Epidemiology of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis among Inpatients ...

Sore Throat Prototype

Causes of a Sore Throat

There are several causes of a sore throat.

Viral Infection

The majority of sore throats are triggered by a viral infection. These are infections caused by a virus, such as the cold and flu.

Other types of viral infections include:

mononucleosis: infectious disease typically transmitted through saliva

measles: contagious illnesses characterized by a distinct rash and fever

chickenpox: infection that causes skin sores

croup: infection of the larynx

Bacterial Infection

A bacterial infection can also cause a sore throat. These types of infections include:

strep throat: inflammation of the throat caused by the Streptococcal bacteria

diphtheria: infectious disease that causes throat inflammation

whooping cough: disease of the respiratory mucous membrane

Environmental Factors

Not all sore throats are viral or bacterial. There are several other causes of throat pain. If you're allergic to mold, pet dander, pollen, or other irritants, exposure to these allergens can trigger post-nasal drip. This is when excess mucus accumulates in the back of your throat. This accumulation can irritate your throat and cause pain or inflammation.

Dry air can also make your throat feel raw and scratchy. Smoking cigarettes or exposure to cigarette smoke can trigger persistent sore throats, as well as throat strain from yelling or too much talking.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease may also cause your sore throat. This is a digestive condition characterized by the back flow of stomach acid into the esophagus. This condition causes an array of symptoms, such as a sore throat, hoarseness, heartburn, and nausea.

Other Causes

In very rare cases, a sore throat may be a sign of HIV or throat cancer.

Diagnosing a Sore Throat

Most sore throats do not require medical attention. However, see a doctor if your sore throat lasts for longer than one week and if you experience:

difficulty breathing

joint pain

difficulty swallowing

an earache

a rash

fever over 101 degrees F

bloody mucus

a lump in the throat

hoarseness for longer than two weeks

Determining the cause of your sore throat can help your doctor treat your symptoms. Your doctor will do a physical examination and examine your throat with a lighted instrument. He or she will look for signs of inflammation or white patches, which might indicate strep throat. Your doctor will also feel your neck for swollen glands and check your breathing.

Because strep throat is a common cause of sore throats, your doctor may swab the back of your throat and examine the sample for the Streptococcal bacteria. He or she may also run a blood test to determine whether you have a viral or bacterial infection.

If your doctor is unable to diagnose your sore throat, he or she will refer you to an allergist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist. These specialists will determine whether allergens or a throat disorder is the cause of your sore throat.

Note that it can be difficult to diagnose a sore throat in infants and toddlers. In this age group, refusal to eat is a common sign of throat irritation.

How to Treat a Sore Throat

The treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. However, you can treat many sore throats at home. Home treatment options include:

gargling with warm salt water

drinking plenty of warm fluids, such as teas, soup, and water

avoiding allergens and irritants, such as smoke and chemicals

taking throat lozenges

reducing inflammation with ibuprofen or acetaminophen

If a bacterial infection causes your sore throat, your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to kill the infectious organisms. You should take your medication for 10 days or as prescribed by your doctor to treat the bacterial infection. A sore throat may recur if you stop treatment early.

If you have a viral infection, your doctor may want to let the virus run its course. During that time, he or she may prescribe medications, such as decongestants and pain relievers, to ease your symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may want to try an antiviral drug to fight the virus.

Part 5 of 6: Complications

Complications of a Sore Throat

In the case of persistent bacterial throat infections, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy to surgically remove the tonsils. This is a last resort treatment that should only be considered when sore throats do not respond to antibiotics.

How to Prevent a Sore Throat

Many underlying causes of sore throats are infectious, and there are certain steps you can help you prevent future infection. Repeatedly washing your hands throughout the day kills germs and bacteria that can cause viral and bacterial infections. Additional steps that you can take to prevent a sore throat include:

Do not share drinking glasses or utensils with others.

Use hand sanitizers whenever soap and water are not available.

Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces.

Reduce exposure to allergens, such as pollen, dust, and mold.

Avoid cigarette smoke.

Keep a humidifier in your house to eliminate dryness.

