Upton Group Practice

Sore Throats

Most sore throats are caused by a viral infection which antibiotics cannot cure.  With simple treatment the patient normally gets better in four to five days.

Tonsillitis usually starts with a sore throat which causes pain on swallowing.  With children, and some adults, there may be a rise in temperature and the patient is often obviously “under the weather”.

It may be possible to see the swollen tonsils with white spots on them.  The lymph glands in the neck may also swell.  These swellings are the normal response to infection.

Sometimes a sore throat may occur with the common cold.  In epidemics of influenza there may be a dryness of the throat, pain on coughing and loss of voice.

Treatment for adults:

Medication: To help relieve the pain on swallowing and the temperature (if there is one), use two soluble aspirin or two soluble Paracetamol tablets dissolved in water so that the patient can gargle with it before swallowing.  Repeat the treatment every four hours - up to a maximum of 8 tablets in 24 hours.

Treatment for children and babies:

Young children should be given Paracetamol mixture every four hours in the right dose for their age up to four times in 24 hours.

0 - 3 months - Consult your doctor

At  3 - 6 months:   Half a 5ml spoonful of Paracetamol mixture   (120mg/5ml)

At  6 - 12 months: One 5ml spoonful of Paracetamol mixture        (120mg/5ml)  

At 1 - 5 years: One to Two 5ml spoonfuls of Paracetamol mixture (120mg/5ml)

At  6 - 12 years: A half to One Paracetamol tablet (250mg-500mg)

Do not give any Aspirin to children under the age of 12 years.

See your doctor if:

 ¨    the sore throat is still getting worse after 2 days

¨    the patient complains of earache

¨    the temperature persists or continues to rise above 38.3^°  C or 101^° F

¨    the patient or parent is unduly worried

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Last modified: 30/01/2012