Throat antibiotics: what to know

A sore throat can occur with a cold or another viral illness, while bacterial throat infection may need antibiotic treatment. Symptoms alone cannot always separate these causes. A clinician may examine your throat, check your neck glands, consider fever and cough, and sometimes arrange a throat test. Antibiotics are not a general painkiller and will not shorten every sore throat.

The medicine chosen depends on the suspected infection, allergies, other medicines, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and your medical history. Taking an antibiotic that was prescribed for someone else can delay the right care and cause unwanted effects.

If prescribed, follow the directions and complete the course unless the prescriber tells you to stop or change it. Do not share doses, save leftovers, or double a missed dose without checking the instructions. Fluids, rest, and suitable labelled pain relief can ease discomfort. Contact the prescriber about a rash, severe diarrhoea, vomiting, or symptoms that are not improving as expected.

Get urgent help for breathing difficulty, inability to swallow saliva, rapidly worsening throat swelling, confusion, or signs of a serious allergic reaction such as facial swelling or wheezing. Arrange review if symptoms become markedly worse, you cannot keep fluids down, or a prescribed treatment causes concerning effects. A persistent or recurring sore throat also deserves an examination.

Ask what infection is being treated, whether testing is useful, how to take each dose, what to do after a missed dose, and which effects require help. Tell the clinician about allergies, pregnancy, kidney problems, and medicines or supplements.