Health A-Z

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Harvard Medical School

Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)

Treatment

Because antibiotics do not work against viruses, viral pharyngitis usually is treated by treating the symptoms to make you feel more comfortable until your body's immune system defeats the infection. These measures include:

• Getting plenty of rest (either in or out of bed)

• Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin (in adults only) to relieve throat pain

• Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration

• Gargling with warm salty water to ease throat pain

• Drinking warm liquids (tea or broth) or cool liquids or eating gelatin desserts or flavored ices to soothe the throat

• Using a cool mist vaporizer to relieve throat dryness

• Using nonprescription throat lozenges (with or without zinc) or anesthetic throat sprays

• Taking nonprescription decongestants and antihistamines to relieve nasal congestion and runny nose

• Taking vitamin C supplements if recommended by your doctor

These measures will help to ease your discomfort if you have strep throat, but you also will have to take antibiotics to prevent complications. Your doctor will prescribe a 10-day course of penicillin or amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox and other brand names) to eliminate the strep bacteria. If you are allergic to penicillin, including amoxicillin, you may be given erythromycin (sold under several brand names) or one of the other macrolides, such as azithromycin (Zithromax) or clarithromycin (Biaxin). It's important to take all the medication, even after you start to feel better.