Sore throat refers to an irritation, scratchiness or pain in the throat that usually gets worse on swallowing in most cases. Sore throat can result due to various reasons. These may include infectious as well as non-infectious causes. Infectious cause mainly includes infections that can be viral or bacterial infections. Common viral infections include common cold and flu. Bacterial infections can also lead to sore throat like strep throat. Strep throat is a throat infection that is caused by streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. In such cases, white patches or pus pints appear on the tonsils. Strep throat needs immediate medical treatment because it carries a risk of complications if left untreated. These complications include abscess (pus collection) around the tonsils called quinsy or peritonsillar abscess, inflammation of the kidneys, joint pains, and damage to the heart valve.
Non-infectious causes include allergies, yelling, prolonged singing, GERD, irritation from chemicals or smoking. In cases of infection, fever may occur along with its other signs and symptoms that include pain in the throat, throat irritation, dryness, burning sensation in the throat, redness, and swelling in the throat. Other attending symptoms could include cough, voice hoarseness, runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, body aches, weakness, headache and loss of appetite. Sore throat is referred to as pharyngitis when swelling occurs in the throat, tonsillitis when swelling appears in the tonsils and laryngitis when there is swelling in the larynx i.e. voice box.
Homeopathic Management
Homeopathy is very effective in managing fever with sore throat with the use of natural remedies. These medicines are entirely safe to use as they are prepared from naturally occurring substances. They have zero side effects. Homeopathic medicines help magnificently in managing this concern by boosting the body’s natural healing mechanism to fight with the infection and aid natural recovery. Along with fever, other associated symptoms like pain in the throat, irritation / dryness in the throat, body aches, runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing are also managed well wonderfully with these medicines. Homeopathic medicines are selected for every individual case separately after detailed case evaluation. So one must take homeopathic medicines under supervision of a homeopath and avoid self-medication. Homeopathic medicines are recommended only for cases of mild to moderate fever. In case of high fever help from conventional mode of treatment should be taken. Also in cases of strep throat, help from conventional mode of treatment should be taken. Homeopathy can be taken along with conventional treatment in such cases but individual use of homeopathic medicines should be avoided in strep throat.
Homeopathic Medicines For Fever With Sore Throat
1. Belladonna – Top Grade Medicine
Belladonna is a top recommended medicine to manage fever along with sore throat. In cases needing it, there is intense burning heat over the entire body due to fever and is most marked on the face and the head. The face looks red. There is anxiety and restlessness. The heat stage is followed by a cold stage in most cases requiring Belladonna. The throat looks bright red and is very dry. The tonsils are also bright red. There is marked pain in the throat which gets worse on swallowing especially while consuming liquids as compared to solid food. Heated sensation is felt in the throat. Constriction is also felt in the throat. Dry, short and tickling cough can attend to it. Cough is worse at night. Belladonna is indicated for all types of sore throat cases including pharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis.
2. Hepar Sulph – For Fever With Chills And Shivering
This medicine is indicated for fever with sore throat when chills are marked along with shivering. Chilliness is felt from the slightest draft of air with a desire to be covered. During chills, soreness is felt in all the limbs. Weakness is also marked. Chills alternate with the heat stage. In the heat stage, one feels headache and becomes increasingly thirsty. Dry heat occurs at night with sweating on the hands. There is redness inside the throat with enlarged red follicles on it. The tonsils are also red and swollen. There is pain in the throat on swallowing. Stitching type of pain occurs in the throat that tends to extend to the ears. A sensation of plug of mucus or a splinter (a small sharp piece of glass or wood broken form a large piece) is felt in the throat. Hawking of yellow mucus may attend. Loose cough with thick yellow mucus expectoration can be present in addition to the above complaints.
3. Ferrum Phos – For Initial Stage Of Fever
This medicine is highly suitable in initial stages of fever with sore throat. General heat is felt in the body with a little thirst. Heat is accompanied with sweating on the palm of hands. The cheeks are red. There is sore throat along with cold. There is dryness and redness of the pharynx, tonsils and the palate attended with pain. The tonsils are red, swollen and red mainly on the right side. Ulcers can be present in the throat. There is fetid breath along with the above complaints. Excessive mucus is also felt in the throat.
4. Aconite – When Cold Stage Of Fever Predominates
Aconite is of great help when the cold stage is predominant during all the stages of fever. Marked chilliness is felt with chills running down the back. Excessive restlessness is felt along with fever. Chilliness alternates with heat. Heated sensation is marked in the mouth, nose, eyelids, throat and palms. The face is red. There is excessive thirst during fever. The throat and tonsils look dark red. Burning and stinging pains are felt in the throat. At times, prickling sensation is felt in the throat. There is dryness in the throat with a feeling as if something is stuck in the throat. There is difficulty in swallowing. Voice becomes hoarse. There is pain in the throat while talking. The throat feels constricted leading to hawking and sometimes vomiting.
5. Merc Sol – With Alternate Heat And Shivering And Excessive Sweating
This medicine is useful when heat alternates with shivering and excessive sweating. The hands and feet are constantly cold. Weakness is present along with chilliness. There is profuse sweating that has an offensive smell. Excessive sweat does not relieve the suffering. On examining the throat, the tonsils look red, swollen and enlarged. Ulcers or whitish spots are visible on the tonsils. The uvula is enlarged and swollen. There is a feeling of something hanging in the throat. There is pain in the throat radiating to the ears while swallowing. There is excessive salivation in the mouth along with the above complaints. An offensive smell occurs from the mouth.
6. Arsenic Album – For Fever With Anxiety And Restlessness
Arsenic Album is an effective medicine to manage fever along with anxiety and restlessness. Internal chill is felt with external heat or vice versa where this medicine is required. Fever usually occurs at night. Intense exhaustion is felt along with fever. There is sore throat which is relieved from consuming warm drinks. Throat is painful with dryness and burning sensation. Cold can also be there. In such cases, watery discharge flows from the nose. Nose feels stuffed. Burning and itching are felt in the nose. Sneezing accompanies the above complaints.
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