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Suggest Treatment For Throat Infection With Back Pain And Fever
Question: Hi Doctor,
I have got throat infection for past 2-3 days. It started with back pain 2 days back and I had fever with around 99. I was taking some home remedies like ginger with honey , which had some respite. I checked my fever it is 100 now. When I cough, I feel pain.
I took paracetamol in morning today and one .in yesteday night.
I have some tabs as sinnarest at home, please advise if I can take them as antibiotic.
Thanks,
XXXX
I have got throat infection for past 2-3 days. It started with back pain 2 days back and I had fever with around 99. I was taking some home remedies like ginger with honey , which had some respite. I checked my fever it is 100 now. When I cough, I feel pain.
I took paracetamol in morning today and one .in yesteday night.
I have some tabs as sinnarest at home, please advise if I can take them as antibiotic.
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Sinnarest is not an antibiotic.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I see the symptoms that you have listed. It really sounds that you might have pharyngitis. That means inflammation and infection of the upper airway.
Now the CAUSE of the infection can be from a Viral infection or from a bacterial infection, or from a viral infection that got doubly infected from bacteria.
The reason i even bring this up is because ANY antibiotic (like augmentin, cipro, levaquin, whathaveyou) will NOT work on a viral infection. They only work on bacterial infections.
So how does one make sure that YOU the patient are not going to be taking antibiotics for a viral infection and exposing yourself to these drugs for no gain.
The way we do that is we have a rule of thumb based on the natural behaviour of viruses and bacteria.
A Viral infection is normally eliminated from the body on its own within 5-7 days of the infection starting off. A bacterial infection on the other hand has no such limit.
So what i would suggest is that you wait until you have suffered for about a week. During this period, treat the throat just as you have before. I recommend doing salt water gargles and I also recommend gargling crushed asprin (disprin) with hot water (do not swallow). The Asprin will bring down the throat pain.
When the week is up, you will need to go to a doctor to get a prescription for antibiotics. In your situation, I would recommend a course of levaquin. Something like 500mg twice a day for 5 days. But i can't give you the prescription unless i examine you personally. So when that time comes, you will have to be seen by a doc. Make sense?
I hope this makes sense and helps you understand what is going on. Feel free to follow-up.
Vinay
Sinnarest is not an antibiotic.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. I see the symptoms that you have listed. It really sounds that you might have pharyngitis. That means inflammation and infection of the upper airway.
Now the CAUSE of the infection can be from a Viral infection or from a bacterial infection, or from a viral infection that got doubly infected from bacteria.
The reason i even bring this up is because ANY antibiotic (like augmentin, cipro, levaquin, whathaveyou) will NOT work on a viral infection. They only work on bacterial infections.
So how does one make sure that YOU the patient are not going to be taking antibiotics for a viral infection and exposing yourself to these drugs for no gain.
The way we do that is we have a rule of thumb based on the natural behaviour of viruses and bacteria.
A Viral infection is normally eliminated from the body on its own within 5-7 days of the infection starting off. A bacterial infection on the other hand has no such limit.
So what i would suggest is that you wait until you have suffered for about a week. During this period, treat the throat just as you have before. I recommend doing salt water gargles and I also recommend gargling crushed asprin (disprin) with hot water (do not swallow). The Asprin will bring down the throat pain.
When the week is up, you will need to go to a doctor to get a prescription for antibiotics. In your situation, I would recommend a course of levaquin. Something like 500mg twice a day for 5 days. But i can't give you the prescription unless i examine you personally. So when that time comes, you will have to be seen by a doc. Make sense?
I hope this makes sense and helps you understand what is going on. Feel free to follow-up.
Vinay
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doctor,
Thanks for your advise. Should I continue taking Paracetamol 2 times a day along with gargles, because I am having fever which is persistent around 99 or 99.5.
Thanks,
XXXX
Thanks for your advise. Should I continue taking Paracetamol 2 times a day along with gargles, because I am having fever which is persistent around 99 or 99.5.
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You can take Paracetamol for temp greater than 101
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Paracetamol is a pretty safe drug, but i don't consider anything lower than 101 as having a fever. So you can wait and watch your temp and see if the dug is really needed or not.
Vinay
You can take Paracetamol for temp greater than 101
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Paracetamol is a pretty safe drug, but i don't consider anything lower than 101 as having a fever. So you can wait and watch your temp and see if the dug is really needed or not.
Vinay
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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