Use paracetamol for sore throats rather than antibiotics

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has encouraged GPs to use paracetamol for sore throats rather than antibiotics, which are prescribed in 60 per cent of situations.

Respiratory tract infections are one of the main reasons people visit their GP, and of all the GP appointments made in the UK for respiratory tract infections, 27 per cent is for a sore throat. Although antibiotics are prescribed in 60 per cent of cases, evidence reviewed by the health regulator has found most people will get better without antibiotics.

Instead, the body advises healthcare professionals to help people to manage their symptoms with pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. It also notes that some patients want wish to medicated lozenges containing either a local anaesthetic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or an antiseptic, although the pain relief is usually less effective.

Dr Tessa Lewis, GP and chair of the managing common infections guidance committee, said: “Paracetamol can help to relieve pain and control temperature. Medicated lozenges might not reduce the pain by much, but some people may choose to use them.”

Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive at NICE, said: “The evidence shows antibiotics are not an effective treatment for the majority of sore throats. People who need them should be given them, and our advice will support those decisions. But it is clear that routine prescribing in all cases isn’t appropriate. We are living in a world where bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. It is vital these medicines are protected, and only used when they are effective.”