Sore Throat Without Fever

Almost everyone has had a sore throat at one time or the other and I can tell for certain that it is not fun to have. You suddenly awake to see yourself caught up with swollen gland, difficulty with swallowing, pain and fever. However, on a few occasions, you might discover that you are sore in the throat but have no fever which usually accompanies a sore throat. Usually,a sore throat disappears after just a few days but when the condition persists for more than one week, it should become a cause for concern.

This article has been written to guide you as you seek to understand the factors responsible for sore throat without fever, the care and treatment options and when to see the doctor.

Causes of Sore Throat with No Fever

The lymph nodes are located in different parts of your body. Their primary responsibility is to clean up your lymph fluids. They act as soldiers helping the body to prevent infections and some diseases like cancer. The lymph fluid contains lymph, white blood cells, water, fat and protein. As they filter the blood, collecting and destroying infections, they may in the process become infected as well.

Having sore throat is primarily as a result of infection of the pair of lymph nodes on the posterior part of your tongue. There are different reasons behind this swelling and sore occurring in the nodes. A sore throat usually heralds a cold and comes with fever as one of the presenting symptoms. However, we are looking at occasions where an individual has a sore throat but no fever. Some of the factors responsible for this condition are:

1. Common Cold

This is a common cause of sore throat with no fever. It is a health condition caused by a virus and can easily spread to other people. It causes inflammation of the membranes that line the nose and throat. Although it could be caused by a plethora of viruses but the most common causes are the rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Other presenting symptoms of common cold include stuffy runny nose, scratchy itchy throat, sneezing, fatigue, mild hacking, cough, headache etc

2. Syphilis

Having sore throat with no fever may also be as a result of syphilis. Syphilis is a highly infectious STD contracted primarily through sexual activities. Engaging in oral sex and prolonged kissing with anyone who has syphilis is an avenue for contracting this contagious disease. Sore throat is one of the non-genital symptoms of syphilis.

3. Fifth Disease

Another possible cause of sore throat with no fever is the fifth disease. Fifth disease also known as erythema infectiosum and “slapped cheek’’ disease is a viral infection that causes rash. It is contracted through contact with fluid from the nose and throat as well as blood of an infected person. Although it is moderately infectious and common among children of school age, it can also be contracted by adults. Other symptoms are, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, rash, itching and runny nose.

4. Leukemia

This is a medical condition that results in the abnormal growth of cells of the blood and bone marrow or simply put, it is the cancer of the blood. As a result of leukemia, some patients end up producing abnormal white blood cells which are not mature. These white blood cells are unable to fight off diseases and infections the way healthy cells should. The lymph nodes become susceptible to infections as a result also. This results in sore throat, anemia, easy bleeding and susceptibility to infections.

5. Allergies

Sometimes a mild sore throat can easily be treated with lozenges but on few occasions the sore throat refuses to go away lasting several days or even weeks after treatment. This could be as a result of exposure to some allergens. Allergic reactions to airborne particles such as pollens could cause irritation of the throat leading to sore throat. When an individual is exposed to an allergen, postnatal drip; a condition in which mucus of the sinus drains down the throat, occurs causing tickling and scratchy pain, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and coughing and also causing the throat to become sore in the process.

6. Bronchitis

The bronchial tubes are the main passages through which air is delivered to the lungs. Sometimes these tubes can become inflamed; a condition known as bronchitis, which leads to the buildup of mucus causing such symptoms as sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath etc. Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic depending on the duration. Acute bronchitis lasts a few days before clearing up while chronic bronchitis lasts longer. Chronic bronchitis is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a respiratory disorder which occurs in cigarette smokers and former smokers and people who are constantly exposed to dust, fumes, ammonia, strong acid, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide or bromine.

Treatment And Care Of Sore Throat With No Fever

The following tips can help to assuage the effect of the sore throat if they cannot totally eliminate the symptoms:

• If sore throat is a result of allergic reaction, identifying the sources of the allergens is a vital way to alleviating the sore throat. Once identified, stay away from the allergens or irritants.
• Drink water frequently to keep the throat moist at all times as dryness helps to aggravate the pains. Use warm fluid such as thin soup or warm tea to soothe and comfort the throat. Avoid caffeinated drinks.
• Gargle with warm salt water to reduce the pain and fight the infection.
• Use known over-the-counter painkillers daily. Antihistamines like Claritin and cetirizine are known to be very effective against pain. They also help prevent the body from mounting histamine responses to allergen attack in the body.

When To See The Doctor

Ideally, the sore throat should go away few days after home treatment, but if there is not much in terms of improvement and you experience any of the symptoms listed below or a combination then you need to see the doctor.

• When the sore throat becomes severe and prolonged lasting up to two weeks
• You have difficulty in breathing
• You experience joint pain
• You have difficulty in swallowing
• You have earache
• You start experiencing weight loss
• When the sore throat becomes recurrent
• When you have difficulty in opening your mouth
• If you have an accompanying rash.

Conclusion

Whenever you have a sore throat, remember to pay attention to the signs and symptoms you have. Check if there is fever or not; this could make the difference. But should you have sore throat no fever, apply the remedies we listed in this post.

However, if these remedies fail to address your problem or if you notice the symptoms mentioned in the last part of this post, you should see a doctor immediately. You may need to undergo some tests in order to find out the root cause of the problem so that it can be properly addressed. Don’t wait until things get completely out of hands before you take action. Your life is too important to gamble with.