Many times, sore throats can clear up on their own quite quickly, but there are some of them that can last for a relatively long time. There also are some sore throat types that can transform in serious diseases.

In order to put the diagnosis of a sore throat, the doctor will try to find out if the patient was nearby a person that had a cold or a flu, because that may be the reason of the sore throat. Also, the doctor will perform a physical examination.

Doing a physical examination, the doctor may observe that there is a bronchitis, a sinus infection, or other infection of the upper respiratory tract. All these can be the cause of the sore throat, but if the doctor thinks there is a strep throat, laboratory tests will be ordered, and the presence of Streptococcus bacterium will be confirmed or not.

There is also available a test for mononucleosis. It is simple, quick, inexpensive, and can be performed in the office.

It is known that coughing provides a way of getting rid of the harmful materials that get into the body. But coughing can be sometimes crippling and annoying, that is why people have used in time all kinds of natural products to relieve coughing.

Nowadays, the cough drop represents one of the most popular treatments for cough.

James Smith, of Poughkeepsie, New York was the first who produced commercial cough drops in the mid-1850s. He said that the drops relieve coughs, hoarseness, colds and sore throat, and in 1852, he began selling them under the name of James Smith and Sons Compound of Wild Cherry Cough Candy.

Later, Smith's sons joined the business, and, in order to protect the name of their product, they put the words "Trade Mark" on the package of the drops.

It is known that sore throats that are caused by a viral infection usually go away on their own in a few days, without causing any complications, but in what concerns mononucleosis, the things differ. It is true, a lot of cases of mononucleosis clear up on their own, but the recovery period is longer, especially in adults, who need up to 6 months to recover completely. Swollen tonsils, adenoids, and lymph nodes are complications that can appear rarely due to mononucleosis. If these appear, it is necessary emergency medical care.

Usually, after starting the treatment with antibiotics, patients with bacterial sore throat will feel better in 24 hours. It is known that a strep throat is the most serious form of sore throat, because it can lead to complications, that is why treatment with antibiotics is necessary.

To avoid getting a sore throat is a very difficult thing, but, however, there should be followed some rules: washing hands frequently and well, avoiding contact with persons that have sore throat, it is also important not to smoke, not to share food and eating utensils with anyone and to stay away of polluted air.