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During this time of the year, a sore throat is an extremely common complaint. But rest assured that most sore throats will go away by themselves after a few days and can be effectively treated at home.
Take action:
Try the following: get a lot of rest; drink plenty of fluids; gargle with warm salt water or some other home-made gargle to wash away mucus and irritants; avoid smoking cigarettes; eat largely soft foods for a couple of days to avoid irritating your throat; suck non-prescription lozenges containing a mild anaesthetic; apply a warm heating pad, compress or salt plaster to your throat; and try steam inhalations.
Pay a visit to your doctor if the sore throat persists for more than a week, or if you develop a fever.
