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Remedies for Throat Infection
How long are you contagious when you have a throat infection? If you're on antibiotics are you still contagious?
( 9 Apr 2010)
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A throat infection is usually a short term infection that affects the area behind the mouth which contains the vocal chords and the tonsils, unless they have been removed. A throat infection is characterized by a mild inflammation of the lining of the throat which causes irritation, coughing, difficulty in swallowing and loss of voice or hoarseness in the voice. A throat infection could be caused by or can cause other illnesses to affect the individual.
A throat infection may also be linked to a common cold or to other illnesses that affect the nose and throat. A sore throat can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
There are many illnesses that can present a sore throat as a symptom. Strep throat, common cold, flu, swine flu, and other such illnesses are all likely to cause sore throat symptoms. This may be accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat and a feeling of malaise. It can also be accompanied by a fever if the infection is strong. Often a throat infection can be caused due to something innocuous. One may cough while eating food due to air being ingested along with the food. This can cause an abrasion of the throat lining. This abrasion leaves the throat vulnerable to attack from bacteria or viruses that exist in the air around us.
Some throat infections are extremely contagious. You may notice that an infection affects an entire family before it subsides. This is caused by the release of germs either while breathing or, more commonly, while coughing or sneezing. Germs carrying the infection are present in the throat and can be expelled through a violent action such as coughing. This makes the germ particles airborne and these could be ingested by any person nearby. In most cases this passes by without any problem as the other person has a strong immune system which fights off the virus. However, repeated exposure to a person with a throat infection can cause the infection to spread to you.
Treating a throat infection with antibiotics could cure the person of the symptoms quickly. However, the person may carry some of the infection with them for as long as 3 days after the symptoms have begun to subside. An antibiotic course usually lasts for a couple of days after symptoms have disappeared and this is the reason for the continued treatment. It is best to avoid contact with people who are at risk of contracting your infection, especially children or elderly people.
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answered by M W on 9 Apr 2010, 6:35:05
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