Despite the fact that corticosteroids are generally prescribed and used for treating sore throats based on their inflammation-quelling powers, there is little or no evidence suggesting the same.

The finding was disclosed to Reuters by study co-author Dr. Brian H. Rowe of the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

From Reuters.com:

For those with known strep throat, steroids worked more quickly, bringing pain relief about 45 minutes sooner.

The benefits, Rowe said, aren’t enough to justify widespread use of steroids for sore throat. It’s unlikely that patients would even be able to detect the one-point difference in pain, he said.

None of the studies in this analysis reported any serious problems associated with steroid use. However, repeated steroid use can have serious side effects, such as weaker bones, Rowe added, noting that many people may get several sore throats a year — meaning they could wind up getting a lot of steroids. Short-term effects of steroids include swelling, stomach irritation, and restlessness.

However, it is possible that the drugs would be more worthwhile for patients with very inflamed, painful sore throats due to strep infection, he said.

“You’ve got some evidence that it works,” he said. “Should you be giving it to everyone? I would say no.”

Rowe remarked that steroids should not be prescribed to patients with sore throat unless benefits outweigh the risks and the same was supported by team reports in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine.