Sore throat, even swallowing saliva is painful—how to quickly relieve it?

Generally, sore throat with pain even when swallowing saliva may be caused by excessive voice use and irritation, consumption of spicy foods, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, herpangina, or other reasons. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through general management, medication, and other treatments. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Excessive voice use and irritation: Prolonged loud talking or shouting can lead to congestion and swelling of the throat mucosa, causing severe pain. Immediately stop using your voice, allow the throat to rest fully, drink more warm or cool honey water to soothe the mucosa, and consider sucking on non-irritating throat lozenges to relieve discomfort.

2. Dietary irritation from spicy foods: Consuming large amounts of spicy foods such as chili peppers and Sichuan pepper can irritate the throat mucosa, triggering inflammation and pain. Immediately discontinue eating spicy foods, switch to a light, liquid diet—such as millet porridge or vegetable soup—and rinse the mouth with normal saline to clean the throat and reduce irritation.

3. Acute pharyngitis: Viral or bacterial infection causes acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, intensifying pain during swallowing and often accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat. Patients should follow medical advice to use medications such as Lanyin Oral Liquid, Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets, and Compound Borax Gargle Solution. Nebulized inhalation therapy may also be used to rapidly relieve symptoms.

4. Acute tonsillitis: Infection leads to inflamed and swollen tonsils, causing significant pain during swallowing due to pressure, often accompanied by fever and pus spots on the tonsils. Patients should take medications such as Amoxicillin Capsules, Pudilan Anti-inflammatory Oral Liquid, and Compound Chlorhexidine Gargle Solution as directed by a physician. Physical cooling methods can be used to manage fever.

5. Herpangina: Caused by enterovirus infection, this condition results in blisters in the back of the throat, which rupture and form ulcers, leading to intense pain—commonly seen in children. Patients should use Ribavirin Granules, Kaihoujian Spray, and Paracetamol Suspension Drops as prescribed, while maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent secondary infections.

In daily life, ensure adequate hydration and avoid excessively hot or hard foods that may injure the throat. Maintain appropriate indoor humidity to prevent dryness-related irritation. Follow a regular sleep schedule and avoid staying up late to strengthen immunity and reduce the likelihood of recurrent throat conditions.