Bacterial And Viral Rashes

Many childhood diseases have bacterial or viral causes and may come with a rash. As study continues and more and more vaccines become available, these diseases become less of a threat to your child's long-term health. However, a rash of any kind should be taken seriously and may require a trip to the doctor's office for evaluation.

A virus called varicella-zoster causes chickenpox, a very contagious disease. Although it is rarely a serious disease to otherwise healthy children, the symptoms last about 2 weeks and can make the child very uncomfortable. In addition, chickenpox can be a serious illness in people with weak immune systems, such as newborns, people on chemotherapy for cancer, people taking steroids, pregnant women, the elderly, or those with HIV. A safe and effective vaccine is now available to children ages 1 and older to prevent chickenpox. It takes up to 21 days to develop chickenpox after being exposed to the virus by inhaling infected droplets from coughs or sneezes or by coming in direct contact with the lesions on an infected person with chickenpox or from someone with shingles.

Symptoms

The symptoms of chickenpox often begins with a very itchy rash, which first appears on the scalp, chest, back and face then spreads to the rest of the body.

The rash begins as an area of redness with a small, superficial blister in the center. The blister eventually ruptures with some possible drainage, and the lesion will then form a crust.

Other associated symptoms include fever, malaise, sore throat, and red eyes. Fever and malaise may precede the rash in some cases.

Treatment

The virus is spread primarily from the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth of the child, but the rash itself is also contagious. The child remains contagious and cannot go to school or daycare until the last lesion has appeared and is fully crusted over.

No therapy treats chickenpox once it has begun, but your doctor can provide prescriptions and advice to help with the discomfort and the itching.

Never give aspirin to a child in general but especially one with chickenpox. A deadly disease called Reye's syndrome has been associated with children taking aspirin, especially if they have chickenpox. Be sure to check the contents of any other over-the-counter medications for aspirin or salicylates because these are often found mixed with over-the-counter cold medications.

Chickenpox can occasionally affect the cornea, the clear front portion of the eye. If your child develops chickenpox on the tip of the nose  it is usually a precursor to having the eyes infected. See your doctor immediately.

See a doctor immediately also if your child develops lesions in the genital regions internally or inside of the mouth.

A paramyxovirus causes the measles , which is also highly contagious. A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent this disease, but outbreaks in people who have not been adequately vaccinated still happen.

Symptoms

The disease usually begins with nasal congestion, eye redness, swelling and tearing, cough, lethargy, and high fever. Another rash consisting of white spots inside the mouth may also develop.

On the third or fourth day of the illness, the child will develop a red rash on the face, which spreads rapidly and lasts about 7 days.

Treatment

Once the disease begins, no medication treats measles. However, your doctor may offer treatments to care for cough, eye symptoms, and fever. Aspirin products cannot be used as they can cause a life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome.

Some children develop secondary bacterial infections of the middle ear, sinuses, lung and neck lymph nodes. These can be treated with antibiotics.  In severe cases, encephalitis may develop. 

Children who have measles appear quite ill and are miserable, but the illness usually gets better without lasting ill effects within 7-10 days after symptoms start.

You can prevent your child from getting measles by making sure they receive the recommended vaccinations. The measles vaccine is part of the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine given at age 12-15 months and repeated at age 4-6 years.

Rubella is a much milder disease in children that's also caused by a virus (rubivirus). Symptoms may begin 14-21 days after exposure to the virus. If contracted in the womb, rubella is a much more serious disease, causing deafness, heart abnormalities, eye problems, retardation, and other conditions in the newborn.

Symptoms in children

Rubella begins with a pink/red rash on the face then spreads to the rest of the body and gets better in about 4 days.

Your child does not appear to be very ill but may develop swollen lymph nodes in the neck, especially behind the ears.

Prevention

Rubella is also easily prevented with an effective vaccine (the MMR).

Rubella can be very serious to an unborn child if the mother develops rubella early in her pregnancy. All women of childbearing age should have their immune status verified.

Scarlet fever is strep throat with a rash. The throat infection is caused by streptococcal bacteria. It is most commonly seen in school-aged children in the winter and early spring, but it can occur in individuals of any age and in any season. It is very contagious, especially from saliva transmission. The risk of transmission can be decreased with good hand washing.

