Sore throat: diagnosis and treatment world standards and approaches to pharmaceutical care in Ukraine

Sore throat is a common symptom that accompanies infectious and non-infectious diseases. World standards of sore throat treatment mainly regulate approaches to the diagnosis of the streptococcal nature of sore throat and the use of antibacterial therapy in a positive case. However, the predominant cause of sore throat is viruses and symptomatic treatment can be used. The study presents a brief overview of modern medical standards for sore throat, defining the role of a pharmacist and the experience of certain countries in involving him in the diagnosing and treating process. An analysis of the content of the Ukrainian Pharmacist’s protocol “Symptomatic treatment of sore throat” and the dynamics of its changes was carried out. Pharmacist’s Protocol elaborated in Ukraine successfully combines the algorithm of the primary pre-medical assessment of the patient’s condition with information and advisory support when dispensing over-the-counter medicines for responsible self-treatment of sore throat. However, certain improvements in the list of recommended medicines may be appropriate.