A throat infection can be caused because of several reasons, and it could be viral or bacterial. A viral infection usually causes contagious conditions like cold, mononucleosis, flu, etc and bacterial infections cause conditions such as hemophilus, mycoplasma or strep. Antibiotics work well on bacterial throat infections, while the viral throat infections can be treated with natural home remedies. You might have to get a medical check up if you suffer from frequent throat infections or if you have had a throat infection for a long duration. General symptoms of a sore throat may include pain and redness of throat, swelling of tonsils, headache, swelling of lymph glands in the throat, slight fever, difficulty in swallowing food and water, overall weakness, etc. In some cases the pain may spread to the ears as well.
To avoid a sore throat you need to take care of some basic things. Avoid oily and spicy food. Avoid food that dries your throat and dehydrates your body like alcohol, cigarettes, tea, coffee, etc. Eat food that keeps your immune system healthy so it can fight off the bacterial and viral infections. Consume fresh fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, and lots of liquids like juices, fresh warm soups and lots of water throughout the day to prevent your throat from drying. Have fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C as it helps to boost your immune system.
You may also try cinnamon tea. Take one gram of powdered cinnamon and boil it in a large cup of water. Add a little honey to it and drink this tea 3 to 4 times in a day.
Chamomile tea helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Boil a large cup of water and add 2 teaspoons full of dried chamomile flowers to it. Do not boil after adding the flowers but cover and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and add a little honey to it. Drink this warm herbal tea for quick relief from painful sore throat.
Boil a glass of water and allow it to cool until it is warm. Add a teaspoon of salt to it and gargle with this solution 3 to 4 times a day. Salt has powerful antibacterial properties and helps to kill the infection causing bacteria in the throat.
Avoid sleeping in a room that has excessive dry air. Use a humidifier so that your throat won't dry out while sleeping.
answered by G R