Posted on 9th Jul 2024
Have you ever had that feeling where your throat felt scratchy or dry, or you had difficulty swallowing? An ailment called pharyngitis, commonly referred to as a throat infection would explain this discomfort. This condition is commonly caused due to bacterial and viral infections like regular colds and flu. The throat tends to irritate and hurt in case of an infection. In most cases, throat infections are of mild intensity and heal on their own within a week, without the need for medical treatment. People from all age groups face the issue of throat infection frequently in their lives.
Viral Infections: Common cold, and Influenza i.e., flu, are some common health conditions that cause viral throat infections
Bacterial Infections: Infections like strep throat are caused by exposure to a contagious bacteria like Streptococcus pyogenes, This bacterium causes throat inflammation and irritation.
External Factors: Dry and dusty air with pollutants, smog, and passive smoking can cause sore throat infections.
Allergies: When an individual comes in contact with allergens like dust, mold, chemical fumigators, or pollen, our body’s defense mechanism kicks in by deploying an inflammatory response which leads to symptoms of throat infections.
Throat Pain while Swallowing: Discomfort while eating or even drinking liquids.
Hoarse Voice: Loss of Speech or speaking with great difficulty.
Dry Cough: Dry cough occurs when the cough does not bring out phlegm or mucus. It causes irritation in the throat.
Swollen Lymph Nodes or Neck Glands: Red and inflamed swelling in the rear end of the mouth can be an indication of sore throat.
Fever: Fever, rise in body temperature and fatigue can occur with viral throat infections
Though throat infection can cause extreme discomfort and pain, in most cases, it is harmless and can be cured with the help of home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Let us take a look at a few effective remedies for throat infection.
Rest and Recovery: Giving your body adequate rest in the form of sleep or putting less strain on your vocal cords (larynx) is vital. A healthy sleep restores the body’ immunity levels to an optimal range, which is needed to combat the infections festering in your body.
Steam Inhalation: Inhaling steam is a simple and effective natural home remedy as it instantly provides a soothing effect on your throat by loosening up the phlegm and mucus blocking your respiratory system. It also improves the blood circulation of the area which helps in flushing away pollutants and other irritants.
Honey: Honey is a widely used remedy to alleviate the discomfort relating to sore throat infections. Honey’s antioxidant properties and antimicrobial effectiveness helps in easing irritation and reducing throat inflammation.
Staying Hydrated: One should consume plenty of water, preferably warm, as water acts as a lubricant for the throat and the warmth improves blood circulation that flushes away the toxins from the area.
Saltwater Gargling: This is a widely used form of home remedy for throat infections. Gargling with lukewarm water and a pinch of salt can actively soothe the throat, as salt attacks harmful bacteria in the throat & helps reduce the inflammation and irritation. It also clears congestion such as mucus and other irritants,. Baking soda - Just like salt, baking soda also inhibits growth of bacteria and helps flush off the microbes in the throat, thus treating throat infections.
Soothing Foods and Herbal Teas: Consuming soothing foods like soups, warm pureed foods, cereal, and broths which can be effortlessly swallowed is an easy and effective home remedy. Lemon, Mint, Honey, Cinnamon, and Chamomile infused teas are herbal concoctions that contain antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory elements. These can serve as a potent remedy to treat throat infections.
Gargling with warm salt water is a health & hygiene practice to clear out toxins and to provide a soothing, painless treatment against mild-moderate throat infections. However, the use of medicated gargling solutions like Cofsils Experdine Gargle aids in flushing out various forms of harmful viral and bacterial irritants, and allergens, thus allowing instant relief.
Cofsils Experdine Gargle by Cipla is a scientifically formulated gargling solution that provides quick relief from a wide range of throat infections. This gargling medicine contains povidone-iodine which acts by eliminating 99.4% of the germs and provides instant relief within 30 seconds through its 3-fold action i.e., anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. One can obtain relief from viral and bacterial throat infections such as tonsillitis and laryngitis.