Antibiotics for throat infections: If Lab results shows you have throat infection either caused by bacteria ore virus, your doctor will prescribe you with medications.
Bacterial throat infection will be treated by bacterial antibiotics. Although infectious diseases that cause sore throat, like flu and colds can be managed until they clear off completely. Viral infections like HIV, Herpes, and other viral infections can only be managed.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are over the counter medicines that your doctor or health provider can give you to relieve potential infections that has been diagnosed by lab test or noticed through symptoms.
Throat infection antibiotics will kill bacteria in the throat. If bacteria throat infection like strep throat(one most common throat infection caused by bacteria) causes sore in the throat and pain, it will clear off after the medications, however bacterial antibiotics does not relieve or treat viral infections that cause sore throats
Importance of antibiotics
Antibiotics can help soothe or relieve a sore throat and other symptoms caused by strep throat
Its helps you recover from throat infections faster and better.
Antibiotics help prevent complications like sinus and tonsil infections and other serious complications like the rheumatic fever.
When you use antibiotics well and on time, it makes it less likely to spread the infections to other people.
Viral infections antibiotics
For viral infections of the throat like the flu, common cold and Covid-19, antibiotics cannot threat them. Most preventive measure is to protect yourself from coming into close contact with the affected person.
People who has not yet been tested can be vaccinated for strong immune system.
Although antibiotics cants kill virus, there are numerous medicines that can help relieve pain like fever or chills, headache, body pains and ache and other flu-like symptoms.
Some antiviral drugs may help manage your condition until symptoms are less or no more however, protecting oneself will help combat the spread. Sore throat caused by a viral infection usually last five to seven days. So they might not require much treatment as bacterial throat infection does. Strep throat requires serious treatments.
To ease pain and fever, you may use acetaminophen(Tylenol) and other mild pain relievers.
For children consider giving them over the counter pain medications made purposely for infants or children such as acetaminophen(Children’s Tylenol, FeverAll, etc) or ibuprofen(Children’s Advil, Motrin, etc) for the relieve of pains.
Never give aspirin to children and teenagers as it has been linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life threatening condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain.
Antibiotics for bacterial throat infection; strep throat
Doctors most often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin to treat strep throat. These two antibiotics are the most choice as it is less expensive and work effective on bacteria. You should never self medicate. Children should be taken to doters to be prescribe medications.
The lists of antibiotics for strep throat or bacteria throat infections include;
- amoxaxillin(Amoxil)
- Penicillin
- azithromycin(Zithromax, Zmax, Z-pak)
- Cephalosporins, including cefixime(Suprax), cefuroxime(Ceftin), and cephalexin(Keflex)
- Clarithromycin(Biaxin)
- Clindamycin(Cleocin)
Medications can be in the form of oral or as shot. Your doctor will tell you how many times in a day you should take the medicines. Normally one to three times each day depending on the condition of your infection.
You can speak to your doctor if you or your child is allergic to any of the antibiotics listed above. Your doctor will come out with the best choice for you and your child.
Side effects of antibiotics
What are the side effects of taking antibiotics
The following side effects are usually mild and may go away after the you or your child finished with the medicine. Call your doctor if these symptoms are severe and chronic
Antibiotics sometimes may cause side effects like;
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- stomachache/ gastrointestinal discomfort
Allergy
Although uncommon, some people may develop allergies for some bacterial antibiotics. these may include;
- rash
- dizziness
- difficulty breathing
- shortness of breath
- palpitations or fast heartbeat
- wheezing
Call your doctor immediately if you have these symptoms
How long should antibiotics be taken?
Antibiotics treatments for bacterial throat infections normally takes about ten(10) days. Children will start to feel better within 24 hours if they have taken their medicines as prescribe by the doctor. At this point, spreading it can be less effective. Children can resume school after 24hours of taking the medications.
You or your child should finish the prescriptions/ pills even if you feel better before whiles taking them. Failure to do so may result in the infection recurring or in strep throat, some bacteria can be alive and result in more complications like sinus and tonsil infections, Rheumatic fever,which can damage the heart, brain and joints.
Some people might experience kidney failure if they stop taking their antibiotics too soon.
When people stop taking antibiotics soon, the bacteria that causes strep throat can become resistant to the medication. This means another type of strep throat would be much difficult to control.
Strep throat home remedies
Home remedies and some lifestyles can help relieve pains caused by strep throat and sore throats;
- Use over the counter pain killers to relieve fever or sore throats. Take acetaminophen(Tylnol) or ibuprofen(Advil, Motrin) Aspirin should not be given to children.
- Stay home and rest so your body can help fight the infection. Staying home can help prevent the spread of the infection.
- keep hydrated. Water or soup and warm tea can help soothe a sore throat.
- Lozenges and hard candy. Do not give candy to small children under four years.
- use soda water or salt warm water to gargle. Use half a teaspoon of baking soda and one full glass warm water and a pinch of salt. Mix together and use the soda solution to gargle your throat every three hours.
- Suck a frozen pop or ice chips. Avoid citric juices like orange juice and lemonade, as they can burn your throat. Rather drink things like yogurt applesauce or frozen as they are easy to swallow.
- Use cold mist humidifiers or nasal spray. Moist from these can help soothe a sore throat and ease pain
- Avoid coming close to things likely to make your throat feels more pain like smokes and dry air, cigarette smoke, and other fumes.
Final note
Most throat infections caused by virus (sore throat) or bacteria(strep) may last for about seven days. Treatments usually lasts about 14 days. Ensure to follow your prescriptions and so not stop taking your medications even if symptoms goes away before the drugs get finished,
Cancer of the head and neck normally present in the form of sore throat. Always check with your doctor for lab test if your symptoms are chronic and severe or lasts longer.