Question: Dear Doctor,

I have been having a sore/itchy throat for 7 days now. I look into my throat with a torch and a mirror, I see that the back of my throat is red and possibly swelling. There are no white pus heads like a strep throat; the throat is just red and swelling. The pain was the first sign but it actually went away completely on day 3 and in the past few days it has been a bit dry and tickly. It feels a bit tight when I swallow saliva, but it does not hurt when I swallow food or liquids. I have no other symptoms: no runny nose or congestion, no chesty cough, no headache, no cough, no fever. I do feel tired during the day and have been taking naps (fortunately I have no classes for another week). I spat out a tiny bit of yellow phlegm in the mornings from Day 2 to Day 6, and today the color of phlegm is a very fainting yellow. I have been to my college doctor, who told me that it is a viral infection and is rather dismissive in answering my questions. My question is: what is going on with me, if the red/swelling throat is neither getting better or worse, accompanied by no other obvious symptoms like nasal congestion and fever? On the internet, I see that most people go through the entire full blown cold in just a week, rather than lingering on with a sore throat like me. Either that or people fight off a sore throat in a couple of days before developing into a full blow flu/cold. What are the things I can do to prevent my throat infection into a full blown cold? Is it still possible at this stage or am I just waiting for it to come? I just fought off a nasty flu in December 2011 which lasted a good 3-4 weeks. I am young and do not really get sick except for this winter. So I am quite traumatised and any suggestion from you will be appreciated!

Medicine I have taken so far: ibuprofen, 200mg caplets, 4 times per day

Many thanks!

Best, XXXXXXX

My college doctor (I'm studying in UK) insisted that I have a viral infection and would not prescribe me antibiotics. He's rather dismissive and told me to go home and rest without listening to me finishing telling him all my symptoms. He was eager to have a look at my throat and made the diagnose based on the redness and swelling. But I did tell him about the yellow phlegm. I wonder what your advice would be to get it properly treated, as it's hard to argue with a doctor? This morning I looked in the mirror, and I see that the redness and swelling are gradually going down - it's definitely better than yesterday - but still have yellowish phlegm. Many thanks, Doctor!