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Sore Throat services offered in Canton, MA
Sometimes a short-term sore throat comes from dryness or too much talking, but it can also develop from an infection or allergies. At Canton Urgent Care in Canton, Massachusetts, Muhammad Bajwa, MD, and Monika Parrish, PA-C, find out why you have a sore throat with swab testing and can provide the necessary treatment to help you recover. Call Canton Urgent Care, book an appointment online, or walk in for immediate sore throat care today.
What is a sore throat?
If your throat feels scratchy for more than a day or two, then it probably comes from something more than overusing your voice or drying out your throat by sleeping with an open mouth. Viral infections commonly cause sore throats and go away within a few days, but in the meantime, you probably want to find some relief.
You can tell a sore throat comes from an illness by additional symptoms that come with it, including:
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Nasal congestion
- Fatigue
You might have a raspy voice because of your sore throat too. At Canton Urgent Care, your provider uses a rapid strep test or a throat culture to find out if your sore throat comes from an infection before providing treatment.
Which illnesses cause a sore throat?
Most sore throats happen because of common viral infections like the common cold or the flu, but other illnesses can also give you a painful or scratchy throat. Aside from cold and flu, a sore throat can come from:
Strep throat and other bacterial infections
Strep throat is one of the most common bacterial infections that cause sore throat and can be diagnosed with a rapid strep test using a throat swab.
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an infection of your tonsils, which are round structures at the back of your throat. Bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis.
Allergies
Allergies from airborne substances like pet dander, mold, or pollen can dry your throat and cause postnasal drip.
Acid reflux
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows upward into your esophagus, often after drinking alcohol or eating a large or spicy meal.
How is a sore throat treated?
Canton Urgent Care treats your sore throat according to its underlying cause. Bacterial infections like strep throat and certain types of tonsillitis are treatable with antibiotic medications. You must complete your round of antibiotics, even if symptoms stop before the round is finished, to clear the infection.
Allergy-induced sore throats may improve when you take antihistamines and other medications to reduce an allergic reaction.
For any sore throat, your provider at Canton Urgent Care encourages you to drink plenty of fluids, rest, gargle with saltwater, and humidify the air.
Call Canton Urgent Care, book an appointment online, or walk in for sore throat testing and treatment today.