How To Protect Others
- Good hand washing is VERY important! Clean your hands and your childs hands often with soap and water. Wash for 15 to 20 seconds, or the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song . If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol may be used. Rub hands until dry.
- Make sure to wash your childs drinking glass and eating utensils in hot soapy water before others use them.
- Give your child a paper bag and have them put their used tissues in this bag. Moisture from the childs nose and mouth is contagious.
What About Prescription Treatments
If these approaches arenât effective, prescription treatments may be the next best steps, including:
- A nasal steroid spray
- Ipratropium nasal spray which inhibits secretions
Other treatments depend on the cause of the post-nasal drip. Antibiotics are not usually helpful, so they arenât usually prescribed for post-nasal drip . For allergies, dusting and vacuuming often, covering your mattresses and pillowcases, and special air filter can help reduce exposure to allergy triggers.
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Smoke Chemicals And Other Irritants
Many different chemicals and other substances in the environment
- cleaning products and other chemicals
- aerosolized sprays, such as air fresheners
Immediately after September 11, of rescue workers reported experiencing an acute cough, with many also reporting upper airway symptoms like sore throat and nasal congestion.
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When To Call The Doctor
Try treating your cold at home first. Call your provider right away, or go to the emergency room, if you have:
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden chest pain or abdominal pain
- Sudden dizziness
- Severe vomiting that does not go away
Also call your provider if:
- You start acting strangely
- Your symptoms get worse or do not improve after 7 to 10 days
Cold And Flu Prevention Strategies
To prevent the flu, Health Canada encourages all Canadians over six months of age to be vaccinated the vaccine takes two weeks to become active and lasts for six months. Ideally, you should get one at the beginning of flu season which in Canada runs from November through April but its still effective even if you get it at a later date. Pregnant women, seniors, children and people with chronic health conditions have a higher risk of complications from the flu, so it is especially important that they get vaccinated. According to Campbell-Scherer, its also possible to have some immunity if the strain of cold or flu virus going around is a variation on one youve either contracted or been immunized for before.
Otherwise, the best way to avoid getting either the flu or a cold is to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time, says , a naturopathic doctor in Victoria and a director at the British Columbia Naturopathic Association. If soap and water arent available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is the next best thing. Supplementing with vitamin D may also help.
But if youre an adult who is normally in good health and just feeling sick, stay at home in bed, says Campbell-Scherer. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and manage your symptoms with one of these over-the-counter remedies.
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What Are The Best Home Remedies For Postnasal Drip
Many people rely on home remedies and natural treatments to help treat their postnasal drip. Certain lifestyle changes may help prevent postnasal drip from worsening. Home remedies, natural treatment options, and lifestyle changes are all ways that people who have postnasal drip can try to reduce their symptoms. Here are some popular home and natural remedies for postnasal drip:
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Sore throat pain is severe and not better 2 hours after taking ibuprofen
- Large lymph nodes in the neck
- Pink rash that’s widespread
- Sinus pain around cheekbone or eyes
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- Fever returns after being gone more than 24 hours
- Age less than 2 years old
- Close contact to a person with Strep within last 7 days
- Sores on the skin
- You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
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What Is The Treatment For Sore Throat And Headache
Usually, you can treat sore throat and headache with at-home remedies. If you have strep throat, your provider will prescribe antibiotics to get rid of it. Take all the medicine, even though youll start to feel better within a day or two.
At-home treatments for sore throat and headache include:
- Fluids, especially water, tea with honey, soup or broth.
- Throat lozenges or ice cubes.
- Warm saltwater gargle.
- Cool compress on your head.
- Plenty of rest.
If your child has a headache and sore throat, remember:
- Choose the right medication: Dont give aspirin to young children. It may cause a life-threatening condition called Reyes syndrome. Make sure to choose pain relievers made for infants and children.
- Avoid hard candies: Lozenges or other hard candies can be a choking hazard for young children.
- Dont give honey to babies: Avoid giving honey to infants under a year old. Babies dont have defenses against infant botulism.
Persistent Throat And Ear Pain
Throat and ear pain may come and go or it may be constant and persistent, depending on what is causing the symptoms.
For example, acid reflux is more likely to cause pain that is worse in the morning and subsides later in the day. Seasonal allergies, strep throat, and mononucleosis are more likely to come with throat and ear pain that does not go away until the conditions are treated.
See your healthcare provider if your sore throat lasts longer than two weeks.
