Sore throat: symptoms and causes

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.

How to treat a sore throat yourself

To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can:

gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
drink plenty of water
eat cool or soft foods
avoid smoking or smoky places
suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
rest

How to gargle with salt water

Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water (warm water helps salt dissolve).
Gargle with the solution, then spit it out (do not swallow it).

Treatments that may help a sore throat

You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:

paracetamol or ibuprofen
medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help when used on their own)

You can buy these treatments from a supermarket or pharmacy without a prescription.

Some medicines are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.

Antibiotics

You do not normally need antibiotics for a sore throat because they will not usually relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

You'll only be given antibiotics by a pharmacist or GP if you could have a bacterial infection.

See a pharmacist if:

you need help for a sore throat
your child is aged 5 years or over and needs help for a sore throat

A pharmacist can give the same antibiotic treatment as a GP for a sore throat, if you need it. They can also give advice or direct you to other medical help.

See a GP if:

your child aged under 5 years needs help for a sore throat
you or your child's sore throat does not improve after a week
you often get a sore throat
you have a sore throat and symptoms like a lump in your mouth or neck, or a mouth ulcer that lasts for more than 3 weeks

Call 112 or go to A&E now if:

You or your child:

have difficulty breathing or are unable to swallow
are drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe (called stridor)
have severe symptoms and are getting worse quickly

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.