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 cure of a sore throat swollen glands can be boosted if you have a certain amount of basic knowledge about its causes, symptoms, etc. Let us have a look at all these points in the following sections of this article.

Causes of a Sore Throat
The following are some of the most common causes of a 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 an early symptom of an oncoming case of influenza. In such cases, recognizing such symptoms well in time can help in early treatment and early recovery. The term 'swollen glands' in the context of this article, refers to swelling of the lymph nodes present in the neck. Possible causes for swelling of these lymph nodes include tuberculosis, dental problems, lymphoma, strep throat, glandular fever in addition to all of the above-mentioned sore throat causes. Many a time, a 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 will diagnose the exact problem and will then prescribe the necessary medication to be taken.

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 when it comes to treating a sore throat. You should add a pinch of salt and one drop of 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 can provide a certain amount of relief.
• Steam Inhalation: This is another simple solution which is commonly used for getting relief from a blocked nose as well as a sore throat. You should cover your head with a towel and inhale steam with both your nose and your 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 in reducing 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 the holy basil leaves mix with the water. After a while, filter the potion and drink it in doses of two to three teaspoons at regular intervals throughout the day.
• Cloves: Keep a couple of cloves in the corner of your mouth and let them remain that way for a few hours. The juices that are secreted from the cloves help in reducing the soreness and provide relief.
• Allopathic Medication: If nothing works, you should consult a doctor who can then prescribe the necessary medicines, tablets, syrups, etc. The medicines used to treat sore throats and swollen glands vary depending on the cause of the problem. For example, the medicines prescribed for a viral infection will be different from those prescribed to treat an allergy. Therefore, visiting a doctor is important in such cases.

This was a short overview on sore throat swollen glands. Here is some more information on sore throat cure and antibiotics for strep throat for your benefit.