Sore Throat

Question 1

Sore throat symptoms

Answer 1

Pain from back of throat (pharynx)
Pain on swallowing
Swollen Lymph glands

Question 2

When to refer for sore throat?

Answer 2

• Lasts more than 1 week
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Hoarse voice > 3 weeks (laryngeal cancer)
• Extremely painful and no improvement within 24-48 hours
• Red swollen tonsils with exudate, swollen lymph glands and high fever
• Medication ADR:
  Bone marrow suppression (Carbimazole, Methotrexate, Clozapine, Sulfasalazine)
  Oral thrush (Steroid inhalers; can treat with oral miconazole//review technique//change different inhaler)

Question 3

OTC for sore throat + ages allowed

Answer 3

• Oral analgesics
  (Ibuprofen 400mg TDS)
  (if no, Paracetamol 1g QDS)
• Demulcents Lozenges - soothes throat
  (Glycerin, Honey)
• Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS)
  (Benzydamine - Difflam Oral Rinse 12+/Spray 6+)
  (Flurbiprofen - Strefen Lozenges 12+, Max use 3 days, every 3-6 hours, Max 5 lozenges in 24 hours)
  (Gargling Dispersible Aspirin 16+)
• Local anaesthetics - numb pain
  (Lidocaine - Covonia throat spray 12+)
  (Benzocaine - Tyrozet losenges 3+/Ultra Chloroseptic anaesthetic throat spray 6+)
  (Hexylresorcinol - Strepsils Extra Triple action 6+)

Antibacterial and antifungal lozenges

Question 4

What type of drug is chlorhexidine

Answer 4

Antibacterial

Question 5

What type of drug is Tyrothricin

Answer 5

Antibacterial

Question 6

What type of drug is Benzalkonium Chloride

Answer 6

Antibacterial

Question 7

What type of drug is Cetylpyridinum Chloride?

Answer 7

Antibacterial

Question 8

What type of drug is Dequalinium Chloride

Answer 8

Antifungal

Question 9

What type of drug is Amylmetacresol

Answer 9

Antiseptic + anaesthetic

Question 10

What type of drug is 2,4, Dichlorobenzyl alcohol?

Answer 10

Antiseptic and anaesthetic?

Question 11

What type of drug is Benzydamine? What age can you use Difflam Oral rinse/Spray?

Answer 11

NSAID - Oral rinse 12+ // Spray 6+

Question 12

What type of drug is Flurbiprofen? What age can you use Strefen Lozenges?
Max use duration.
Dose + Max dose

Answer 12

12+
Max use for 3 days
Every 3-6 hours. Max 5 lozenges in 24 hours

Question 13

What age for gargling dispersible aspirin?

Answer 13

16+

Question 14

What type of drug is Lidocaine? What age to use Covonia throat spray?

Answer 14

Local anaesthetic, 12+

Question 15

What type of drug is Benzocaine? What age to use Tyrozet lozenges/Ultra Chloroseptic anaesthetic throat spray?

Answer 15

Local anaesthetic, 3+ lozenge, 6+ throat spray

Question 16

What type of drug is Hexylresorcinol? What age for strepsils extra triple action?

Answer 16

Local anaesthetic, 6+

Question 17

Advice for sore throat?

Answer 17

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Avoid very hot drinks
• Eat cool, soft foods
• Sucking lozenges, hard boiled sweets, ice cubes
• Gargle with a homemade mouthwash of warm, salty water
• Avoid smoking
• Diabetics - Sugar free recommended

Question 18

What type of drug is carbimazole? How can it cause sore throat?

Answer 18

Carbimazole is a thionamide (so is propylthiouracil) can be used for hyperthyroidism - can cause bone marrow suppression + agranulocytosis. Sore throat first sign of infection.