GPs told to use paracetamol not antibiotics for sore throats
The majority of sore throats do not need antibiotics and medicated lozenges may only help to reduce pain by a small amount, NICE says.
Final guidance, developed by NICE and Public Health England, advises GP and healthcare professionals how they should treat sore throat, a common respiratory tract infection.
Respiratory tract infections are one of the main reasons people visit their GP, or seek help from a pharmacist. Of all the GP appointments made in the UK for respiratory tract infections, 27% are for a sore throat.