Bacterial sore throats are most often caused by streptococcus (strep throat) and usually bring a high fever, headaches, or swollen, enlarged neck glands with them. Viral sore throats generally don't. But even doctors have trouble diagnosing a sore throat based on symptoms alone. (A child with a bacterial sore throat may have no other symptoms, for example.) And if left untreated, serious complications, including abscesses, kidney inflammation, or rheumatic heart disease, could arise from a strep throat. So your doctor may take a throat culture. If strep, or other bacteria are the culprits, he or she will prescribe a ten-day course of antibiotics.

You can take some steps to relieve sore throat discomfort.

Gargle every few hours with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in half a glass
of warm water.
Drink plenty of warm beverages, such as tea (with or without honey) and soup.
Use a vaporizer or humidifier in the room where you spend most of your time.
Don't smoke.
Avoid eating spicy foods.
Suck on a piece of hard candy or medicated lozenge every so often. (Do not give to children
under 5 years of age.)
Take aspirin or acetaminophen for the pain or fever (or both). (Note: Children age 19 or younger,
however, shouldn't take aspirin for chicken pox or flulike symptoms because of its association
with Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that is discussed in chapter 2, Major Medical
Conditions: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment.)