The rash is not serious, but serious complications can occur from the underlying strep throat infection. The most worrisome of these is rheumatic fever, a serious disease that can damage the heart valves and cause long-term heart disease.

Symptoms

The child's symptoms begin with sore throat (which can be mild), fever, headache, abdominal pain, and swollen glands in the neck.

After 1-2 days of these symptoms, the child develops a rash on the body that is red like sunburn and has a sandpaper texture. The skin folds in the neck, armpits, elbows, groin and knees are usually a deeper red color compared to the overall rash. After 7-14 days, the rash sloughs off and peeling is usually present.

The face may look very flushed, but the skin around the mouth appears normal or pale.

The tongue can look like a strawberry-red with bumps.

Treatment

Streptococcal bacteria is treated with antibiotics.

Have your child seen by your doctor immediately if you suspect he or she has strep throat or scarlet fever.

Your child will require a full course of antibiotics, which should be completed even if your child is feeling better before he or she completes the course.

Your child may return to school  24 hours after starting the antibiotics if the fever has resolved and he or she is feeling better.

Fifth disease, also known as erythema infectiosum or "slapped cheeks" disease, is caused by a virus (parvovirus B19) spread via respiratory secretions such as coughs, sneezes, saliva, or nasal mucus. This disease tends to occur in the winter and spring but can happen year-round.

Symptoms

The child initially feels ill and tired; then a rash appears. The rash is characterized by bright red cheeks (the symptom inspiring the name slapped cheeks disease). The rash is warm, nontender, and sometimes itchy.

In 1-2 days a lacy rash spreads throughout the body. The rash appears to fade when the skin is cool, but with a warm bath or with activity, the rash becomes more pronounced. Once the rash appears, the child is no longer contagious.

Treatment

Fifth disease is not serious in otherwise healthy children but can pose a serious problem for children with sickle cell anemia, leukemia, or AIDS.

The disease can also cause problems in the unborn fetus of pregnant women.

Because the child is contagious only before the rash appears, children who develop the rash are free to return to day care or school.

Roseola is also called exanthem subitum and is a common childhood illness caused by the human herpesvirus 6 or 7. The disease usually occurs in children younger than 4 years.

Symptoms

The symptoms are a high, spiking fever for typically 3-4 days followed by the onset of a rash.

The rash is small, pink, flat, or slightly raised lesions that appear on the trunk and spread to the neck and arms, and sometimes then to the face and legs.

The rash appears after the fevers begin to abate. This illness is many times referred to as "fever, fever, fever...Rash".

Treatment

Despite the worrisome fever, the disease is not harmful and gets better without specific therapy. Fever can be managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

The fever, especially if it rises rapidly, may result in a "febrile" seizure in susceptible children. Consult your health care provider if you have any concerns about a seizure.

The enteroviruses, including the coxsackieviruses, are a very common cause of fever and rash in children. Two typical diseases caused by coxsackieviruses are hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina. Coxsackievirus infections are more common in the summer and autumn.

Symptoms

In hand-foot-and-mouth disease, the children develop fever and rash. The rash includes blisters to the mouth and tongue and to the hands and the feet.

Herpangina (not caused by a "herpes" virus) causes a fever, sore throat, and painful blisters or ulcers on the back of the mouth that cause difficulty swallowing. Children may also have loss of appetite, abdominal pain, headaches, and joint pain.

Treatment

No specific treatment is available except acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for fever. Aspirin and aspirin-like products should ALWAYS be avoided in children as it can cause a life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome.

Make sure the child is well hydrated since pain in the mouth and throat can lead to less liquid intake and dehydration.

The diseases are not harmful but can be prevented with good hand washing and not eating off someone else's plate or sharing straws.

Impetigo is a superficial skin infection with streptococcal or staphylococcal bacteria. It is often found around the nose and mouth but can occur anywhere. The rash is more common in the warmer months. It can also include infection of skin that has been damaged.

Symptoms

Impetigo begins as small superficial blisters that rupture leaving red, open patches of skin.

Often a honey-colored crust forms over this rash.

The rash is sometimes itchy.

Impetigo is also highly contagious. A child can spread the infection to other parts of their own body or to other people.

Treatment

This infection of the skin is easily treated with topical or oral antibiotics and washing the skin with antibacterial soap.

