Example patient information leaflet: Tonsillitis and Sore Throat

Sore throats are particularly common in young children and young adults. This is probably because they are mixing in different social groups, and this is the first time that they have been exposed to the bacteria or viruses which cause sore throats. It is common in adults to have two or three sore throats per year, especially when developing a cold.

After they have had a sore throat from particular bacteria or viruses, patients develop immunity to those bacteria or viruses. Antibiotics will not help most sore throats. The antibiotics themselves can cause unpleasant side-effects, and if they are used too often, they will no longer be effective for patients with life-threatening illness.

Home treatment:

• take paracetamol 1 g every 4 hours up to a maximum of 4 g in any 24 hours (for children, follow the instructions for their age)
  
• try throat gargles with warm salty water
  
• drink plenty of soft drinks (it may help to warm these)
  
• stay at home if you have a raised temperature
  
• avoid cigarette smoke.

Further advice on simple relief measures can be obtained from your local pharmacist.

Contact your doctor if you have:

• any difficulty in breathing
  
• any difficulty swallowing saliva or opening your mouth
  
• a persistent high temperature
  
• a particularly severe illness, especially with symptoms mainly on one side of the throat
  
• a sore throat which is not improving after several days
  
• very frequent sore throats, which don't respond to home treatment as above.