SEE YOURSELF THROUGH SORE THROAT SEASON

It's ranked as one of the most home-treatable conditions, so here's how to soothe your symptoms - and when to get help

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We've all had a nagging sore throat that creeps up overnight - the scratchiness, the pain when you swallow, the hoarse voice.

February is peak sore-throat season, and for many people who begin to feel under the weather, their first instinct is to book a GP appointment. But research suggests that for most sore throats, symptoms can be managed at home with over-the-counter treatments.

Community pharmacists, such as those you'll find at Boots Pharmacies in the UK, are trained healthcare professionals, yet are often overlooked when it comes to minor ailments. Sore throats, however, are exactly the sort of condition they're best placed to help with.

"Pharmacies should be the first port of call for sore throats," confirms Noel Wicks, pharmacist and adviser to Puressentiel. "Several types of sore throat are not treatable with antibiotics, and pharmacies keep a wide range of effective treatments that can relieve symptoms quickly."

WHAT CAUSES A SORE THROAT?