Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome TreatmentCausesCauses With FeverPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Treatment
Causes
Causes With Fever
Prevention
Asore throatis a scratchy or tender sensation in the throat that may worsen when swallowing or talking. Acoughis your body’s way of clearing mucus (“wet”) or other irritants like dust (“dry”) from your throat and lungs.
Sore throat and cough may occur together, such as with a cold or COVID-19 infection. Noninfectious factors, like allergies, may also cause a sore throat and cough.
This article will discuss the health conditions associated with a sore throat and cough and ways to relieve such symptoms at home. Strategies for preventing sore throat and cough will also be reviewed.
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Home Treatment for Sore Throat and Cough
Sore Throat Remedies
Simple at-homeremedies to soothe a sore throatinclude:
Talk With a Healthcare ProviderNSAIDs and Tylenol are generally safe and well-tolerated medications. That said, speak with a healthcare provider before starting one, as they may interact with other medicines or, in some cases, cause harm.Do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicationsto anyone under 19.
Talk With a Healthcare Provider
NSAIDs and Tylenol are generally safe and well-tolerated medications. That said, speak with a healthcare provider before starting one, as they may interact with other medicines or, in some cases, cause harm.Do not give aspirin or aspirin-containing medicationsto anyone under 19.
Sometimes, you may need a prescription or other OTC medications to treat the underlying cause of your sore throat.
For example, you can ease an allergy-related sore throat with the OTC steroid nasal spray Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate) or anantihistaminelike Zyrtec (cetirizine).
As with OTC pain relievers, speaking with a healthcare professional before starting a new drug is essential. You want to ensure the drug is safe and appropriate for your care.
Cough Remedies
Home treatments to help relieve cough include:
Over-the-Counter Cough Medicines: A Complete Guide
Depending on the root cause of your cough, you may require a prescription or different OTC medicine. For example, a healthcare provider may treat a chronic, dry cough from acid reflux with an OTC antacid (e.g., Tums), an H2 blocker like Pepcid (famotidine), ora proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec (omeprazole).
What About Children?
Speak with a pediatrician if your child is experiencing a sore throat and cough. The above remedies may not be suitable for them.
Note that the NSAID aspirin should be avoided in kids under 19, as it’s linked to a potentially fatal condition known asReye’s syndrome.
Likewise, OTC cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under age 6, as they can cause side effects.
Due to choking risk, avoid giving children younger than 6 throat lozenges. Children in this age range also cannot be expected to gargle saltwater properly.
Parents should also not give honey to babies younger than 12 months due to the potential risk ofbotulism, a serious nervous system condition.
What Causes a Sore Throat and Cough?
Viral infectionsare the most common cause of sore throat and cough. The virus invades the throat tissue, inflaming it and causing swelling, redness, and pain.The offending virus can also infect the cells lining the air passages, leading to excess mucus production and subsequent airway obstruction and cough.
Also, viral infections causepostnasal drip—when excess mucus from the nose and sinuses drips down the throat—contributing to sore throat and cough.
Viral infections associated with a sore throat and cough are:
Test and Stay Home If PositiveIf you have a sore throat and cough, you should consider gettingtested for COVID-19and other respiratory illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if you have symptoms like a sore throat or fever, you should stay home and away from others until your symptoms improve for 24 hours. After that, you should continue to practice precautions for at least five days.
Test and Stay Home If Positive
If you have a sore throat and cough, you should consider gettingtested for COVID-19and other respiratory illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if you have symptoms like a sore throat or fever, you should stay home and away from others until your symptoms improve for 24 hours. After that, you should continue to practice precautions for at least five days.
Two common noninfectious causes of a sore throat and cough are:
When GERD Causes Persistent Cough
Sore Throat, Fever, and Possible Cough
Causes of sore throat, fever, and a possible or rare cough include:
See a healthcare professional if you think you may have the flu or strep throat.
With the flu, a healthcare provider may prescribe you an antiviral drug, such asTamiflu (oseltamivir), depending on your risk level. Strep throat requires treatment with an antibiotic, typically Amoxil (amoxicillin).
Presence of Cough Helps Distinguish a Cold From Strep ThroatA sore throat with a cough and runny nose suggests a viral infection, like the common cold, over strep throat, in which the presence of a cough is rare.
Presence of Cough Helps Distinguish a Cold From Strep Throat
A sore throat with a cough and runny nose suggests a viral infection, like the common cold, over strep throat, in which the presence of a cough is rare.
How to Prevent Sore Throat and Cough
Bacterial and viral causes of sore throat and cough are contagious, transmitted mainly through contaminated droplets made when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Less often, touching a contaminated surface or object transmits the infection.
The good news is that frequenthandwashing, not touching your face, and disinfecting often-used home, work, and school surfaces are highly effective strategies for preventing the spread of strep throat and viral infections.
Boosting your immunity through various lifestyle strategies is also helpful. Some of these strategies include:
12 Tips on How to Prevent Infectious Diseases
If your sore throat and cough are from a noninfectious cause like allergies, you should see anallergist(a doctor specializing in allergic diseases).
An allergist can help you identify specificallergens(substances that trigger an allergic reaction). You then formulate a plan with the allergist to minimize or avoid exposure to the allergens you are reacting to.
If GERD is the underlying cause, a primary care provider orgastroenterologist(a doctor who treats digestive tract diseases) may recommend weight loss if you are overweight or have obesity.
Sometimes, other preventive strategies are advised, like elevating the head of your bed at night or not eating two to three hours before bedtime.
Summary
Sore throat and cough are common symptoms that, when seen together, often indicate a viral infection like a cold or COVID-19 infection or a non-infectious cause like allergies and acid reflux.
You can treat most viral causes of sore throat and cough with OTC medication or home remedies like sipping warm tea with honey or placing a humidifier in the bedroom. Examples of strategies to prevent infection include proper handwashing, ensuring updated vaccination, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
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