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.