In sickness, there is no health.

August 21, 2005 10:17 PM

Ugh. I just came down with a cold yesterday. Now I have a sore throat and, curiously, a rash on my throat...

1. I have always been of the mind "tough it out" with colds and stuff, believing letting the body fight things out will be good for it. However, I haven't had a cold for at least a year and this reminds me how much a sore throat hurts, especially when I talk or swallow. So Mefites, what have you found to be effective for sore throats?

2. My throat started feeling funny yesterday afternoon (as in "uh oh. I know a sore throat is coming"). Today in the morning, the skin in front of my throat started to itch. I took a look in the mirror, and there was a rash circular in shape and about 2-3 inches in diameter there. There are no blisters or anything. It just looks red and a bit swollen. It's also tender and itchy. Having a rash with a cold has been a relatively new thing for me as I've never had this when I was a child. In other words, I've had the rash before, but only as an adult. It's definitely not an allergic reaction to a medication because I didn't take any before it appeared. So does this happen to anyone else? If so, what the hell is it??

And I am aware of the ramifications of asking health questions here as opposed to going to a doctor. I just want to know what other people's experiences have been. And to know, perhaps, that my rash isn't a freak thing. Hopefully.

Thank you all beforehand!

posted by state fxn to Health & Fitness (11 answers total)

Xerosis, aka "dry skin" can be perciptated by a cold.

You could also have scarlet fever, measles, chicken pox (probably not if it's not on the torso).

This is an incredibly generalized symptom. If it gets worse or doesn't go away go to your nearest medical provider.
posted by geoff. at 10:37 PM on August 21, 2005

Eucalyptus oil. A drop on the back of each hand, between your thumb and forefinger. Rub them together, hold beneath your nostrils, and inhale.
posted by cribcage at 10:45 PM on August 21, 2005

Chloroseptic Relief Strips - as good as the lozenges, but don't leave your mouth tasting like gak for the next hour. Very convenient packaging too - me likey!
posted by forallmankind at 10:57 PM on August 21, 2005

Response by poster: geoff.: The rash isn't dry skin or scaly. I've had measles and chicken pox as a child, including shingles when I was 11. So I don't think it's that.

As for scarlet fever, you scared me. But I don't think it's that either according to this. Thanks though!

cribcage: I'm assuming that's for the sore throat?
posted by state fxn at 10:58 PM on August 21, 2005

For a few minutes of relief from a sore throat....
freeze your throat by savoring a couple of -- Popsicles!
posted by Independent Scholarship at 11:48 PM on August 21, 2005

My sister gets hives almost every time she has a cold.

You can check here for 50 or so Yes or No questions about your rash.
posted by LadyBonita at 2:42 AM on August 22, 2005

For sore throat relief try this: a mixture of half apple juice half hot water, with honey and juice from half a lemon. It's always worked for me, even when I had strep.
posted by Who_Am_I at 6:04 AM on August 22, 2005

Gargle with salt water a few times a day to help your throat heal quickly. For pain, dissolve an aspirin in about a cup of warm water (it's best if you can get the dissolving tablets, but crushed regular aspirin will work as well) and gargle -- it will taste absolutely godawful terrible, but should make your throat feel better.
posted by Felicity Rilke at 7:47 AM on August 22, 2005

I usually get a sore throat whenever I get a cold, and I've found a solution that works for me. As soon as possible, start drinking water, and lots of it. I know, everyone says that, but I mean lots. For as long as you're sick, you should never be without a glass or bottle of water in your hand. Drink, drink, drink. Since I started doing that, my sore throats go away twice as fast. Of course, YMMV. Feel better.
posted by Sibrax at 8:47 AM on August 22, 2005

This advice isn't specific to sore throats, but to generally help you get over your cold faster, I can't recommend Airborne enough. Do it at the first sign and then every three hours. I'm usually a cynic about these kinds of things, but my last few colds have lasted two days at most with Airborne, as opposed to the usual week or more.
posted by awesomebrad at 9:39 AM on August 22, 2005

Have you had mono? Might want to check that out.
posted by peep at 11:32 AM on August 22, 2005