SORE THROAT

A sore throat may be accompanied by the following: fever, chills, a dry or productive cough, runny nose, sneezing and headache. Hoarseness and pain when talking are also signs of a sore throat. If the hoarseness or pain persist for longer than two weeks or difficulty in breathing is experienced in this time, it is essential to contact a doctor.

If the tonsils are covered in white or yellow pus, this could be an indicator for tonsillitis. It is essential to make sure that the throat and airway do not dry out. This is achieved by making sure to drink plenty of fluids such as herbal tea and water, and sucking lozenges, drops or pastilles.

Male Pharmacy customer: Good morning. I’m sorry, but my German is not that good!
PTA: Good morning. That’s not a problem! How may I help you?

I have been having difficulties swallowing since I got up this morning. And my throat feels very dry.
Does it hurt when you swallow? Or is it only when you talk?

It hurts quite a lot when I swallow. And I have a sort of scratchy feeling in my throat.
Do you have a cough?

Yes, but only a slight one.
And it is not productive, is it?

If you mean am I coughing up any phlegm, no not at the moment.
Okay. First, I recommend these pastilles, they contain a local anaesthetic which will relieve the pain. We also have these pastilles with Icelandic moss, they are great for keeping the throat moist. They come in the following flavours: classic, which is relatively neutral, cassis, mint and ginger.

I’ll definitely take the anaesthetic! And I’ll have the Icelandic moss in cassis, please. What else do you recommend?
Sage tea is excellent for any type of throat problem. It is not to everyone’s taste, but it is natural and very effective at alleviating throat irritation.

How often can I drink it?
A few times a day, and make sure it is not too hot. You can also use it to gargle, which will help alleviate your sore throat

Thank you, I will do that.
Just one more question: you don’t tend to get tonsillitis, do you? I mean, you haven’t noticed any white or yellow coating on your tonsils, have you?

No, not at the moment. I checked my throat this morning, and as far as I can see, there is no coloured coating there.
What about the lymph nodes? Have you noticed if they are swollen at all?

No, why?
If the lymph nodes were swollen and you also noticed a yellowish coating, I would recommend that you go to a doctor.

You have been very helpful, thank you.
If you notice no real improvement over the next two or three days, in spite of taking the medication, please make sure to consult a doctor, especially if you start to get fever.

I’ll make sure to do that, thanks again. Goodbye!
You are welcome. Goodbye!

Vocabulary
sore throat Halsschmerzen
pharyngitis Rachenentzündung
inflammation Entzündung
accompanied by begleitet von
chills Schüttelfrost
cough Husten
sneeze Niesen
headache Kopfschmerzen
hoarseness Heiserkeit
persist andauern
tonsils Mandeln
pus Eiter
lozenges, pastilles Lutschtabletten
swallow lutschen
scratchy kratzig
phlegm Schleim
ginger Ingwer
sage tea Salbeitee
gargle gurgeln
tonsillitis Mandelentzündung
coating Belag
improvement Verbesserung

Den Artikel finden Sie auch in Die PTA IN DER APOTHEKE 12/14 auf Seite 66.

Catherine Croghan, Lecturer in English and native speaker