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Conditions and Treatments
Upper Respiratory
Acute Sinusitis (Adults)
Pharyngitis Sore Throat Tonsillitis
Otitis Media in Children
Lower Respiratory
Pneumonia and Aspiration Pneumonia in Nursing Homes/Residential Care Facilities
Acute Cough, Bronchitis (Adults)
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Community Acquired Pneumonia in Children
COVID -19 Acute Respiratory Infection (Adults)
Azithromycin Prophylaxis in Adults with Respiratory Disease
Influenza
Meningitis
Pregnancy and Postpartum Infections
Prescribing Antimicrobials in Pregnancy and Lactation
Mastitis
Endometritis
Perineal wound infection
C-section wound infection
Nipple and breast thrush
UTI in Pregnancy
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnancy
Influenza in Pregnancy
Urinary
Position Statements Dipstick Urinalysis for UTIs in Adults
Deprescribing UTI prophylaxis
Acute Pyelonephritis
Adult Male UTI
Adult Female UTI
UTI in Long Term Care Residents 65 years
Recurrent UTI in Adult, Non-Pregnant Females
UTI in Children
UTI in Pregnancy
Gastro
Infectious Diarrhoea
Threadworms
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Clostridioides difficile
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Genital
Approach to an STI consultation in Primary Care
Acute Prostatitis
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Bacterial Vaginosis
Chlamydia trachomatis
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Trichomoniasis
Candida, Genital Thrush
Anogenital Warts
Syphilis
Genital Herpes
Skin/Soft Tissue
Rosacea
Animal and Human Bite - Antibiotic Prescribing
Scabies
Conjunctivitis
Cellulitis - Antibiotic Prescribing
Other staphylococcal skin infections
Eczema
Lyme Disease
Dermatophyte Infection of the Skin
Headlice
Acne Vulgaris - Antibiotic Prescribing
Hidradenitis Suppurativa - Antibiotic Prescribing
Candida - Antibiotic Prescribing
Recurrent Cellulitis and Leg Ulcers - Antibiotic Prescribing
Impetigo
Varicella Zoster
Dermatophyte Infection Fingernail or Toenail
Oral/Dental
Dry Socket
Dental prescription guidelines
Angular Cheilitis
Acute Sinusitis
Endocarditis Prophylaxis
Pericoronitis
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Acute Dento-Alveolar Infection
Necrotising Gingivitis
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Safe Prescribing
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Drug Interactions
Hospital Related Guidelines
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Prescribing for Children
Conditions and Treatments
Safe Prescribing
Drug Interactions
Hospital Related Guidelines
About us
Antibiotic Prescribing
Conditions and Treatments
Upper Respiratory
Pharyngitis Sore Throat Tonsillitis
Pharyngitis / Sore Throat / Tonsillitis
Comments from
Expert
Advisory Committee
The majority of sore throats are viral; most patients do not benefit from antibiotics. Consider a delayed antibiotic strategy and explain soreness will take about 7 days to resolve.
Antibiotics make little difference to how long symptoms last or the number of people whose symptoms improve.
Withholding antibiotics is unlikely to lead to complications
Offer all patients advice about
self-care
and to seek medical help if symptoms worsen significantly.
Reassess if symptoms worsen rapidly or significantly, taking account of: alternative diagnoses such as scarlet fever or glandular fever or any symptoms or signs suggesting a more serious illness or condition.
Consider referral to hospital if they have acute sore throat associated with severe systemic infection or severe suppurative complications (such as abscess).
Symptomatic Relief
Consider analgesia: paracetamol (or ibuprofen where appropriate).
Advise patient about adequate intake of fluids.
Patients report symptom relief from using over-the-counter products such as topical anaesthetics sprays and medicated lozenges containing local anaesthetics.
Advise to consult pharmacist for symptom relief.
Treatment
Patient Information
We recommend patients use the website developed by HSE/ICGP/IPU partnership
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/sore-throat/
for tips on how to get better from common infections without using antibiotics, what you can do for yourself or a loved one and when to seek help.
Safe Prescribing
(visit the safe prescribing page)
Doses are oral and for adults unless otherwise stated
Dosing in children quick reference dosage/weight guide
Clarithromycin and other macrolides warning
Penicillin allergy
– tips on prescribing in penicillin allergy
Renal impairment dosing table
Safety in Pregnancy and Lactation
Drug interactions table
. Extensive drug interactions for clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones, azole antifungals and rifampicin. Many antibiotics increase the risk of bleeding with anticoagulants.
Visit the
Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) website
for detailed drug information (summary of product characteristics and patient information leaflets). Dosing details, contraindications and drug interactions can also be found in the Irish Medicines Formulary (IMF) or other reference sources such as British National Formulary (BNF) / BNF for children (BNFC).
Reviewed October 2021
Conditions and Treatments
Upper Respiratory
Acute Sinusitis (Adults)
Pharyngitis Sore Throat Tonsillitis
Otitis Media in Children
Lower Respiratory
Influenza
Meningitis
Pregnancy and Postpartum Infections
Urinary
Gastro
Genital
Skin/Soft Tissue
Oral/Dental
Safe Prescribing
Drug Interactions
Hospital Related Guidelines
About us
Prescribing for Children