Sore throats are mostly caused by the common cold and flu, though other more serious infections or conditions may be the cause of your discomfort. To get relief from the pain and clear up any infection or irritation in your throat, see the providers at Schaumburg Immediate Care in Schaumburg, Illinois. Appointments are available daily, including at night and on weekends, to help you feel better quickly. Walk-in or schedule a visit online or by phone now.
Pain, scratchiness, or irritation due to a sore throat is often made worse by swallowing. Other symptoms that can occur with sore throats include:
Depending on the cause of your sore throat, you may have other symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, fatigue, or body aches and chills.
The most common cause of a sore throat is a virus, especially viruses that cause upper respiratory infections and the flu. Other causes of sore throats include:
Other more serious causes are less common, though they may become life-threatening if they close your airway. If this is a possibility, the Schaumburg Immediate Care providers refer you to the emergency department for treatment.
You or your child begins your visit at Schaumburg Immediate Care with a consultation and exam with the providers in order to determine the cause of your sore throat. Your provider may press along the face, jaw, and throat to check or swelling and look inside your throat with a light to identify signs of infection.
In order to determine the cause of an infection, your provider may perform a throat swab, in which a long cotton swab is placed inside the throat to collect a sample tissue sample. This test may feel itchy or ticklish for a second when it’s performed. Your provider then tests the sample for different bacteria and viruses. Your provider gets the results within minutes and diagnoses your condition immediately.
For viral causes of sore throats, no medication is typically needed. However, if your sore throat is extremely uncomfortable, your provider may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen.
Sore throats caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor prescribes antibiotics for a certain number of days and explains how often and how long to take the medication in order to clear your infection.
Ease the pain of your sore throat with help from Schaumburg Immediate Care. Walk in today or set up an appointment by calling or booking online.
