service / Sore Throat

It only takes a mild sore throat to slow you down, and when it’s severe, you can’t even swallow soothing liquids. When your sore throat is severe or doesn’t improve, don’t wait to see the compassionate providers at First Care Bossier in Bossier City and Stonewall, Louisiana. They quickly determine the cause of your sore throat and create a treatment plan to ease your pain. Whether you need urgent care or want to schedule an appointment, request a visit online or call the nearest office.

What causes a sore throat?

The causes of a sore throat include:

Viral infection

Viral infections, the top cause of sore throats, typically begin as the common cold or flu. This type of sore throat affects people of all ages.

Strep throat

Strep throat is a highly contagious bacterial infection. While it can develop in adults, it most often appears in children. Strep infections account for 20-30% of sore throats in school-aged children.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis refers to inflammation of your child’s tonsils. While most cases of tonsillitis develop from a viral infection, your child could also have a bacterial infection.

Infectious mononucleosis

Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, infectious mononucleosis primarily affects children. In addition to fatigue, infectious mononucleosis often causes a sore throat.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Like many sore throats, this type may appear in older children and adults but most often occurs in children under the age of five. The early signs include a sore throat, fever, and mouth pain. These symptoms are followed by a rash on their hands, feet, buttocks, and around the mouth.

What symptoms develop along with a sore throat?

Depending on the underlying cause of the sore throat, you or your child may experience additional symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Cough
• Headache
• Skin rash
• Bad breath
• Runny nose
• Swollen glands
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle aches
• Blisters in the throat
• Red swollen tonsils
• Difficulty swallowing

If the problem is tonsillitis, your child may have white spots on their throat or tonsils.

How is a sore throat treated?

If your child has a sore throat, you should bring them in to see a First Care Bossier provider if their pain doesn’t improve throughout the day, they’re not drinking fluids, or they also have a fever, headache, stomach ache, or drooling.

Your provider runs on-site lab tests as needed to verify the type of infection, then determines the best treatment based on the underlying cause. Viral infections need to run their course, so your provider recommends medications to ease the symptoms. Bacterial infections generally respond to antibiotics.

Don’t wait too long to get treatment for a sore throat. Call First Care Bossier, or book an appointment online today.