6
THE STRAITS TIMES
DECEMBER 12 2013
Healthy Spaces
Oh, my scratchy throat
Fans on soothing remedies
Lozenges are commonly used to soothe sore throats. Joyce Teo looks at
what to look out for when buying them as well as other remedies
A
lthough a sore throat is
most often caused by a
simple viral infection, the
misery it causes can
make you feel like it is a
much more serious
On its own, honey has not
been proven to provide relief
from a sore throat. However, it
may form a soothing film over
inflamed mucous membranes,
bringing relief that way.
condition.
Short of running to a doctor, there
are remedies that one can try, many
of which are easily purchased from a
pharmacy.
A pharmacist would be able to
recommend appropriate lozenges
which contain a combination of
antiseptics, local anaesthetics,
anti-inflammatory substances,
demulcents (agents that form a
soothing film over mucous
membranes) or other ingredients
such as vitamin C or menthol.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
An active ingredient to look out for is
menthol, a cooling agent that can be
found alone or in combination with
other agents in several
over-the-counter products, said
Ms Zoe Kong, senior pharmacist at
the National University Hospital.
While menthol has not been
studied specifically for the
symptomatic treatment of a sore
throat, it has been shown to
possess anaesthetic properties, she
said.
It provides a minty-cool vapour
that soothes a sore throat and forms
a soothing film over the mucous
membrane of the throat, relieving
minor pain and inflammation of the
throat, said Ms Sinthu Samikkannu,
a senior pharmacist at Unity
Healthcare.
Another effective ingredient is
hexylresorcinol, an antiseptic that
also has local anaesthetic effects,
she said.
“Its antiseptic action kills the
bacteria that may be associated with
mouth and throat infections, while its
anaesthetic action helps to numb the
pain,” she said.
But those allergic to aspirin should
avoid it, she advised.
Ms Kong said antiseptics such as
amylmetacresol and
2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol, which are
marketed as Strepsils lozenges, as
well as dequalinium chloride, which
can be found in Dequadin lozenges,
can easily be purchased off the
shelves.
For very painful throats, consider
lozenges containing topical
anaesthetics such as benzydamine,
Ms Cheralyn Tay, a pharmacist at
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
For instance, even the Strepsils
lozenges meant for children are
recommended only for those aged
above six.
Ms Tay said children who are
slightly below six years old may take
antiseptic lozenges, such as those
containing dequalinium chloride,
which are available off the shelf and
are usually smaller in size.
“Children below six years old with
significant pain despite hydration and
rest may take low doses of
paracetamol or ibuprofen syrup for
relief instead,” she added.
Oral rinses or gargles, drops as
well as sprays may also help to
soothe sore throats, as they contain
topical anaesthetics and antiseptics,
said Ms Kong.
For throats which are
very painful, lozenges
containing topical
anaesthetics such as
benzydamine, marketed
as Difflam, or
benzocaine, may help.
If it is a mild irritation,
you may want to soothe
it with special tea or
herbal products instead.
PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTO, ST FILE
marketed as Difflam, or benzocaine,
which can be purchased only from a
pharmacist or with a doctor’s
prescription.
Difflam is a local non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory agent with both
anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic
effects, while lozenges containing
benzocaine, for instance, are purely
anaesthetic.
Ms Kong said most lozenges will
soothe the pain of a mild sore throat.
But when it comes to moderate to
severe throat pain, lozenges that
contain local anaesthetics and
anti-inflammatory agents are better,
she said.
Lozenges are generally safe as
long as the recommended dosage of
the product is adhered to.
Otherwise, overdosing on lozenges
may result in gastrointestinal
discomfort and soreness of the
tongue, said Ms Sinthu.
WHAT KIDS CAN TAKE
While lozenges are generally safe,
they should not be given to
children aged below six as they can
be a choking hazard, said
ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES
Given that a sore throat is usually a
mild problem, some may want to
soothe it without taking medication.
Various types of tea, herbal
products and manuka honey are
touted as solutions to sore throats.
The problem, however, is that the
claims are mostly unsupported by
evidence, said Ms Kong.
Honey, for instance, has not been
proven to provide relief from a sore
throat on its own.
However, as a demulcent, it may
form a soothing film over inflamed
mucous membranes, bringing relief
that way.
Ms Kong said it may also have a
modest benefit on night-time cough
and is unlikely to be harmful in
children above a year old, so go
ahead and give your child a soothing
drink of honey.
Manuka honey, in particular, has
been touted as a sore throat remedy
but, again, its evidence base remains
“sketchy”, said Ms Lin Tian Min, a
pharmacist at Unity Healthcare.
