Treatment options
Treatment options
Most sore throats are self-limiting and 90 per cent of patients feel better or improve within one week of the onset of symptoms, whatever the cause and with or without antibiotics. NICE states that “antibiotics make little difference to how long symptoms last or the number of people whose symptoms improve”.
Pharmacists can offer symptomatic treatment to provide some relief from discomfort and pain until the infection subsides. Oral analgesics are the first-line option and recommended for all patients, even those given antibiotics.
A systematic review of clinical trials found that simple analgesics (paracetamol and ibuprofen) are very effective at reducing the pain from sore throat. Some medicated lozenges and pastilles have a soothing effect.
NICE states that “medicated lozenges containing benzocaine, hexylresorcinol or flurbiprofen may help to reduce pain in adults”. There is also some evidence that benzydamine spray is effective for sore throat pain.
Antibiotics are indicated in a small proportion of sore throats and have been shown to reduce the duration of symptoms by an average of just 16 hours.