ABSTRACT
Antibiotics are generally of marginal benefit in sore throat and may only shorten the illness by 16 hours. Most sore throats are viral. Symptoms resolve within 3 days in 40% of people and within 7 days in 85%, irrespective of whether the sore throat is viral or due to a streptococcal infection. Clinical scores and point-of-care tests have been developed with the aim of identifying those patients more likely to benefit from antibiotics. Harmless, commensal streptococci are present in the throats of 12%–40% of healthy people. Oral corticosteroids may be prescribed if the pain is very severe but carry significant risks of sepsis and venous thromboembolism. For children who are unable to swallow tablets, amoxicillin suspension may be used instead. It tastes much better than phenoxymethylpenicillin suspension, and concordance is likely to be better because it is given three times daily.
