Sore throats come with quite a few illnesses, a symptom of colds, the flu, COVID, mononucleosis (mono), and even early-stage chicken pox. It can also develop because of something that’s going on directly in your throat, like tonsillitis or strep throat.
Because it’s such a common symptom, you might ignore a sore throat at first. In many cases, the sore throat — along with its accompanying illness — resolves on its own within about a week.
Other times, though, you need medical care to address what’s causing your discomfort. We routinely see people for sore throats at our SmartClinic Urgent Care offices in West Covina or Santa Clarita, California. Our team can help you figure out what’s behind the pain and what treatment you need to resolve it.
The question, then, is: How do you know when it’s time to seek treatment for a sore throat? Here are a few indicators.
You can wait out a sore throat at home for a bit. If the discomfort is manageable and starts getting better within five days, you’re probably in the clear.
If the sore throat lasts more than a week, it’s time to come in to see us.
You should also get medical care sooner if you have any of the following symptoms:
These symptoms may mean that you have a bacterial infection like strep throat. We can prescribe you an antibiotic to clear up the infection, alleviating your sore throat and any other symptoms.
The right treatment for your sore throat depends on what’s causing it. We diagnose you to pinpoint the root cause of the issue. For a sore throat, that often means a throat swab and strep test.
Once we know what’s going on, we prescribe treatment where we can — such as the antibiotic for bacterial infections.
If your throat pain comes from a viral infection, the best course of action is to wait it out. Keeping your throat moist during this time usually helps minimize your discomfort. We have some recommendations to make your sore throat more manageable during this period:
You can often wait out a sore throat to let it heal on its own, but if you have any of the more serious symptoms we outlined above, seeking care sooner means getting relief sooner. Contact SmartClinic Urgent Care to schedule an appointment or simply walk into either of our locations for the throat care you need.
