Team PSA 2026: Caroline Diamantis FPS, Prof Mark Naunton MPS and Bridget Totterman MPS[/caption]
A/Prof Fei Sim and Prof Mark Naunton[/caption]
Clinical features 
Warm compresses are the cornerstone of treatment, helping to soften the lesion, bring pus to the surface and encourage spontaneous drainage. A clean face cloth soaked in warm (not hot) water should be applied to the closed eyelid for 2–5 minutes, twice daily during the active phase. Once the stye begins to drain, any discharge should be gently wiped away using a clean, warm washcloth. After resolution, continuing warm compresses once daily may help prevent recurrence.2 
Case scenario
You conduct a MedsCheck for a regular patient, Mrs Nguyen. While undertaking the MedsCheck interview, Mrs Nguyen mentions that she and her husband have had sore throats for the past 24 hours. The symptoms are not severe, and they have had negative test results for COVID-19 infection. They are also experiencing runny noses and slight coughs.
Introduction
Sore throat is caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, usually the pharynx (pharyngitis), larynx, or tonsils (tonsillitis) and rarely the epiglottis.1,2 Sore throat is a symptom rather than a diagnosis.1 Although usually mild and self-limiting, it can be painful and warrants careful investigation by pharmacists.
Learning objectivesAfter reading this article, pharmacists should be able to:
Competencies addressed (2016): 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5. Accreditation code: CAP2309OTCNW Accreditation expiry: 31/08/2026 |
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