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One of the commonest causes of illness, a sore throat often clears up on its own, but knowing what's causing it is important to treat it properly. Viral, bacterial, or caused by allergic elements - these kinds of sore throats have different characteristics that need different responses.
Sore throats have several origins, including infection and environmental factors. Some common causes include:
Viral infections: Viruses cause 90% of sore throat cases. Sore throats may result due to flu or common cold as well as those from chickenpox and measles that can all cause irritation.
Bacterial Infections: Streptococcus bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat, is the most common bacterial source. Strep throat is contagious and can lead to complications if untreated.
Allergies: Pollen, pet dander, and mold can trigger throat irritation, often accompanied by postnasal drip, sneezing, and watery eyes.
Environmental Factors: Dry air, pollution, and smoke can dry out or irritate the throat, creating a scratchy sensation.
Other Causes: GERD, vocal strain, even tumors may be responsible for chronic sore throats.
Determining your cause of sore throat requires analysis of symptoms that accompany it, how long the sore throat lasts, and how bad the sore throat is.
The viruses that cause a sore throat are usually similar to a cold in their symptoms and tend to be milder than bacterial infections.
- Red, swollen throat without white patches
- Persistent cough
- Runny nose and nasal congestion
- Fever, usually mild
Duration: Viral infections last for 7–10 days without antibiotics.
Treatment: Home remedies, such as warm fluids, saltwater gargling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate it.
Also Read: Flu Season Grips 40 States In US, CDC Reports Alarming Numbers
Bacterial sore throats, mainly strep throat, are more severe and require prompt medical attention to prevent complications.
- Red and swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks of pus
- High fever
- Absence of a cough
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (especially in children)
- Small red spots on the roof of the mouth
Diagnosis: Rapid strep tests or throat cultures confirm the presence of bacteria.
Treatment: Antibiotics are necessary to eliminate the infection. Without treatment, complications like rheumatic fever or abscesses can develop.
Throat irritation is caused by postnasal drip. Allergies create a buildup and drip of mucus down the back of the throat.
- Irritation of the throat and ears
- Runny eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion
- These symptoms are usually relieved by antihistamines or removal from the source of the allergen
Duration: Allergic sore throats are sustained for as long as the allergens are exposed.
A sore throat should be taken to a doctor if:
- The condition lasts more than a week.
- There is shortness of breath or swallowing becomes painful.
- Swelling is too pronounced or the pain in the throat is extreme.
- High fever, rash, or joint pain occur along with the sore throat.
- A child shows signs of dehydration or refuses fluids due to throat pain.
Early diagnosis can prevent complications and speed recovery.
Viral infections and allergies often respond well to non-invasive treatments:
Let your body rest sufficiently. Humidifying dry air will help keep the throat moist, especially when winter is on its way.
Bacterial infections require antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Finish the treatment completely to avoid reoccurrence or resistance.
Prevention is better than cure, and simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk:
Understanding the cause of your sore throat—whether viral, bacterial, or allergic—is key to effective treatment and recovery. While many sore throats resolve on their own, seeking timely medical advice for persistent or severe symptoms can prevent complications. Prioritize self-care, and don’t hesitate to consult a doctor when needed. Remember, your throat’s health is a vital part of your overall well-being.
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The risk of hantavirus spreading is generally considered low, as repeatedly stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health agencies, after the recent outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship. However, a shocking peer-reviewed study has found that the Andes strain of the rat-borne virus can persist in human semen for up to six years.
More concerning is the possibility that the virus could potentially be transmitted sexually even after a person has recovered, according to the 2023 study published in the journal Viruses.
The research, conducted by Swiss scientists at Spiez Laboratory, suggests that hantavirus may survive in the male reproductive tract like viruses such as Ebola.
The research team, which included scientists from the University of Bern and the University of Lausanne, investigated a 55-year-old man who had contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus in South America six years earlier.
The researchers discovered that although the virus was no longer detectable in the man’s blood, urine, or respiratory tract, it was still present in his semen 71 months later.
"Viral RNA remained primarily detectable intracellularly in semen samples throughout the complete study period of almost six years," the 2023 study stated,
“Taken together, our results show that the Andes virus has the potential for sexual transmission,” it added. However, so far no confirmed case of such transmission has yet been documented.
Also read: Hantavirus Outbreak: Critically Ill French Patient On Artificial Lung Support
Hantavirus is not the first virus found to persist in the male reproductive system. According to the study, viruses such as Ebola and Zika are also known to evade the immune system by remaining hidden in the testes for extended periods.
A 2021 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, which resulted in 23 cases and 12 deaths, was later linked to a survivor of the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic who reportedly transmitted the virus sexually years after recovery.
The testes are considered a biological “safe harbour” for at least 27 infectious diseases, enabling certain pathogens to remain hidden in the body and potentially spread years after a patient has recovered.
Because sperm cells are essential for reproduction, they are shielded from the body’s immune response. However, this immune protection can also create an environment where viruses are able to survive and persist for long periods.
Analysts at Airfinity, a company that tracks global health risks, recommend that male patients should receive “extensive safe-sex guidance beyond the [42-day] quarantine”, the Telegraph reported
The guidance should be “analogous to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Ebola survivor semen-monitoring protocols,” it added.
