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Suggest Treatment For Severe Sore Throat And Productive Cough
Question: have had a severe sore throat for 48 hours, along with productive cough. No fever. Gargling with salt water helps, cepacol lozenges do not. How often can I gargle with salt water? When should I see a doctor? I am 75 years old, being treated for lymphoma. Past 2 and half years with Ibrutinib.
Brief Answer:
About gargling; also please go in to have throat swabbed to check for strep
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If your sore throat is severe, then do go in to have a throat swab done to check for strep throat. Usually with strep throat there is also a fever and swollen or tender neck glands. But not always.
It may be a viral infection, but given that you stated it is severe, it is a good idea just to check as strep throat requires antibiotics to treat it to prevent complications.
If you have no heart or high blood pressure problems where fluid retention from salt could cause trouble, it's reasonable to gargle with salt water up to once every hour. As some of the salt stays on your throat and does go down your esophagus and get absorbed, it's probably best not to exceed that although there really is no set guideline for this.
Here is one recipe for it although it sounds like you have a recipe that works for you:
1 tsp of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water.
Please don't gargle for at least 3 hours before going in to the doctor or urgent care clinic as you want whatever secretions are happening from the infection to be there for the throat swab, not washed away.
I hope this helps and you are feeling better soon!
About gargling; also please go in to have throat swabbed to check for strep
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
If your sore throat is severe, then do go in to have a throat swab done to check for strep throat. Usually with strep throat there is also a fever and swollen or tender neck glands. But not always.
It may be a viral infection, but given that you stated it is severe, it is a good idea just to check as strep throat requires antibiotics to treat it to prevent complications.
If you have no heart or high blood pressure problems where fluid retention from salt could cause trouble, it's reasonable to gargle with salt water up to once every hour. As some of the salt stays on your throat and does go down your esophagus and get absorbed, it's probably best not to exceed that although there really is no set guideline for this.
Here is one recipe for it although it sounds like you have a recipe that works for you:
1 tsp of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of warm water.
Please don't gargle for at least 3 hours before going in to the doctor or urgent care clinic as you want whatever secretions are happening from the infection to be there for the throat swab, not washed away.
I hope this helps and you are feeling better soon!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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