How are sore throats with colds treated?
While there is no cure for a sore throat caused by a cold virus, to speed healing of your sore throat and cold, be sure to get enough rest. Eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids can also help speed healing.
Can medications relieve symptoms of a sore throat with a cold?
Over-the-counter cold medications may relieve cold and sore throat symptoms. However, the benefits of these medications are minimal. Some cold medications include the following:
- Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, to relieve the aches and pains of a cold and sore throat. (Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because of its link to Reye's syndrome, a disorder that mostly affects children 4 to 12 years old and causes brain damage and death.)
- Sore throat sprays and lozenges to soothe your throat and numb the throat pain temporarily.
- Decongestant nasal sprays to relieve a sore throat caused by postnasal drip -- nasal drainage that runs down your throat. (Be sure to stop using nasal decongestant sprays after 3 days, or you may have an increase in congestion when you stop them.)
Antibiotics should not be used to treat a cold virus and sore throat. Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria. They will not work on sore throats associated with colds, which are caused by viruses, and may cause future infections to be worse and last longer.
