Viral Throat Infection

A throat infection, in most cases, is actually a sore throat, that is commonly caused by a virus. A viral throat infection does not require any medical treatment, and it resolves on its own. However, one that is caused by a bacterium, is uncommon and usually requires the treatment using antibiotics.

Symptoms
Common symptoms include swelling or inflammation of the throat, difficulty and pain while swallowing food (in worst cases, water) and dry throat. These may be accompanied by a scratchy sensation in the throat, red tonsils (which may be swollen too), hoarseness in the voice and poor feeding in infants and toddlers. In some people, white spots on the tonsils may also be a common symptom of a viral throat infection.

Now the causal pathogen of the throat infection may give rise to additional symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, chills, headaches and body aches. Apart from poor feeding,such an infection in babies may also cause them to sneeze or vomit more than usual.

Causes
As it can be inferred from the name itself, the infection is caused by a virus. Now this pathogen could be a virus of influenza, common cold, measles, chickenpox, mononucleosis and croup. So it can be said that the throat infection is an aftermath or more appropriately, a symptom of these primary infections.

Is Viral Throat Infection Contagious?
The pathogen that causes the infection is contagious. The infection does not last longer than a week. The virus has to run its course, and the condition will resolve on its own. However, if the symptoms seem to persist or worsen over time, then there are chances that the person has developed a bacterial throat infection.

Treatment Options
Antibiotics come of no help when it comes to dealing with a viral infection. All you have to do is to follow some simple self-care measures at home and keep yourself comfortable. However, for dealing with the pain, you can get over-the-counter pain relievers. It is important to keep your body hydrated at all times. For this you need to drink at least 8-9 glasses of water daily. Drinking soups, milkshakes, ice lollies, caffeine-free tea, warm water with honey, etc, also help.

It is also beneficial if you can avoid irritants which can aggravate your symptoms further. Try to keep away from smoky and dusty atmosphere. While you are recovering and you have to go out, cover your nose and mouth if you come across a polluted place.

Gargling with warm salt water provides a great deal of relief to the aching throat. Simply mix a table salt of common salt in 8 ounces of warm water and gargle several times a day. Do not swallow the solution, but spit it out. Using cold-air humidifiers help in soothing the symptoms like dry throat, runny nose, etc.

Inculcating good hygiene in daily life, helps in keeping ailments such as throat infections at bay. Before eating or after having used the toilet, always make a conscious effort to thoroughly clean your hands with soap and water. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers is a smart choice when there is no scope of hand washing. It is also considered an important part of smart hygiene to clean telephones, keyboards, etc., using sanitizers. And to conclude, if you are sick, then cover your mouth when you feel the need to sneeze or cough.