When to Schedule a Same-Day Sick Visit for a Sore Throat
Sore throats are common, often associated with various respiratory infections, allergies, or overuse of the voice, as well as other, less frequent causes. Usually, it’s a matter of home care and time until your symptoms pass, and frequently, there’s little that medical science can do to speed the process.
However, there are times and situations where a sore throat may be a bigger problem than home care can manage. The team at Nizar A Tejani, MD, PC in Stockbridge, Georgia, wants you to know when it’s the best course of action to seek a same-day sick visit for your sore throat condition.
Let’s examine the causes of sore throats and the situations when urgent medical attention is required.
Causes of sore throats
Viral infections, such as a cold or the flu, are the most common causes of sore throats. These appear among the symptoms of your illness, and there’s little to do other than treating your symptoms with over-the-counter remedies, rest, and keeping yourself as comfortable as possible until the infection burns out.
Less common reasons for sore throat pain include:
- Acid reflux: stomach acid backing up through the esophagus can affect throat tissue
- Allergies: Postnasal drip from allergies can irritate the throat
- Bacterial infections: strep throat infections can cause sudden, painful symptoms
- Overnight mouth breathing: can dry out your throat, resulting in irritation
- Overuse of the voice: shouting, yelling, or simply talking too long can cause throat pain
- Tonsillitis: sore throats are a side effect of this condition, which can be viral or bacterial
Though rare, both benign and cancerous growths in the throat may contribute to sore throat symptoms.
When to schedule a same-day sick visit for a sore throat
There are four quick indicators that you need a same-day visit for a sore throat:
- Your sore throat is severe and/or came on suddenly
- You have a high fever accompanying your sore throat symptoms
- You’ve had symptoms for five days or more without improvement
- You have difficulty swallowing due to your symptoms
These are the most common sore throat red flags, but not the only ones. Trust your instincts when you know something is different or wrong about the way you feel.
What to expect from a sick visit
Dr. Tejani and his team specialize in sick visits, patient care that addresses those unexpected illnesses or injuries that require more than simply taking a day or two to rest or recover. Consider a sick visit when you’re suffering from conditions that aren’t responding to home care, such as:
- Coughing
- Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit (39.3 degrees Celsius)
- Heavy cold or flu symptoms
- COVID-19 or other respiratory infections
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux
- Heartburn
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Traumatic injury
Contact Nizar A Tejani, MD, PC online or by phone when an acute illness or injury affects your ability to function. Book your visit as soon as possible for the fastest relief.
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