Rational Approach to Sore Throat

And here you are in the pharmacy, dozens of different drugs before your eyes, it’s unclear which one to choose. Let’s consider the possible options.

AntisepticsThe idea is undoubtedly good — to destroy the pathogen of the infection and as a result, the pain will pass. You can even take revenge on the nasty microbe! Everything would be fine, if not for one «but» — a sore throat in 70% of cases is caused by viruses. «So what?» you ask. The problem is that local antiseptics are active against bacteria, while viruses are inside cells and are not susceptible to the action of an antiseptic.

Anti-inflammatory drugsNow that’s a different story! It doesn’t matter whether the pain is caused by a virus or a bacterium — if you remove the inflammation, it will go away. Some people are afraid that if the infection is not stopped — it will spread, a runny nose and cough will start.

Yes, most likely this will happen, but you still can’t do anything. There are no effective antiviral drugs — these are «fakes» in the territory of the former USSR. They are not used in Europe. If a cold starts, the best way out is to take drugs with proven effectiveness from this list, take sick leave, drink plenty of fluids and recover, wrapped in a blanket. If you are worried about a cough in addition to a sore throat, we wrote earlier about how it is treated in the USA.

Which drug to choose for sore throat treatment?

Flurbiprofen blocks the formation of substances in the body that cause pain. It is on the FDA-approved list of drugs for use in the USA. It starts working in about 15 minutes and maintains its effect for up to 6 hours. It is available in the form of lozenges and spray. The substance penetrates the mucous membrane of the throat, so it acts where it is needed and has a lower risk of side effects.

Can you make it so that you don’t get sick at all?We can’t give guarantees, but there are several effective tips for preventing a cold.

Remember the most important thing — at the first symptoms of ARVI, it is better to stay at home and take care of yourself, and if your condition worsens, be sure to see a doctor. This way you can protect yourself from complications and additional expenses.

You can familiarize yourself with the trade names of flurbiprofen and prices here.