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I’ve had a sore throat for over a week and it’s hard to swallow. I have no fever. Home remedies (chamomile tea, ginger, gargling with salt water) do not help. What is going on?
Anonymously
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
You most likely have a laryngitis which is caused by a virus. If you catch a virus that affects your immune system is not yet known, the virus can infect the cells of the mucous membrane in your throat. Those infected cells then become a ‘factory’ for the virus, which in turn infects new cells.
As long as the immune system does not yet have a good antibody against the virus, it cannot do anything but destroy infected cells – and that causes painful inflammation. Over time, the immune system develops an antibody. New virus is then immediately captured and can no longer infect cells. The inflammation then goes out quickly. Sore throat can last up to two weeks. Home remedies provide relief, but do nothing against viruses.
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