Tonsillitis

What causes sore throats?

Sore throats can be caused by many things. Viruses (like those that cause colds) can lead to a sore throat. Bacteria can also cause a sore throat, as can smoking, breathing polluted air, drinking alcohol, and hay fever and other allergies.

What is tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis means swelling of the tonsils (at the back of your mouth on each side of your throat). It can cause a sore throat and other symptoms. Signs of strep throat and tonsillitis are often alike (see the box below). Tonsillitis is usually caused by bacteria, though sometimes a virus may be involved.

Symptoms of tonsillitis or strep throat

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• White patches in your throat or on your tonsils
• Pain when you swallow
• Swollen, red tonsils
• Sore glands in your jaw and throat

Natural Prescription For Sore Throat

• Zinc lozenges--each lozenge containing about 23 mg. of zinc--can be taken every four hours. Do not use these lozenges for more than a week.
• Gargle with a mixture of half water and half hydrogen peroxide to help fight infection. Do not swallow this mixture,
• Gargle with crushed aspirin mixed with water to relieve pain,
• Drink warm tea with honey. Use an herbal or decaffeinated tea. Alternatively, you can also sip warm water with honey and lemon,
• If your room is very dry, use a humidifier.
• If you suffer from recurrent sore throats, try changing your toothbrush frequently.
• If you suffer from recurring sore throats, particularly ones associated with ear infections, investigate the possibility of a milk or other food allergy.
• If you suffer from recurring sore throats that are worse in the morning but disappear as the day goes on, you could have some form of hay fever.