Totorus

Photo credit by Jess and Colin

Most people suffer from a sore throat at some point or another. Particularly during the winter time ailments like this are more common than ever. Having a sore throat can really be a nuisance. Fortunately there are more than enough treatments available for today that can help. Although the variety is beneficial, it can also make the decision process more difficult.

The shelves in drugstores are lined with over the counter sore throat remedies, and it can be hard to determine which is the most suitable. Anyone who finds themselves in this situation should start by figuring out what their sore throat was caused by in the first place. The only way a proper solution can be found is if the cause is known.

Strep throat is one of the main causes of a sore throat. Strep throat is a condition caused by the streptococcal bacteria. It causes an infection in the throat resulting in irritation and soreness. The most obvious symptoms of strep throat are pain while swallowing or coughing, fever and white spots on the back of the throat. To treat strep throat, the Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray works well. Just make sure to get a prescription for antibiotics from a doctor as well. The sore throat spray will help relieve pain, but in order to get rid of the infection, antibiotics are needed.

If the sore throat is caused by pharyngitis, this is the basic run of the mill sore throat and can be treated effectively with a few different treatments. Suprax is one of the best over the counter medicines for a sore throat caused by pharyngitis. This medicine can be taken with or without food and comes in liquid form.

Another popular choice is the Cepacol Sore Throat Lozenges. Adults and children ages 6 years and older can safely take this medicine. It offers temporary relief of sore throat pain and there are different strengths available.

One of the latest lineups of products has gained popularity rather quickly. The Vicks Custom Care line is effective because it focuses on targeting only the symptoms a person is dealing with. Rather than the all-in-one products available, this medicine ensures that a person is only treating those symptoms that are bothering them or causing them pain. For a sore throat, the Vicks Formula 44 Custom Care Throat Spray works well. It provides immediately relief of sore throat pain. With simply a spray or two towards the back of the throat, pain and irritation will be relieved. The spray can be used every two hours as needed or recommended by a doctor.

Another possibility is the sore throat was caused by the common cold. It is usually easy to tell whether or not this is the case because a sore throat caused by a cold will start to get better over the first day or two. Also there are also usually other symptoms that follow the sore throat such as a runny nose and a stuffed up, congested feeling.

For anyone dealing with a sore throat, researching and reading different reviews can be helpful but talking to a doctor is always best. They are the professionals here and will be able to decide which over the counter medicine is best on a case by case basis. No one wants to be sick any longer than they have to. Doctors can also perform routine tests to determine if any other health conditions are at play and which may be a factor.