Still, there is probably no harm in
consuming it, unless one is diabetic
or an infant.
Babies below one should not
consume honey as the product may
be contaminated with bacterial
spores that can cause a rare but
serious condition called botulism.
Botulism can lead to blurred
vision, slurred speech, muscle
weakness, paralysis and even death.
Some people also believe in
dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in a
cup of warm water, gargling this and
then spitting it out.
Ms Kong said this is a folk remedy
for throat pain. Its benefit has not
been proven in clinical trials, but it is
unlikely to be harmful, she said.
It may not be suitable for some
children as those younger than
eight years old may find it hard to
gargle without swallowing, she said.
Sipping warm beverages, such as
lemon tea or chicken soup, may also
help with a sore throat.
While some people believe that
one should avoid cold or frozen food
when one is sick, Ms Kong said, in
reality, eating frozen desserts such
as ice cream and popsicles may help
to ease throat pain.
While a sore throat typically goes
away on its own after a few days,
there are occasions when it may be a
more pesky problem.
That is when you should seek
medical attention.
Accompanying signs that should
raise alarm bells include fever with a
rash, which may indicate a bacterial
infection requiring a course of
antibiotics, and difficulty swallowing
or breathing as well as a stiff neck,
which may indicate a more serious
infection that requires medical
intervention, said Ms Kong.
“Generally, if the sore throat is not
accompanied by swollen glands,
difficulty in breathing or a skin rash,
then management is focused on
providing symptomatic relief to the
throat.
“This can be achieved with
adequate rest and fluid intake, as
well as some help with systemic and
topical agents,” she added.
[email protected]
Slight sore throat can be treated
with antiseptic mouth gargle and
lozenges. If the throat is swollen
and painful, I will take over-thecounter anti-inflammatory
medication.
If the sore throat persists, I
will see a doctor as it will most
probably be a throat infection. He
will normally prescribe a course
of antibiotics.
I will also drink plenty of water,
have a good rest and eat lots of
fruit and vegetables to aid
recovery.
Pauline Wong
Eating ice cream is a good way
to numb the pain. Hot soup will
also soothe it.
Low Jo
For mild sore throat, a simple
salt gargle and lozenges will
help. If it is a severe infection,
you need antibiotics.
Lkc Lim
I will have a saltwater gargle,
followed by lots of water and
herbal tea with honey. If my
throat is swollen, I will take
marshmallows to provide relief
because the gelatin coats and
soothes my throat.
Reggin VC
If the sore throat is not severe,
get lozenges. Drink plenty of
water at room temperature. Have
plenty of rest and if you have no
fever or aches, go for a run to
sweat it out.
Henry Loh
Dry air and allergies will make my
throat painful and dry. Besides
over-the-counter lozenges, I will
swallow two spoonfuls of honey,
or drink lemon juice mixed with
honey.
I will also drink lots of warm
water and avoid coffee and tea
as they irritate my throat.
However, prevention is better
than cure so I use a humidifier to
keep the air in my room less dry.
Jansen Wong
A sore throat caused by the cold
virus should go away in about
two days. Do not take antibiotics
– they are ineffective against
viruses.
Avoid spicy, crunchy and citrus
food and drinks – they irritate an
inflamed throat.
To soothe and keep it moist, I
will drink lots of water, gargle
with salt water, inhale steam
from a humidifier or hot water
(five to 10 minutes several times
a day) and place a towel soaked
in hot water over the throat.
If I wake up with a sore throat,
the first thing I do is to drink
either salt water or water with
lemon or Eno (fruit salt), followed
by lots of water and warm honey
with lemon.
Umi Solikah S
I drink lots of water and take a
spoonful of manuka honey.
Melissa Chua
I drink pineapple and orange
juice. It sounds weird but it works
for me.
Richard Chung
I take a tablespoon of apple cider
vinegar mixed with half a cup of
water.
Ivonne Lestari
Avoid spicy or fried food during
this period. Take two spoonfuls
of pei pa koa (a traditional
Chinese herbal remedy) and drink
plenty of water.
If it gets worse, stir
two spoonfuls of African sea
coconut mixture into a cup of
warm water. It will have a cooling
effect on your throat and help get
rid of any irritation or tickle.
Tan Kim
WINNER
Pauline Wong wins a $50
shopping voucher for the best
post.
The winner should e-mail her
full name, username, address,
identity card number and contact
number to [email protected]
by Wednesday. Specify ST MYB
Facebook as the subject.
www.facebook.com/
STMindYourBody