A cough and sore throat is an annoying part of life we all experience from time to time. It’s something you don’t think about much until it’s happening to you. Unfortunately, coughs and sore throats can affect people of all ages, health status, and location. If you’re suffering from a sore throat, follow this treatment guide to start feeling better ASAP!

What Causes a Cough or Sore Throat?

Coughs and sore throats can come from a variety of causes. The most common is a viral infection, like the cold or flu. Covid-19 is another viral infection that presents these symptoms. When a sore throat is caused by a viral infection, antibiotics won’t help.

Bacterial infections could also be to blame for your cough and sore throat. These types of infections, such as strep throat, are a type that your body can’t fight off naturally. Your symptoms will continue to worsen until prescription antibiotics cure the infection.

Sometimes, a cough and sore throat isn’t caused by an infection at all. Allergies that cause excess sinus drainage can result in throat irritation, as well as sleeping in a very dry environment.

Treating Your Cough or Sore Throat

The first step towards treating your cough and sore throat is determining the cause. Identify other symptoms, consider how long the symptoms have been present, and do some deductive reasoning. If your sore throat comes on suddenly, continues to get worse, or disrupts your daily routine, visit an urgent care center for proper testing and diagnosis. 

Take any medications prescribed for the full length of the prescription. In addition, there are some at home treatments you can use for symptom management including:

• Sleep with a humidifier 
• Drink warm liquids – some people see improvement from lemon and honey added to their drink 
• Get plenty of rest
• Take over the counter cough medication
• Use lozenges and sore throat spray
• Rest your throat as much as possible – avoid irritants like smoking and excessive talking

While a sore throat can’t always be prevented, you can take steps to lower your risk. Staying up to date on all your seasonal vaccines, including the flu and covid-19, lowers your risk of contracting a viral illness. Vaccines can be found at your local urgent care center with no appointment necessary! If you’re suffering from a sore throat or cough that isn’t responding to over the counter treatment, an urgent care center can help accurately diagnose the cause and provide prescription medication as needed.