Sore Throat and Swollen Glands

Being a singer, 'sore throat swollen glands' is one of the things I try to stay away from as much as possible. To be frank, a sore throat and swollen glands is something that each and every person experiences at least once a year. So, is preventing or avoiding it next to impossible? Not quite. The process of prevention and curing of a sore throat swollen glands can be boosted if you have basic knowledge of its causes, symptoms, etc. Let us have a look at all these points in the following sections of this article.

A person suffering from sore throat exhibits many different signs and symptoms and fever is one that is commonly observed. Another prominent sign is that of difficulty in swallowing. Pain is experienced in the throat and adjoining areas like ears. Development of blisters on tonsils is a condition that results from infection of Coxsackievirus. Swelling of lymph nodes occurs due to bacterial or viral infection; these nodes are bean-shaped and spread throughout the body in the neck, underarm, groin, etc. The condition in which these lymph nodes become swollen in more than two areas, is known as lymphadenopathy.

Causes of a Sore Throat
Following are some of the most common causes of sore throat:

• Viral infection
• Bacterial infection
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Pet allergies
• Tonsillitis
• Excessive shouting
• Fever
• Respiratory infection
• Excessive smoking
• Mouth or throat ulcers
• Common cold
• Ear infection
• Inhaling chemical fumes or excessively polluted air

Many a time, a sore throat is an indication or early symptom of an oncoming case of influenza. In such cases, recognizing the symptoms well in time can help in early treatment and thereby, early recovery. The term 'swollen glands' in the context of this article, refers to swelling of lymph nodes present in the neck. The possible causes for swelling of these lymph nodes include tuberculosis, dental problems, lymphoma, strep throat, and glandular fever in addition to all the above-mentioned causes of sore throat. Many a time, sore throat can be cured by making use of a few simple home remedies. However, in case of severely swollen glands, it is always recommended that you visit a doctor who would diagnose the exact problem and then prescribe the necessary medication.

Curing a Sore Throat and Swollen Glands
Let us have a look at some ways of lessening or curing the 'sore throat swollen glands' medical condition.

• Gargling: This is the most common sore throat remedy and one that is quite effective. You should add a pinch of salt and single drop of the Dettol antiseptic liquid to a large glass of warm (not boiling hot) water. Gargling three to four times a day can significantly reduce the amount of swelling and provide a certain amount of relief.
• Steam Inhalation: This is another simple solution commonly used for obtaining relief from a blocked nose as well as sore throat. You should cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam with both your nose and mouth. You should do this twice or thrice a day and each session should last a maximum of 15 minutes.
• Lozenges: Throat lozenges help in moistening the throat and in the process, help reduce the throat soreness and irritation. Lozenges are easily available across the counter in the form of chewable tablets in various flavors.
• Holy Basil Leaves: A medicinal potion made from water and holy basil leaves makes for a very effective herbal medicine for treating a sore throat. Boil a few holy basil leaves with a glass of water and allow it to cool so that the medicinal properties of holy basil leaves mix with water. After a while, filter the potion and drink it in doses of 2-3 teaspoons at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Cloves: Keep a couple of cloves in the corner of the mouth and let them remain that way for a few hours. Juices that are secreted from cloves help in reducing the soreness and providing relief.
• Allopathic Medication: If nothing works, you need to consult a doctor who can then prescribe the necessary medicines, tablets, syrups, etc. The medicines used for treating sore throats and swollen glands vary, depending on the cause of the problem. For example, the medicines prescribed for a viral infection would be different from those prescribed for treating an allergy. Therefore, visiting a doctor is important in such cases.

This was a short overview on sore throat swollen glands. Hope the information covers important and basic facts pertaining to this medication condition.