Finding out what kind of sore throat is a problem allows you to choose an effective treatment and fight inflammation faster. Depending on what factor caused the inflammation of the throat and at what time the pain intensifies, we should use preparations in the form of lozenges or sprays. The use of an appropriate drug guarantees quick pain relief and helps to inhibit the inflammatory reaction in the throat.

A sore throat is most often caused by viruses responsible for the development of colds, flu and sinusitis. Therefore, symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose and cough usually coexist. A bacterial infection is a slightly less common cause of pain in the neck area, as well as dryness of the throat mucosa.

In each of these cases, pain takes a slightly different form and requires treatment methods tailored to its severity or duration.

Types of sore throat - breakdown by cause

Sore throat from viruses

Viral infections are responsible for 85-95% of sore throats in adults and children under the age of 5, and 70% of pain symptoms in children aged 5-16. The viruses damage the lining of the nose and throat, which initiates an immune response from the immune system. This results in the appearance of inflammatory mediators such as bradykinins, cytokines and histamines, as a result of which the nasal mucosa produces copious secretions causing swelling of the mucosa.

Inflammation of the throat leads to pain, swelling and difficulty swallowing. The pharyngeal mucosa becomes hyperemic. At this stage, treatment is based on the administration of painkillers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and topical drugs that also contain active substances that inhibit the inflammation process. Scientific research has shown that preparations containing ibuprofen and flurbiprofen are very effective.

The effect of flurbiprofen is related to its ability to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins (substances that cause inflammation). It has strong analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Although flurbiprofen does not address the immediate cause of pharyngitis, it is very helpful in relieving symptoms, including a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

Sore throat caused bybacteria

If the symptoms of viral pharyngitis worsen and last for several days, we can assume that the process has turned into bacterial pharyngitis. Its feature is the presence of a white raid on the tonsils - a sign that the throat is attacked by streptococci. In a short time, the raid turns into massive purulent-mucus plugs that cause the tonsils to swell. This is called purulent angina, which may be accompanied by high fever, headache, weakness, enlarged lymph nodes.

Treatment of purulent angina consists in administering antibiotics. In the case of a streptococcal infection, the best solution is to administer penicillin for a minimum of 10 days. If you are allergic to penicillin, your doctor may prescribe other antibiotics.

Types of sore throat - division according to the time of occurrence

As shown by a survey of 5,000 people from different countries, a sore throat is most felt in the morning immediately after waking up, and in the evening and at night. This is when symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, swelling, severe pain and congestion of the mucosa become the most noticeable.

Sore throat in the evening and at night

The results of the study indicate that the night time has a decisive influence on the exacerbation of the inflammation of the throat. This is due to several reasons:

  • while sleeping, we breathe through the mouth and swallow less frequently, which leads to stagnation of secretions in the respiratory tract and aggravation of the inflammatory reaction;
  • when sleeping, we do not take medications or drink water;
  • the mucociliary clearance is reduced at night, i.e. the cleaning of the respiratory tract of the residual secretion.

The optimal solution in such a situation would be taking medication at night, but waking up to take the next dose of the preparation is tedious and may lead to sleep problems. Meanwhile, research has shown that sleep is an important modulator of the immune response, and its absence can weaken the immune system, leading to increased susceptibility to infection and a longer recovery time. People who sleep shortly are 4 times more likely to develop a cold than people who sleep 7 or more hours a night.

Sore throat in the morning

An increased sore throat in the morning is a consequence of exacerbation of inflammation at night. Immediately after getting out of bed, try to cough up any secretions and take the appropriate medications. The morning sore throat is very troublesome, so it is crucial that the drug works quickly and effectively. The pastilles will be a good choicesuction. Their duration of action is usually several hours, which minimizes the need for frequent repeated doses. By taking the lozenges regularly 3-4 times a day, we not only ensure constant pain relief, but also relieve the inflammation of the throat on an ongoing basis.

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