I have an extremely sore throat...?

Question

I am on antibiotics just in case its strep, but it hurts to swallow, talk and even turn my head. I have never had a sore throat like this. Can strep thraot be this painful? Or is it more likely to be something else?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, while there are some reasonable clinical guides to help in making a diagnosis of Strep throat (bacterial pharyngitis) such as high fever, red or white spots on back of throat, swollen glands, painful throat, foul smell to breath but all of these things can also be found with viral causes. It should respond relatively quickly to appropriate antibiotics (usually within 48 hours). If you are having continued pain, stiff neck, change in sound of voice, difficulty swallowing, high fever after 1-2 days of antibiotics, I would question the choice of antibiotics or the diagnosis. As was appropriately pointed out before this could be the sign of a tonsillar, pharyngeal or retropharyngel abscess (a pus pocket in the neck) and should be evaluated promptly by your doctor.
In the short term, Ibuprofen can help.
Hope this helps,
robnshrn
Pediatric MD
PS I would caution you against using antibiotics for a suspicion of strep throat . Taking the right antibiotic for an infection that doesn't need it can lead to bacterial resistance. Taking the wrong antibiotic is not at all helpful and can waste valuable time in your curing as not all antibiotics will treat strep throat.

Answer 2

i would ask your Dr to do a rapid strep test on you at least and then have him culture it as well. Strep can be painful,but so can Pharyngitis,or tonsilitis or epiglottitis or thrush. that is why it is important to be lab tested,because each of these conditions can be sore and each can be treated in different ways. Get it checked out,do not mess around.Good Luck and Get Well. Gargle with warm salt water and get some throat drops and use a cool mist humidifier. Bye now.

Answer 3

I just came off of having a sore throat . Here are several things that I did to suppress the pain. Theraflu was one of the medicines I drank. Nyquil (Night time).It's works on the sore throat while you sleep. You wake feeling better than before. Also pain killers like extra-strength tylenol and Advil to kill the body aches and headaches. One last thing my grandmums fixed for me is a concoction of vinegar, honey, and water mixed. All in equal amounts. Drink two teaspoons every morning and evening. Try not drink so much because the vinegar brings your blood pressure down. So beware of that. Man it helped me a great deal with the sore throat.

Answer 4

Sure sounds like strep. I always used to get terrible strep throat when I was in my childhood and early 20's. I learned it helped a lot to drink warm beverages such as hot chocolate, tea, coffee or anything warm.
Take Ibuprophen 600 mg 3 times a day and you will feel much better.
Poor baby, good luck. Hope you get to feeling better.

Answer 5

You best see the doctor. You may have an abcess.You should not have a stiff neck with strep. especially after starting antibiotics. Maybe a change in antibiotics is warranted.

Answer 6

If you have strep throat you will have little white spots in the inside back of your throat. Have someone check it out- namely a doctor.

Answer 7

im not sure sweetie ive never had that..but u can try this to make it less painful to swallow..you should heat up some honey and then squeeze some fresh lemon to it and drink it slowly its warm and the acid from the lemon will kill all the bacteria that is bothering you.,hope u feel better :)

Answer 8

Try slides of warm fresh pineapple with a little light rhum and few meals of hot pancakes, but hot millet dish seems work faster.

Answer 9

sound like u have tonsilitis. if u open your mouth u wud see them sticking out ( they are white to greyish i think) in the back of your throat. this is when they are inflamed that they hurt when u swallow, talk even if u touch under, between your chin and neck it will hurt. that wud be your tonsils.

Answer 10

try putting a lot of Honey in tea.