Abstract
Answer A. Offer advice on symptomatic treatment and smoking cessation
This sounds like a simple viral acute sore throat. Apart from a history of smoking, there are no other red flag symptoms. He does not fulfil the Centor criteria for antibiotics. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance suggests that if the C-reactive protein is under 20 mg/L, antibiotics should not be routinely offered. A delayed prescription can be given if the C-reactive protein is between 20 mg/L and 100 mg/L. The patient should be advised to return if the symptoms persist for more than a week or if symptoms worsen.
InnovAiT article: Antibiotic over prescribing. DOI: