Sore Throat And Extreme Fatigue

What Are Common Causes Of Sore Throat And Fatigue

There are many causes of sore throat and fatigue, and many of them are very common. A lot of garden-variety illnesses begin with these two symptoms, but they can also be a signal of more serious illnesses that require medical attention. Viruses and bacterial infections are common causes, and sometimes either intentional or accidental chemical exposure can cause these symptoms as well.

Those who have had a cold or the flu may recall starting out by noticing a sore or scratchy throat and a sense of feeling run down, although this isnt always the first symptom of the many rhinoviruses or influenza viruses. Sometimes a scratchy throat is so minor it isnt noticed at first, or it is present without fatigue. Some people feel achy, develop a fever, and get nasal congestion or coughing, too.

Certain forms of cancer are also cause tiredness and a sore throat. Lymphoma falls into this group, with the sore throat often caused by swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes, the treatments for cancer result in a depressed immune system, which can leave the patient open to other illnesses. People with cancer should immediately report cold or flu symptoms to a physician.

Symptoms Of Glandular Fever

Glandular fever is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus . Symptoms are thought to take about one to two months to develop after infection with the virus.

The most common symptoms of the condition include:

• a high temperature
• a sore throat this is usually severe, but in an older adult, or very young child, the infection may be present without a sore throat
• swollen glands in your neck and possibly in other parts of your body, such as under your armpits
• fatigue

Glandular fever can also cause:

• a general sense of feeling unwell
• aching muscles
• loss of appetite
• pain around or behind your eyes
• swollen tonsils and adenoids , which may affect your breathing
• the inside of your throat to become very red and there may be a whitish coating
• small red or purple spots on the roof of your mouth
• a rash
• swelling or puffiness around your eyes
• a tender or swollen tummy
• jaundice

Some of these symptoms may develop a few days before the main symptoms mentioned above.

While the symptoms of glandular fever can be unpleasant, most of them should pass within two to three weeks. Fatigue, however, can occasionally last several months.

How Is A Sore Throat From Tonsillitis Treated

If the tonsillitis infection is bacterial like strep throat, then antibiotics are given. If the tonsillitis infection is viral, antibiotics will not help. The virus must run its course for the sore throat to resolve. For either type of throat infection, the following treatment measures may help:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Eating smooth, soothing foods like gelatin, ice cream, shakes, frozen desserts, and soup
• Avoiding crunchy or spicy foods
• Using a vaporizer
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen. Children should not take aspirin.

If the tonsillitis infections occur repeatedly, or if the tonsils are interfering with sleep and breathing, the doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy, which is the surgical removal of the tonsils.

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What Causes A Sore Throat

The most common cause of a sore throat is a virus like a cold or the flu, COVID-19 or glandular fever.

Less than 1 in 3 sore throats is caused by a bacterial infection. Some sore throats are caused by the bacteria Strepococcus pyogenes. This is sometimes called a strep throat. If bacteria are the cause, you tend to become very unwell and your infection seems to get much worse. If the sore throat is caused by bacteria, you may benefit from antibiotics.

Sometimes a sore throat can be caused by tonsillitis , mouth ulcers or allergies.

Sore Throats And Children

Sore throats are very common in children. They are usually caused by a virus. The child will normally also have a runny rose, cough, sore ears, a fever, be tired and be off their food.

It is more likely to be strep throat if the child is older than 3 years and if they have swollen glands in the neck, swollen, red tonsils with white spots, a rash and vomiting.

If youre not sure about your childs symptoms, or you are worried, see your doctor.

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How Is Me/cfs Treated

There is currently no FDA-approved treatment or drug for ME/CFS. As neither a cause nor cure for ME/CFS has been identified, treatment is directed at relieving symptoms. However, there are interventions and symptom-reduction strategies that you can use to significantly improve patients quality of life.

Learn more in our Patient Resources section.

Studies show that less than 9-16 percent of ME/CFS patients in the United States have been properly diagnosed. Diagnosing ME/CFS is a challenging process because there is still not one diagnostic test or biomarker thats conclusive. Getting a definitive diagnosis often takes months or even years.

Providing compassionate and effective care for patients with ME/CFS can be challenging, like many other multisystemic chronic conditions. Patients and their providers must be partners with open lines of communication in order to effectively manage this illness. For medical providers seeking to provide better care for ME/CFS patients, reference our educational materials at our Medical Provider Resources page.

Southern Cross Medical Library

The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.

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Omicron Symptoms By Vaccine Type

“Every patient Ive seen with Covid thats had a 3rd booster dose has had mild symptoms. By mild I mean mostly sore throat. Lots of sore throat. Also some fatigue, maybe some muscle pain. No difficulty breathing. No shortness of breath. All a little uncomfortable, but fine,” Spencer wrote.

From there, it goes downhill – slowly, though.

“Most patients Ive seen that had 2 doses of Pfizer/Moderna still had mild symptoms, but more than those who had received a third dose. More fatigued. More fever. More coughing. A little more miserable overall. But no shortness of breath. No difficulty breathing. Mostly fine,” he said.

For those who just had the one shot of the J& J vaccine and never took a booster, the situation isn’t as good.

“Most patients Ive seen that had one dose of J& J and had Covid were worse overall. Felt horrible. Fever for a few days . Weak, tired. Some shortness of breath and cough. But not one needing hospitalization. Not one needing oxygen. Not great. But not life-threatening,” he tweeted.

And then there are the unvaccinated, who by all data are being hospitalized at a rate 15x or more the vaccinated.

Hospitalizations are increasing as Omicron cases reach record highs in NYC and all across the country.But as I noticed on my recent ER shifts, take a look at who needs admission to the hospital for severe Covid? TL DR Its the unvaccinated.

Craig Spencer MD MPH

Treatment Options And Prevention For Viral Throat Infection

Most causes of viral throat infections will resolve on their own without a specific antiviral treatment, especially in otherwise healthy individuals. Therefore, most treatment is focused on improving symptoms until the infection clears, including rest and hydration, soothing measures and pain medication, environmental changes and specific antiviral treatment.

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Body Aches Or Pains Fatigue Sore Throat And Weakness

• Medical Author: Dan Brennan, MD

Reviewed on 6/15/2020

These symptoms are present in a wide variety of medical conditions, including respiratory infections. To diagnose strep throat, your doctor may need to do a throat swab. If your symptoms came on suddenly, then you should contact your doctor right away.

While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:

How Is Infectious Mononucleosis Diagnosed

A diagnosis of mononucleosis is usually based on reported symptoms. However, diagnosis can be confirmed with specific blood tests and other lab tests, including:

• White blood cell count, which is not diagnostic, but the presence of certain types of white blood cells may support the diagnosis

• Heterophile antibody test or monospot test, which, if positive, indicates infectious mononucleosis

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Pharmacy First Scotland: Sore Throat Treatment From Your Pharmacy

You don’t usually need to get medical advice if you have a sore throat however your pharmacist may advise you see your GP if:

• your symptoms are severe
• you have persistent symptoms that haven’t started to improve after a week
• you experience severe sore throats frequently
• you have a weak immune system for example, you have HIV, are having chemotherapy, or are taking medication that suppresses your immune system

If they’re not open, you should phone the NHS 24 service

If you have a persistent sore throat , you should see your GP who may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below.

Visit your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms such as:

• difficulty breathing or swallowing

• current or past stomach problems, such as a stomach ulcer
• current or past liver or kidney problems

Children under the age of 16 should never be given aspirin.

Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Always read the manufacturers instructions so you do not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose.

What Are The Symptoms Of Sore Throat And Headache

When you have a sore throat, you may have:

• Pain or scratchiness in your throat.
• Pain thats worse when you speak or swallow.
• Hoarse voice.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck .
• Red or swollen tonsils with white spots on them.

Your headache symptoms may include pain that:

• Comes on slowly.
• Feels dull and aching.
• Affects both sides of your head.

Its also not unusual to have fatigue with sore throat and headache. Fatigue, chills and muscle aches are all symptoms of viral and bacterial infections.

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Problems With Thinking Memory And Concentration

If you have ME/CFS, it’s also common to have:

• problems remembering certain words, names or numbers
• difficulty concentrating or difficulty focusing on more than one thing at a time
• problems remembering things that happened recently
• being slow to speak or react to things

These problems are sometimes described “brain fog”.

When Is Fatigue Considered Extreme

There is no good criteria for assessing the level of fatigue it depends on the person. However, most people know when their tiredness is more than a lack of sleep. Some of my patients remember the exact day they got hit with fatigue so overwhelming that they knew something was wrong.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

POTS is a common condition affecting an estimated one to three million Americans. Researchers dont fully understand the causes of POTS, but it is more common in women than men and is more likely to develop in adolescents and young adults.

