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A member asked:

If you got a viral respiratory infection and it turns to bacteria can salt water gargle kill bacteria and save trip to doctor ?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sometimes: Yes, if you catch it early and do the gargles frequently. Listerine gargles have been show to also be effective and shorten even the vira lillnesses. Needs to be every 4 hours for the first 5 days of the illness.l

Answered 12/11/2016

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Related Questions

A member asked:

How will a doctor differentiate viral respiratory infection from bacterial infection? Signs are fever cough congestion, no sore throat - 4 days.

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

The doctor said you have a lung infection.my symptoms now I feel nauseous when there is a bad smell And very lighter pain left side heart side when I drink salt water it's ok (question sameone said if you have 2 time infect then you might get nauseou?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Right tonsil is painful when swallow. Gargling with salt water reduced pain but there is a single tiny white spot present on tonsil that when removed seemed soft like plaque. The tiny white spot came back after 2 days. Is it just an infection?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Been having recurring tonsilitis? i didnt go to the doctor yet. i tried gargling with a salt in water and taking some sore throat lozenges . still not

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I scratched my tonsil & now I have a canker sore?? w/sore throat & ear. No fever. I've been gargling salt water. Do I need to see a doctor.

A doctor has provided 1 answer

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