoms:
- Soreness
of pain
in the
throat,
especially
when you
talk or
swallow
- Swollen
neck glands
- The
back of
the throat
and/or
the tonsils
look bright
red or
have pus
deposits
or white
spots.
- Sores
on the
roof of
the mouth
[Go
to Self-Care
Prevention]
Still
not sure? Ask
yourself with
these questions.
1.
With a sore
throat, is
it very hard
for you to
breathe, are
you unable
to swallow
your own saliva,
or are you
unable to say
more than 3
or 4 words
between breaths?
If yes to
one of these
symptoms
described
above, please
get immediate
care.
If no,
continue
on to the
next question.
2.
Do you have
any of the
following problems
with the sore
throat?
- Fever
- Swollen,
enlarged
neck glands
- Headache
- General
aching feeling
- Ear
pain
- Bad
breth
- Skin
rash
- Loss
of appetite
and severe
fatigue
- Vomiting
- Abdominal
pain
- Chest
pain
- Dark
urine
If yes to
one of these
symptoms
described
above, please
see your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on to the
next question.
3.
Do your tonsils
or does the
back of your
throat look
bright red
or have visible
pus deposits?
If yes to
one of these
symptoms
described
above, please
see your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on to the
next question.
4.
Does your roomate
or others you
live with have
strep throat
or do you get
strep throat
or tonsillitis
often?
If yes to
one of these
symptoms
described
above, please
see your
doctor.
If no,
continue
on to the
next question.
5.
Has even a
mild sore throat
lasted more
than 2 weeks?
If yes to
one of these
symptoms
described
above, please
see your
doctor.
If no to
all questions,
use self-care
prevention.
Self-Care
Prevention
To
Prevent
getting
a Sore
Throat:
- Do
not
get
in
close
contact
with
anyone
you
know
has
a
sore
throat.
- Wash
your
hands
often
to
minimize
picking
up
germs
from
others.
Also,
don't
share
drinking
glasses
and
silverware.
To
Treat
a Sore
Throat:
- Gargle
every
2
to
3
hours
with
a
solution
of
1/4
teaspoon
of
salt
mixed
in
1/2
cup
of
warm
water.
- Drink
plenty
of
warm
beverages,
such
as
tea
with
lemon
(with
or
without
honey)
and
soup.
- For
strep
throat,
drink
and
eat
cold
liquids
and
foods,
such
as
frozen
yougurt
and
popsicles.
- Use
a
cool-mist
vaporizer
in
your
room.
If
you
get
a
sore
throat
often,
consider
putting
a
portable
air
purifier
in
your
room.
- Don't
smoke.
Avoid
secondhand
smoke
and
air
pollution.
- Avoid
eating
spicy
foods.
- Suck
on
a
piece
of
hard
candy,
cough
drop,
or
medicated
lozenge
every
2
to
4
hours.
- Take
an
over-the-counter
medicine
for
the
pain
and/or
fever.
- If
prescribed
an
antibiotic,
take
all
of
it.
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