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What Causes Persistent Sore Throat And Occasional Yellowish Phlegm?

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Posted on Sat, 4 Jun 2016
Question: My throat has been sore for a few weeks on and off. A yellowish brownish cold comes up occasionally. Its accompanied by cold symptoms.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Possible chronic strep throat infection. Do gargles with salt.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for using HCM to post your health query.

Looks like your tonsils are infected.
You will need to understand what is the germ that is causing the pain.
It may be strep throat, a viral or it may be just food stacked in the folds of the tonsils that irritates the throat and that causes the pain.

To be able to understand this you need to do a throat culture.
It will tell if you will need to use an antibiotic or not.

Meanwhile, do garlges with salt 3 times/day if possible, use sore throat losenges, and if it happens that you start having fever and swollen glands without cough, then you need to use an antibiotic according the throat culture. Gargles will help you disinfect the tonsils, and also clear the food/pus that is stacked in the tonsil folds.

If worse or not better, I would recommend seeing a local doctor. You will need to see him anyway, because you will need a prescription for the antibiotic.

Hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications.
Otherwise please close and rate the answer.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (39 minutes later)
T this is a cleaer pictur
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Still a throat culture is the next best step to do.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

I watched carefully your picture.
The white stuff on the tonisils folds and the fact that they are swollen is not a good sign, thats why you have pain.

As I said in my previous answer, you will need a throat culture so can decide what is the best treatment.
If it is a bacterial infection, which is the bacteria and what antibiotic is best to treat it.
If it is a fungal infection, what can it be treated with.
If it is just food remains, it can be removed only by gargles, but this last option is very unlikely.

So these are my thoughts. You can do the throat culture and upload it for me here to have a look at it and tell your the treatment. Or you can go to your local doctor and show it to them.
But what I can tell you for sure is that next step is the throat culture.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Klarida Papaqako (13 hours later)
How do i do the throat culture
doctor
Answered by Dr. Klarida Papaqako (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your doctor or a nurse will instruct you or take material themselves for it

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

You should go to your family doctor who will look at your throat and suggest for you to do the throat culture. He/she or a nurse will take some white material from your throat and will use it to do the culture. The tool that will be used to take the material will need to be sterile and aseptic precautions need to be followed so that the sample wont get contaminated from the surroundings. That is why your doctor will need to do the procedure. It is fast, and painless.

Please feel free to consult with me the result if you wish.

If you don't have anymore questions please kindly close and rate the question.

Regards,
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Klarida Papaqako

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1803 Questions

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What Causes Persistent Sore Throat And Occasional Yellowish Phlegm?

Brief Answer: Possible chronic strep throat infection. Do gargles with salt. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for using HCM to post your health query. Looks like your tonsils are infected. You will need to understand what is the germ that is causing the pain. It may be strep throat, a viral or it may be just food stacked in the folds of the tonsils that irritates the throat and that causes the pain. To be able to understand this you need to do a throat culture. It will tell if you will need to use an antibiotic or not. Meanwhile, do garlges with salt 3 times/day if possible, use sore throat losenges, and if it happens that you start having fever and swollen glands without cough, then you need to use an antibiotic according the throat culture. Gargles will help you disinfect the tonsils, and also clear the food/pus that is stacked in the tonsil folds. If worse or not better, I would recommend seeing a local doctor. You will need to see him anyway, because you will need a prescription for the antibiotic. Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please close and rate the answer. Regards, Dr. Papaqako