Sarah's sore throat
Sarah's sore throat (also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis) is a disease primarily located in the area around her tonsils. It can be caused by both a virus and a bacteria. Her sore throat is partly a disease in itself and partly an effect of other diseases such as flu and glandular fever.
Her disease is normally seen in children and young people but it can occur at any age. The characteristics of her disease are throat pain and trouble with her swallowing. If her disease is due to bacteria she can be treated with antibiotics. Usually there are no complications.
How did she contract the sore throat?
By being infected by a virus or bacteria.
Infection by a virus may come from the same virus that causes colds and from an Epstein-Barr virus - the latter causes glandular fever. Sarah's infection originates from airborne droplets and hands that carry the infection from person to person (probably Ken Bruce/Lynne Bowels - the two she shares the studio with).
Among the bacteria that cause sore throats, the streptococcus group A is the most common. Sarah's incubation period between picking up the infection until the disease breaks out, should be two to four days or sometimes less.
What are the signs of her sore throat?
Pain in her throat and difficulty in her swallowing.
Pain may spread to both her ears.
Her throat is reddish, her tonsils are swollen and may be coated.
She may possibly gain a high temperature.
Swollen lymph nodes under her jaw and in her neck may occur.
If her sore throat is due to a viral infection the symptoms are usually milder. Usually they are connected to the common cold.
If her sore throat is due to the Coxsackie virus, small blisters may alarmingly develop on her tonsils and in her soft palate. Her likely blisters should erupt in a few days and will be followed by a scab which may be very painful for her.
If her sore throat is due to a streptococcal infection, her tonsils may swell and become coated with mucus and her throat will be very sore. She may run a temperature, havesour breath and may feel quite ill.
Good advice
If signs of her sore throat persist for more than a few days or are severe with marked difficulty in swallowing, high fever or vomiting, then her GP should be consulted (ADRIAN!).
Warm drinks and soft food may ease her swallowing problems.
She must drink.
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