If your throat hurts you can start by taking some anti-inflammatory pills.
Tips
usage
In everyday speech 消炎片 is loosely used for any over-the-counter pill perceived to 'reduce inflammation', often a sulfa antibiotic. Pharmacologically it is not a single drug. 消 (xiāo, eliminate) + 炎 (yán, inflammation) + 片 (piàn, tablet).
mistakes
Don't confuse 消炎 (anti-inflammatory) with 退烧 (tuìshāo, fever-reducing) or 止痛 (zhǐtòng, pain-killing). Pharmacy staff will ask which effect you actually need.