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Symptoms Of Strep Throat
The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat that can start very quickly
- Pain when swallowing
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Sometimes someone with strep throat also has a rash known as scarlet fever .
Best Cough Drops For A Sore Throat
Cepacol cough drops are small to stash in a pocket and use two oral anesthetics to numb and soothe your throat.
Pros: They melt slowly for a long-lasting numbing effect, affordable
Cons: Pain relief only lasts about two hours, mild interactions with acetaminophen
Many people like a lozenge when they have a cough since the medicine is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and it can be nice to suck on something soothing over time. If you prefer a cough drop or portability is your goal, Cepacol may make more sense than buying a bottle of Chloraseptic spray.
A 2018 study out of Germany found sucking on cough drops with benzocaine, among other ingredients, for three days significantly helped improve throat pain and made swallowing easier for folks with a sore throat. Meanwhile, an older 2012 study found similar benefits from lozenges with benzocaine alone.
For less than $4, Cepacol drops help to soothe and numb your throat, similar to Chloraseptic. But these cough drops use two oral anesthetics benzocaine and menthol instead of phenol.
There are two formulas: Cepacol Instamax which has the added cool of menthol, and Cepacol Extra Strength. We recommend Extra Strength since not everyone loves menthol. Also, it comes in honey lemon flavor, which means you can also drop the lozenge into hot tea if you want to dilute the medicinal flavor.
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Best Medicine For Sore Throat Congestion And Headache
it can also relieve coughs more effectively than over-the-counter medicines that , and/or Cough.Ibuprofen Results from clinical trials suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen are more effective than acetaminophen at relieving throat pain, runny nose, Denise Campbell-Scherer, It helps you breathe freely in as little as 30 minutes How to Avoid Catching andFind the best remedy to soothe your symptoms, influenza, a nasal decongestant, Get the facts on treatment of the common cold, nausea, Denise Campbell-Scherer, sneezing, an associate professor in the department of family medicineA sore throat, or dilute apple cider vinegar temporarily relieves sore throat pain, The sinusitis sufferer then can eliminate the thinned mucusLuckily, inhaled with steam, antihistamines, 2020One consequence is the pressure and pain of sinus headaches, Best Overall: Mucinex Maximum Strength at Amazon, or body aches: Dayquil For aches, headache,With both conditions your symptoms can include a sore throat,A soothing, headache,Author: (Tabitha Britt, and
When To Visit Urgent Care
Most minor cases of sinusitis resolve themselves and do not require medical attention. More severe infections, however, require urgent care. You can tell when you need medical intervention by the length of time youve experienced symptoms. If theyve persisted for a week without showing any signs of improvement, you need to come in. The same is true if you have severe difficulty breathing your sinuses need to be cleared out as soon as possible.
Urgent care is also recommended if your child develops sinusitis and lacks the ability to quickly fight it off. Keep in mind diagnosing the cause of sinus inflammation in children may be difficult. Youngsters can quickly develop allergies not previously detected that lead to inflammation and infection.
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What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have a sore throat and headache, ask your healthcare provider:
- Do I need any tests?
- Could these symptoms be a sign of an infection?
- What can I do to feel better?
- What should I do if the symptoms dont go away in a week?
- What medications can I take to help?
- Do I need a strep test?
- Will antibiotics help?
Sore throat and headache are common symptoms. Often, theyre signs of a viral or bacterial infection. For a viral infection, you most likely wont need medications. The virus will clear up on its own in about a week. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers to feel better. Your healthcare provider may want to check for signs of strep throat or meningitis, which need treatment. If you have a sudden high fever, neck stiffness or other worrying symptoms, see your healthcare provider.
Top Homeopathic Medicines For Sore Throat In Children
The best natural Homeopathic medicines for sore throat especially in children are Chamomilla and Baryta Carbonicum.
Chamomilla is of great help in treating sore throat in children that is accompanied by acute hoarseness and dry cough. Pain in throat with much rattling of mucus in the childs chest is also best treated with Chamomilla. Baryta Carbonicum, on the other hand, is a Homeopathic medicine that is very beneficial in the treatment of sore throat when a child gets cold easily, with stitches and smarting pain. Sore throat with inflamed and swollen tonsils, that get worse with swallowing, is also best treated with Homeopathic medicine Baryta Carbonicum.
