Table 3.
Perceived causes of throat discomfort by country
| |
Mean annual frequency of suffering by cause* |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | France | Poland | Malaysia | Overall† | |
| Common cold/influenza |
3 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
| Other bacteria/virus |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
| Talking/shouting |
8 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
| Hot/dry indoor conditions |
13 |
7 |
13 |
10 |
11 |
| Dust/other outdoor conditions |
14 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
| Air conditioning |
13 |
9 |
8 |
18 |
12 |
| Excess alcohol |
11 |
7 |
9 |
15 |
11 |
| Smoking |
13 |
22 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
| Passive smoking |
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
19 |
| Hay fever |
18 |
8 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
| Specific allergy |
14 |
13 |
18 |
12 |
14 |
| Airborne pollution |
11 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| Sudden temperature change |
10 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
| Snoring | 25 | 29 | 15 | 13 | 21 |
*Mean of the number of occasions that throat irritation by the stated cause was suffered in the preceding 12 months.
†‘Overall’ represents a pooled analysis of mean data from all four countries assessed.