Condition guide
Sore Throat
Painful, scratchy throat making it hard to swallow? Get relief with the right throat lozenges, sprays, or pain relievers for your sore throat.
Find the right medicineTreatment and relief options
- Throat lozenges or sprays with local anaesthetic
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation
- Gargle with warm salt water
- Stay hydrated with warm fluids
- Rest your voice
Top picks
Top pick
Betadine Sore Throat Gargle
A ready-to-use gargle for a scratchy throat if you would rather not mix warm salt water yourself.
Best for pain and inflammation
Nurofen (Ibuprofen 200mg)
Ibuprofen reduces the inflammation behind the pain when swallowing hurts.
General information only — check with your pharmacist or GP before starting a new medicine. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
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Children’s Dosage Calculator
Estimate paracetamol & ibuprofen doses by weight
Enter a valid weight to see dosage estimates. Doses are shown from 10 kg to 41 kg.
Read this before you measure
- This is a general estimate only — the product label always takes priority.
- Always check the strength on your specific bottle and pick the matching one above, as brands vary.
- Using baby drops (100 mg/mL)? Follow the dosing chart on that pack instead.
- Use the measuring cup or syringe that comes with the medicine.
- Volumes are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mL, so the mL shown can give a few mg more or less than the mg figure.
- Don’t give paracetamol to babies under 1 month unless a doctor advises it.
- See a doctor if your child needs it for more than 48 hours.
- Children 12 years or older should use an adult product and follow its directions. For a child under 12 who weighs more than 41 kg, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
- Don’t use ibuprofen for babies under 3 months. For children under 12 months, or with asthma or chickenpox, use it only if a doctor advises it.
Not a prescription
This calculator gives general information only and isn’t a substitute for professional advice. Always read the label and follow the directions for use, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what’s right for your child.
When to get help
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Drooling, unable to swallow saliva, muffled voice, or severe one-sided pain (peritonsillar abscess risk—seek urgent assessment same day)
- High fever with severe throat pain
- Rash accompanying sore throat
- Sore throat lasting more than a few days, or getting worse
Good to know
Virus, bacteria or something else?
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, such as a cold, the flu, COVID-19 or glandular fever, and they usually settle on their own within about 10 days. If a cough, runny nose or sneezing come with it, see cold and flu or cough. A bacterial infection, most often group A strep (strep throat), may also bring a headache, tummy pain, swollen glands in the neck, red spots on the roof of the mouth or pus on the tonsils. Only a doctor can tell which you have, and antibiotics help only bacterial infections. If your voice is hoarse or lost but your throat is not very painful, see hoarse voice.
When a sore throat needs more than lozenges
Lozenges and throat gargles may give mild, short-term pain relief by numbing the throat, and rest, fluids and warm salt-water gargles can help you feel more comfortable. See your doctor if a sore throat lasts more than a few days or is getting worse, or comes with a fever over 38°C, large tender lumps in your neck or feeling very unwell. Untreated bacterial throat infections can occasionally lead to complications such as an abscess next to the tonsils, ear or sinus infections, rheumatic fever or kidney problems. Get medical help straight away for trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, severe pain or a stiff neck. For advice at any hour, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Frequently asked questions
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, and antibiotics don't help those. If a doctor finds a bacterial infection such as strep throat, they may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent complications.
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Medical disclaimer
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what’s right for you.