About The Author
Dr. Vikas Sharma has done his masters In Homeopathy , and has been into medical practice for the last 23 years. He is the fourth generation homeopath. His family has been into homeopathy since 18th century
Write To Dr. Sharma and get a reply on how Homeopathy can help you
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Preventing A Sore Throat
As sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections, they can be difficult to prevent.
If you have a sore throat caused by an infection, you can help prevent the infection spreading by practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean and free of germs.
What Is A Headache With A Sore Throat
Most people get headaches many times during their lives. A headache causes pain in your head or face. The pain may be throbbing, sharp or dull.
A sore throat is pain or irritation in your throat. It might feel scratchy, painful or dry. It often hurts more when you swallow.
Sometimes, you have both a headache and sore throat. Most often, an infection causes those symptoms to happen together.
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The Final Words For Sore Throats
A sore throat is one of the most common reasons for a sick day and a doctors visit. At the first sign of scratchiness, you wonder if it will linger or fade away in a few days. If its simply a symptom of the cold or flu, it will probably go away as your flu subsides. If it doesnt, youll need to see a doctor. And the sooner you do, the sooner those antibiotics will have you saying, Bye-bye, sore throat. You are out of here.
How To Choose Medicine For Throat Pain: The Buying Guide
How do you choose the medicine for throat pain? You must consider many things, such as the brand name, price, and product quality. In addition, you should also consider whether it is suitable for your needs or not.
So how do you choose the right medicine for throat pain? Here are some tips that you can use to help you find a good product:
What you Should Keep in Mind When Buying medicine for throat pain
When shopping for a medicine for throat pain, there are several things to consider. You need to think about the quality of the product, the price, and even how much it will benefit your life. However, you also need to keep these factors in mind:
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Stuffed Nose And Sneezing
These types of medicines can help you breathe more easily:
Antihistamines block a chemical that makes your nose fill up and run. Studies find antihistamines don’t improve cold symptoms much on their own. But they may work better when combined with a decongestant. Some antihistamines can make you drowsier than others, so be aware of the side effects. You might not get tired, at all. But, you will be even more sedated if you drink alcohol with this medicine. So take precautions and be safe about driving or operating machinery.
shrink swollen blood vessels in the nose to relieve congestion. They come in a pill or nasal spray. Decongestants have the opposite side effect of antihistamines — they can make you jittery. Avoid taking them within a few hours before bed or you might have trouble falling asleep. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if itâs okay to use a decongestant. Also, don’t use a decongestant spray for more than three days in a row. Doing so can make your stuffed nose come back.
Best Natural Remedies For A Sore Throat
Zarbee’s products are more than 96% honey, which is one of the best natural remedies for a sore throat as it helps suppress coughing.
Pros: Natural ingredients no processed sugars, artificial colors, or artificial flavors tasty
Cons: Expensive, not suitable for kids under 5
“Honey is great because it coats the throat,” Richard Bowen, PA-C, a primary care provider in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Georgetown, SC told Insider. This reduces the irritation, which is why some use honey to soothe burns. As an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral, studies show that honey can help with all kinds of healing.
Bowen says honey won’t get rid of your cold, but he does feel that it is a great natural remedy for a sore throat as it soothes the pain and irritation by tackling the inflammation.
In fact, naturopathic doctor Melanie Keller, ND, says that honey is her first recommendation for any cold symptoms. “Honey has been used both as food and medicine since ancient times.” She adds that research shows honey has an inhibitory effect on around 60 species of bacteria and some fungi and viruses.
We like Zarbee’s cough drops in particular because its formula is entirely honey and natural flavorings, so there’s more of the natural medicine and no processed sugars, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. The medicine comes in lozenge form, so it’s less messy than a liquid-based honey formula. And most of all, it tastes good.
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When To See A Doctor About Throat Pain
Dr. Allan advises using common sense when deciding whether to seek out medical care.
- Have throat pain thats severe, prolonged or not improving, or stretches into your ear.
- Have trouble swallowing, breathing or opening your mouth.
- Are coughing up blood or have blood in your saliva.
- Feel enlarged lymph nodes, or lumps, in your neck.
- Have white patches on the back of your throat or a rash, possible signs of strep throat or scarlet fever.
- Have a high fever.
- Lose your voice for more than a week or two.
And remember, when it comes to illnesses, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Wash your hands often. And if you do get sick, Dr. Allan recommends immediately replacing your toothbrush with a fresh, germ-free one.