Your child usually is no longer contagious after 2-3 days of therapy, and the rash begins to heal in 3-5 days.

If the rash does not show signs of healing by the third day of treatment, or if it continues to spread while on therapy, your child needs to be seen by your doctor.

When the impetigo occurs in conjunction with poison ivy or scabies, your child may benefit from an anti-itch medication while the antibiotics are taking effect.

Because children often share many things and are less likely to take cleanliness precautions than adults, parasites and fungal infections can spread quickly through a day care or your child's class at school. Pay attention to any prolonged itching or hair loss your child might experience.

Scabies

Scabies is an itchy rash that is often worsened with bathing or at night. It is caused by a mite, a very small insect (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows beneath the top layer of skin. It is spread by close bodily contact such as sleeping together or sharing of clothing. It can also be sexually transmitted. Mites can survive for several days in clothes, bedding, and dust.

Symptoms

The rash starts about 2 weeks after your child has come into contact with the mite.

The itchy rash of scabies tends to be found between the fingers, in the armpits, and on the inner wrists and arms. It tends to spare the head, palms, and soles except in infants and with severe infestations.

Sometimes you can see the wavy pattern where the mite has burrowed.

Treatment

To prevent scabies, good hygiene, frequent hand washing, and not sharing clothing with friends is important.

If your child has an itchy rash that lasts for more than 2-3 days, he or she should be checked by a doctor.

Prescription medications are available to kill the mites and to decrease the allergic skin reactions of swelling and itch.

Once anyone in the family is diagnosed with scabies, everyone in the home should be treated for mite infestation.

All clothing and bedding must be washed in hot water and the mattresses vacuumed.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a local infection of the skin with a fungus, usually Microsporum canis, Microsporum audouinii, orTrichophyton tonsurans. Doctors refer to these infections as "tinea" with several forms such as tinea corporis (ringworm on the body) and tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp). Although the 2 are caused by the same organisms, they are treated differently. Ringworm can be caught from friends (exchanging combs, brushes, or hats) or from household pets. If you think your child may have ringworm, you should see your doctor.

Symptoms

With tinea corporis, the lesion starts as a red, slightly scaly, oval that gets bigger over time.

The rash may be slightly itchy.

The center of the rash may clear and appear to be normal skin.

Tinea capitis usually starts with a round to oval area on the scalp with hair loss

Sometimes, the area of the scalp will swell and may ooze. This is called a kerion and is a reaction of the body to the tinea fungus.

Tinea capitis may also present as normal-to-severe dandruff with hairless patches on the scalp.

Treatment

Tinea corporis can easily be treated with topical medications available from your doctor.

Unfortunately, it can be easily spread among family members and friends, making multiple unwanted return visits.

Good hygiene combined with appropriate therapy can break this cycle.

If complications such as a secondary bacterial skin infection occurs,or there is no improvement after four weeks, call your doctor.

Tinea capitis requires an oral medication from your doctor.

Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is also caused by a fungal infection of the skin.

Symptoms

A very itchy rash between the toes is usually caused by athlete's foot.

Treatment

Although athlete's foot can be treated with over-the-counter medications, other causes of rash can appear similar. It is best to have your child checked by the doctor if you suspect athlete's foot.

What Can Cause Red Spots On The Throat?

There are several possible causes of red spots in the throat. These can range from common conditions that a doctor can treat easily, such as strep throat, to potentially severe conditions, such as mouth cancer.

Red spots on the throat can indicate an infection or another medical condition. Bacterial or viral infections are common causes of red spots in the throat, but they can also indicate a more severe illness.

This article looks at some potential causes of red spots on the throat, the diagnosis, treatment, and home remedies for the condition. It also looks at when to contact a doctor and the typical outlook.

There are several potential causes of red spots on the throat. Some common causes are listed below.

Strep throat

Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils. Bacteria called group A Streptococcus cause the infection. These bacteria are very contagious and can be transmitted between people through respiratory droplets when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes or through direct contact.

As well as small red spots in the throat, symptoms of strep throat can include:

Group A Streptococcus also causes scarlet fever. Scarlet fever occurs when the bacteria that cause strep throat also create a toxin that causes a rash. A person with scarlet fever may experience:

Learn more about strep throat.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils, which are collections of lymphoid tissue in the back of the throat that are part of the immune system. Although teenagers and adults can get tonsillitis, it is more common in young children, per the National Health Service (NHS).

