Complications of a Sore Throat
Everyone has experienced the occasional sore throat. Often a sign that an illness is developing, a sore throat is usually harmless. The complications depend on the illness causing it.
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Signs of Infection
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If you develop a sore throat along with a rash, headache, fever and swollen tonsils, it's likely a sign of a more serious infection like tonsillitis or strep throat.
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Strep Throat
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A bacterial infection, untreated strep throat can lead to complications like sinusitis and ear infections. It may also contribute to kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever.
Mononucleosis
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Untreated mononucleosis can lead to sore throat complications that include anemia, hepatitis and nerve damage. Besides a sore throat, signs of mononucleosis include fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and night sweats.
Treatment
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Your physician may prescribe an antibiotic to treat a sore throat caused by bacteria. Sore throats caused by viruses are usually not treated and allowed to resolve on their own.
Considerations
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After your sore throat has healed, replace your toothbrush. This prevents reinfection.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "I've got a horrible ulcer in my throat!" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: eyesnightclosed under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