The WHO protocols recommend that the semen of male Ebola survivors should be tested every three months and should not be considered virus-free until two consecutive negative test results are obtained.
Until cleared, they should “abstain from all types of sex” or “use condoms consistently and correctly.”
They should also wash themselves “thoroughly” with soap and water after any contact with semen – including after masturbation, according to the guidance.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 11 people have been affected by the rat-borne virus so far, of whom three have died.
A Dutch couple is believed to have been first exposed to the virus while visiting a birdwatching site in Argentina.
The WHO has confirmed that the Andes strain of hantavirus — the only strain known to spread from person to person — is behind the outbreak.
While all passengers onboard the cruise have been taken care of by health authorities, the virus' long incubation period is a serious risk factor. Which means that even those asymptomatic can turn infectious 6-8 weeks later.
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While GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have helped patients lose weight, a major concern has been weight regain once the therapy is stopped. Now, a new study by US scientists suggests that a daily pill may help prevent that rebound weight gain.
According to a clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, switching to the once-daily orforglipron pill may not only help maintain weight loss but also preserve cardiometabolic benefits.
Orforglipron is US drugmaker Eli Lilly’s first oral pill for weight loss, marketed as Foundayo. In April, it received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In the Eli Lilly-funded trial, published in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers found that patients in the Phase 3b clinical trial maintained around 75–80 per cent of their weight loss. They also experienced several additional health benefits, including:
The ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial enrolled patients who had already achieved substantial weight loss that later plateaued while taking weekly injectable GLP-1 drugs during the SURMOUNT-5 trial.
The study randomized:
The results showed that patients switching from tirzepatide to orforglipron maintained an average of 74.7 per cent of their body weight reduction, compared with 49.2 per cent in the placebo group.
Meanwhile, patients who switched from semaglutide to orforglipron maintained 79.3 per cent of their body weight reduction, compared with 37.6 per cent in the placebo arm.
Over the 52-week trial period, participants treated with orforglipron gained:
Eli Lilly licensed orforglipron, the active ingredient in Foundayo, from a Japanese pharmaceutical company in 2018.
Like injectable GLP-1 drugs, Orforglipron is available in six doses ranging from 0.8 mg to 17.2 mg. Patients typically begin at the lowest dose and gradually increase under medical supervision.
Also read: Donald Trump Will Have Fourth Medical Checkup In May, Says White House
Unlike some oral GLP-1 drugs, people taking orforglipron do not need to restrict food or drink intake after taking the pill. Researchers say the small molecule is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and reaches target tissues efficiently.
Foundayo is not approved for use in children and carries warnings about potential thyroid tumours, including thyroid cancer.
The drugmaker advises patients to watch for symptoms such as:
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In a major development for cancer care in India, Swiss pharmaceutical major Roche Pharma has launched Tecentriq SC, the country’s first subcutaneous (under-the-skin) immunotherapy for lung cancer that can be administered in approximately seven minutes.
While conventional intravenous (IV) infusions can take hours, Tecentriq SC can significantly improve the cancer treatment experience by reducing treatment time by nearly 80 per cent.
The seven-minute injectable immunotherapy has the potential to:
“With Tecentriq SC, we are bringing an innovation that meaningfully reduces treatment time while maintaining the established efficacy and safety profile of Tecentriq. We believe such advances can play an important role in enabling more patient-centric and future-ready cancer care delivery in India,” said Roche Pharma India Chief Medical Officer Dr Sivabalan Sivanesan, in a statement.
Tecentriq SC is the first and only PD-(L)1 inhibitor globally with both intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) formulations across multiple cancers.
First approved by the UK MHRA in 2023 and subsequently by the USFDA in 2024, Tecentriq SC is now approved in more than 85 countries, with over 10,000 patients benefitting globally.
In India, Tecentriq SC is currently approved by the DCGI for adjuvant and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is the most common form, making up about 80–85% of all cases.
According to Sivanesan, the drug is priced at about "Rs 3.7 lakh per vial".
Also read: India Gets Its First Alzheimer’s Drug: Know All About Eli Lilly’s Lormalzi
Tecentriq SC combines Tecentriq with Halozyme Therapeutics’ Enhanze drug delivery technology.
The technology uses recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20), an enzyme that temporarily increases permeability in the subcutaneous space, enabling rapid dispersion and absorption of the medicine into the bloodstream, the company said.
The launch of Tecentriq SC also aligns with the broader shift toward decentralised cancer care in India. Shorter administration formats can free up hospital beds, healthcare staff time, and oncology resources at tertiary care centres, while helping shift care delivery to daycare centres and beyond traditional tertiary hospitals.
“India’s growing cancer burden requires us to rethink how cancer care is delivered. Innovations such as subcutaneous immunotherapy have the potential to simplify treatment administration, reduce pressure on hospital beds and support more decentralised models of care beyond large metro hospitals,” said Dr Amit Rauthan, Consultant and HOD of Medical Oncology at Manipal Hospital.
Global studies have indicated strong patient preference for subcutaneous administration.
According to results from the IMscin002 study presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) 2024:
Studies have also shown that subcutaneous administration is associated with less discomfort, pain, and irritation compared to IV administration.
In the IMscin001 study presented at ESMO 2023:
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