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Is A Sore Throat With A Cold Caused By Viruses Or Bacteria

Sore throats can be caused by viruses or bacteria. The most common causes of sore throats are viruses. Viral sore throats are often accompanied by other cold symptoms that may include a runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes, and sneezing. Other causes of sore throat include smoking, pollution or irritants in the air, allergies, and dry air.

Is Pots More Common In Certain People

There are no established risk factors for POTS. However, it is known to run in families, so it could have a genetic component. Researchers have also established a link between POTS and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome . So if you have one of these conditions, you might also have the other.

A big group of those diagnosed with POTS is young women and teens. However, this doesnt mean they are more likely to develop this condition.

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What’s The Difference Between A Cold Strep Throat And Tonsillitis

A sore throat is often the first sign of a cold. However, a sore throat from a cold often gets better or goes away after the first day or two. Other cold symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion may follow the sore throat.

Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists.

Tonsillitis is a painful inflammation or infection of the tonsils, the tissue masses located at the back of the throat.

Healthwhy Early Coronavirus Cases May Have Been Missed

Since that report, other symptoms related to COVID-19 have emerged.

Many patients who’ve either tested positive for the coronavirus, or have been told by their physicians to assume they have it, also develop a headache and sore throat. Others become sick to their stomach with nausea or diarrhea.

Some patients say they have no interest in eating. Many report they’re losing their senses of taste and smell, the British Rhinological Society said recently.

Just this week, a small study published in JAMA Ophthalmology added another potential COVID-19 warning sign: pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. A third of the 38 patients in the report had the inflammatory eye condition.

But it’s also becoming more clear that some infected people spreading the virus don’t have any symptoms at all.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Infectious Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis usually lasts for 1 to 2 months. The following are the most common symptoms of mononucleosis. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Fever

• Swollen lymph glands in the neck, armpits, and groin

• Extreme fatigue

• Enlarged spleen

• Head and body aches

• Liver involvement, such as mild liver damage that can cause temporary jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream

Once a person has had mononucleosis, the virus remains dormant in the throat and blood cells for the rest of that person’s life. Once a person has been exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus, a person is usually not at risk for developing mononucleosis again.

The symptoms of mononucleosis may resemble other medical conditions. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How Is Strep Throat Different From A Sore Throat With A Cold

Strep throat is caused by an infection of streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat spreads by having contact with an infected person’s saliva or nasal secretions. Although strep throat is more common in children ages 5 to 15, it also occurs in adults. To diagnose strep throat, your doctor can check a rapid strep test or send a throat swab to the lab for a culture. In some cases, they may be able to diagnose strep based on your reported symptoms and other signs, such as white spots in the throat area, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

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How Are Sore Throats With Colds Treated

Although there is no cure for a sore throat caused by a cold virus, there are ways to help you feel more comfortable. Drinking warm liquids, gargling with warm salt water, sucking on ice chips, or taking an over-the-counter medicine may relieve symptoms of pain or fever. When you are sick with a cold, it is also important to get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of fluids.

Young Couple Faces Covid

SAN DIEGO COVID-19 patients are finding out one person’s COVID experience may be very different from another person’s experience. The list of symptoms for the latest surge of the COVID-19 omicron variant include sore throats, body aches and fatigue.

For one local couple, not only are they still learning each other but they have to do that with coronavirus. Matt McDonald and Darcey Johnson have been together for six months. Matt shared, “We always change the story of how we met but we… we met on Bumble. Their relationship – which started in the middle of a health pandemic – finally had to face that pandemic head on.

Matt says compared to Darcey his symptoms were worse. “Very painful to swallow, very painful to cough, difficult to talk and in addition to that there was just extreme fatigue and I had body aches as well. That turned into a severe sore throat. Very, very bad sore throat that turned into a cough.”Dr. Argentina Servin says she isnt surprised to learn of the couples different experience. “We’ve seen that since the beginning of the pandemic. Because we are different, our immune responses will be different, said Servin.

If youd like more information or would like to participate in a clinical study at UC San Diego, click here.

If youd like more information or would like to participate in a clinical study conducted with funds from the National Institutes of Health, click here.

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