Rest as much as possible
Drink plenty of fluids
Use warm saltwater gargles
Suck on throat lozenges or hard candy
Use a cool-mist humidifier
Eat soft, soothing foods
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
Take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed on the label
Wash hands often and avoid sharing drinks or utensils
Replace your toothbrush after 24 to 48 hours on antibiotics
Take all prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed
Stay home until fever is gone and you have taken antibiotics for at least 24 hours
Seek medical care if symptoms worsen, breathing becomes difficult, or you cannot swallow fluids