The Skinny on Sore Throats

A study published in the medical journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine noted that honey has antimicrobial properties and it helped improve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, providing a widely available and cheap alternative to antibiotics.

Note: Health Canada warns: “Only give honey to healthy children over one year of age.”

Is it viral or bacterial?

If you do get hit with a sore throat, it may be difficult to tell whether it’s a viral or a bacterial infection, although about 90 percent of throat infections are caused by a virus.

“They may present very similarly,” Alibhai says. However, a bacterial infection may generally be more painful than a viral infection. Sometimes, antibiotics are necessary.

“Viral infection tends to be accompanied with other symptoms such as runny nose and cough, while, if it’s bacterial, it may feel more severe, with fever and swollen lymph nodes,” Alibhai says. “Strep throat is a common bacterial infection, which requires a swab and may require antibiotics for treatment. Discuss this with your doctor.”

“Most cases of sore throat will resolve on their own with home care; however, see your doctor if the sore throat is severe and is accompanied by a fever that lasts more than two days, your lymph nodes are very swollen, you see white or red patches on your tonsils, or you get a rash,” Alibhai adds.

Zinc to the rescue

Zinc gluconate lozenges might help alleviate throat soreness. A large 2024 review study published in the Cochrane Database System Review examined 34 studies involving more than 8,500 participants who took zinc lozenges. The findings suggested that zinc supplementation may shorten the duration of the common cold, including the symptoms of a sore throat.

Of course, the best thing is to avoid contracting a sore throat in the first place. Eat a diet full of healthy whole foods and get plenty of exercise and sleep to support a healthy immune system.

And, as Alibhai says, “Practise good hygiene to prevent getting sick. Wash your hands frequently. Good hygiene helps keep the immune system in check.”

The hidden dangers of antibiotics

When it comes to sore throats, antibiotics should only be used when a bacterial infection has been accurately diagnosed following a throat swab. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Antibiotics aren’t risk free: side effects can include rash, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, or yeast infections. More serious side effects include Clostridioides diffcile infection (also known as C. diffcile or C. diff), which causes diarrhea that can lead to severe colon damage. In children, reactions from antibiotics are the most common cause of medication-related emergency department visits.

Most importantly, unnecessarily taking antibiotics or not taking them as prescribed when they are needed, can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is when bacteria no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them. According to the World Health Organization, “… bacterial antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019.”

Natural remedies for sore throats

Foods to soothe sore throats

You may need to adjust your diet when a sore throat strikes.

Some people avoid dairy as it may thicken mucus production. Beware of drinks that are overly hot, which can irritate an already irritated throat.

This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of alive magazine.