Is there a medication available in a pharmacy to help me or am I better off going to a clinic for an exam.

Question

I have had a sore throat for a week, accompanied by headaches, swollen glands in my neck and white spots on my tonsils. The sore throat seems to have gone further down the throat. Transparent but very thick secretions, difficulty to swallow for this reason.

Pierre-Luc Tremblay · Accepted Answer

Hello, The symptoms you describe can be similar to an inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis-amygdalitis). Most of the time, it is a virus that is responsible for this infection: we can therefore use products available in pharmacies to relieve the symptoms (for example, an analgesic such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, depending on our medical history) as well as rest and good hydration. The duration of symptoms is usually 3 to 5 days. However, in some cases, the infection is caused by bacteria (usually group A Streptococcus) and will require medical attention and antibiotics. Here is a way to help you distinguish between the 2 types of infection: Viral infection viral infection: usually starts gradually and is accompanied by other symptoms in addition to a sore throat, such as a runny nose , cough ,hoarseness of the voice or diarrhea. There is absence of fever in the majority of cases. Bacterial infection: usually begins abruptly , severe sore throat , difficulty swallowing , increased size and tenderness of nodes located in the neck and throat, presence of pus in the tonsils. In most cases, there is presence of fever and absence of other symptoms (cough, runny nose) . Thus, to answer your question, given the description of your symptoms and their persistence for the past week (and especially if you have had a fever), I recommend a medical consultation since it is possible that your infection is bacterial and requires an antibiotic treatment. I remain available if needed and hope to have answered your question, Pierre-Luc Tremblay, pharmacist