Red or white pus-filled spots may develop on the tonsils in severe cases.

As well as spots in the throat, tonsillitis may cause:

sore throat

fatigue

coughing

headache

fever

nausea

earache

difficulty swallowing

bad breath

swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Learn more about tonsillitis.

Herpangina

Two groups of viruses called enteroviruses and cocksackie viruses cause herpangina. It most commonly affects young children but can occur in newborns, teenagers, and adults.

Herpangina is highly contagious and can be transferred through respiratory droplets and fecal matter.

The virus can cause blister-like sores or ulcers in the soft palate, back of the throat, and tonsils.

Other symptoms may include:

tiredness

high fever

loss of appetite

headache

back pain

sore throat

abdominal pain

muscle weakness

stiff neck

in severe cases, seizures

Learn more about herpangina.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)

HFMD is a viral infection that commonly affects infants and children under age 5 years. The same viruses can cause HFMD and herpangina, but in HFMD, the infection affects the mouth, feet, and skin rather than the mouth alone.

HFMD usually causes mild symptoms for up to 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but some cases may be more severe.

Small red sores inside the mouth are a common symptom of HFMD. The sores can blister and become painful. Other symptoms include:

fever

sore throat

feeling generally unwell

drinking and eating less

a skin rash on the soles of feet and palms of hands, which may also develop on the legs, arms, and buttocks

Learn more about HFMD.

Oropharyngeal cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer starts in the middle of the throat and is visible when the mouth is wide open.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that the risk of mouth cancer increases with age. It may also be more common in people who smoke or chew tobacco, betel nut, or gutka, drink alcohol heavily, have human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, or are overweight or have obesity.

Oropharyngeal cancer can cause red or white patches and lumps in the throat. Other symptoms include:

a persistent sore throat

persistent hoarse voice

difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking

a white or red patch in the mouth

Learn more about oropharyngeal cancer.

The method of diagnosis a doctor uses may depend on the appearance of the red spots in the throat and other symptoms.

A doctor may perform a rapid strep test, which involves swabbing the throat and running a quick test on the sample.

They may also perform a throat culture test, which also involves taking a swab sample from the throat. The results of a throat culture take longer to develop but may reveal infections that a rapid test cannot detect.

A doctor may be able to diagnose illnesses such as tonsillitis by examining the throat and asking questions about a person's symptoms.

In cases of HFMD, a doctor may be able to diagnose a patient by looking at their rash, or they may collect samples from the throat or feces for lab analysis.

To diagnose mouth cancer, a doctor may take a biopsy sample from the mouth for lab analysis. They may also perform an imaging scan, such as an MRI, X-ray, or CAT scan.

A doctor usually prescribes antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat, scarlet fever, and bacterial tonsillitis. Antibiotics can help prevent complications of a group A Streptococcus infection, such as rheumatic heart disease.

For viral infections, such as herpangina, HFMD, or viral tonsillitis, a doctor will treat the symptoms, such as trying to reduce fever and pain with medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Treatment for mouth cancer can involve surgery to remove the cancer, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, per the ACS.

A person may be able to reduce the symptoms associated with red spots on the throat at home. It may help to:

take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen

gargle with warm, salty water

get plenty of rest

soothe the throat with cool drinks

use OTC lozenges or throat sprays

A person should contact a doctor if they or their child have red spots in the throat. Some causes of red throat spots may require treatment with antibiotics and may become worse or lead to complications without treatment.

The outlook for a person with red spots in the throat is typically good. Most conditions that cause red spots are easily treatable or recede as an infection resolves.

Oropharyngeal cancer has an overall 5-year relative survival rate of 52%, per the ACS.

Learn more about oral cancer survival rates by age.

Most causes of red spots on the throat are not serious or long lasting. A doctor may be able to treat them with antibiotics, or they will go away without treatment once an infection clears.

Antibiotics are ineffective at treating viral causes, such as herpangina. However, a person can treat the symptoms, and the illness should go away without intervention.

A person with mouth cancer may require treatment such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

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