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Effectively managing acute sore throat symptoms

Customer scenario

Nothing stronger for targeted relief of painful sore throat

MCQs

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CUSTOMER SCENARIO

Ruby is in her 20s and asks if you can recommend a product for a sore throat. Her symptoms started a couple of days ago; she has been trying to get an appointment with her GP as she thinks she might need antibiotics, but can’t get an appointment for a few days.

Which of the following would you do at this stage?

Click on one of the answer options below.

Suggest Ruby tries taking ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the pain until she can obtain antibiotics

INCORRECT

While taking ibuprofen or paracetamol may help to relieve the pain, asking Ruby some further questions may allow you to determine if the cause is bacterial or viral. This will then allow you to advise further action more suitably.

Ask Ruby some questions to find out more about her symptoms

CORRECT

Asking Ruby some further questions will enable you to recommend appropriate action she can take to help ease her symptoms. Ruby’s sore throat is most likely to be caused by a virus, but finding out more about her symptoms will also enable you to determine if her sore throat may possibly be caused by a bacterial infection such as streptococcus.

Tell Ruby that her sore throat will probably get better on its own so she doesn’t need to do anything

INCORRECT

While sore throats are very common and normally get better by themselves within a week,2 asking Ruby some further questions will enable you to recommend appropriate action she can take to help ease her symptoms.

 

You ask Ruby if she has any other symptoms in addition to a sore throat. Ruby says that she also has a cough, has been sneezing, has a runny nose but does not have a temperature. Ruby does not have any medical conditions and she is not taking any other medicines.

You ask Ruby if you can have a look at her throat; her tonsils do not appear to be inflamed, there is no evidence of any pus or discharge from her throat and the glands in her neck do not appear to be swollen or tender.

The FeverPAIN or Centor criteria can be used to determine the likelihood of streptococcal infection, and therefore the need for antibiotic treatment.1

Click on each of the headings below to see how you can determine if Ruby’s sore throat may be caused by a bacterial streptococcal infection or a viral infection.

FeverPAIN criteria1
Centor criteria1

Score 1 point for each of the following symptoms (maximum score of 5).

  • Fever during the previous 24 hours
  • Purulence (pus or discharge from the throat or tonsils)
  • Attend rapidly, within three days after the onset of symptoms
  • Severely inflamed tonsils
  • No cough or coryza (inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose resulting in a stuffy, runny nose and sneezing)

SCORING:

0 or 1 associated with a 13-18% likelihood of streptococcal infection

2 or 3 associated with a 34-40% likelihood of streptococcal infection

4 or 5 associated with a 62-65% likelihood of streptococcal infection

Score 1 point for each of the following symptoms (maximum score of 4).

  • Tonsillar exudate (pus or discharge)
  • Swollen glands in the neck (tender anterior cervical lymph nodes or lymphadentis)
  • History of fever (over 38°C)
  • Absence of cough

SCORING:

0, 1 or 2 associated with a 3-17% likelihood of streptococcal infection

3 or 4 associated with a 32-56% likelihood of streptococcal infection

Based on Ruby’s symptoms, what is the likely cause of her sore throat?

Click on one of the answer options below.

It is likely that Ruby’s sore throat is caused by a viral infection

CORRECT

Using both the FeverPAIN and Centor criteria, Ruby’s sore throat is most likely caused by a viral infection rather than a bacterial streptococcal infection.

It is likely that Ruby’s sore throat is caused by a bacterial streptococcal infection

INCORRECT

Using both the FeverPAIN and Centor criteria, Ruby’s sore throat is most likely caused by a viral infection rather than a bacterial streptococcal infection.

What action would you now take?

Click on one of the answer options below.

Suggest Ruby needs antibiotics just to be on the safe side

INCORRECT

As Ruby’s sore throat is probably caused by a viral infection, antibiotics are unlikely to be effective.

Tell Ruby that her sore throat will probably get better without any treatment

INCORRECT

While sore throats are very common and normally get better by themselves within a week, you could recommend appropriate action Ruby can take to help ease her symptoms.

Recommend an appropriate product to help ease Ruby’s symptoms and provide her with self-care advice

CORRECT

Medicated lozenges (containing a local anaesthetic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] or an antiseptic) may provide temporary relief from throat pain.1,6

SELF CARE ADVICE3

To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can advise customers to:

  • Gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Eat cool or soft foods
  • Avoid smoking or smoky places
  • Suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets; young children should not be given anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
  • Rest

If customers have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do their normal activities, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they feel better.

Effectively managing acute sore throat symptoms

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