Sore Throat
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts you can:
- gargle with warm salty water (children shouldn't try this)
- drink plenty of water – but avoid hot drinks
- eat cool or soft foods
- avoid smoking or smoky places
- suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but don't give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
- rest
See your local pharmacy for treatment options such as pain relief and soothing lozenges.
Antibiotics
GPs don't normally prescribe antibiotics for sore throats because they won't usually relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
They'll only be prescribed if your GP thinks you could have a bacterial infection.