Sore throat - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforSorethroatSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Print OverviewAsorethroatispain,scratchinessorirritationofthethroatthatoftenworsenswhenyouswallow.Themostcommoncauseofasorethroat(pharyngitis)isaviralinfection,suchasacoldortheflu.Asorethroatcausedbyavirusresolvesonitsown. Strepthroat(streptococcalinfection),alesscommontypeofsorethroatcausedbybacteria,requirestreatmentwithantibioticstopreventcomplications.Otherlesscommoncausesofsorethroatmightrequiremorecomplextreatment.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemediesBook:MayoClinicGuidetoRaisingaHealthyChildSleepApneaProductsfromMayoClinicStoreShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic Symptoms Throatanatomy Openpop-updialogbox Close Throatanatomy Throatanatomy Thethroatincludestheesophagus,windpipe(trachea),voicebox(larynx),tonsilsandepiglottis. Symptomsofasorethroatcanvarydependingonthecause.Signsandsymptomsmightinclude: Painorascratchysensationinthethroat Painthatworsenswithswallowingortalking Difficultyswallowing Sore,swollenglandsinyourneckorjaw Swollen,redtonsils Whitepatchesorpusonyourtonsils Ahoarseormuffledvoice Infectionscausingasorethroatmightresultinothersignsandsymptoms,including: Fever Cough Runnynose Sneezing Bodyaches Headache Nauseaorvomiting WhentoseeadoctorTakeyourchildtoadoctorifyourchild'ssorethroatdoesn'tgoawaywiththefirstdrinkinthemorning,recommendstheAmericanAcademyofPediatrics. Getimmediatecareifyourchildhasseveresignsandsymptomssuchas: Difficultybreathing Difficultyswallowing Unusualdrooling,whichmightindicateaninabilitytoswallow Ifyou'reanadult,seeyourdoctorifyouhaveasorethroatandanyofthefollowingassociatedproblems,accordingtotheAmericanAcademyofOtolaryngology—HeadandNeckSurgery: Asorethroatthatissevereorlastslongerthanaweek Difficultyswallowing Difficultybreathing Difficultyopeningyourmouth Jointpain Earache Rash Feverhigherthan101F(38.3C) Bloodinyoursalivaorphlegm Frequentlyrecurringsorethroats Alumpinyourneck Hoarsenesslastingmorethantwoweeks Swellinginyourneckorface   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. FromMayoClinictoyourinbox Signupforfree,andstayuptodateonresearchadvancements,healthtipsandcurrenthealthtopics,likeCOVID-19,plusexpertiseonmanaginghealth. Email ErrorEmailfieldisrequired ErrorIncludeavalidemailaddress LearnmoreaboutMayoClinic’suseofdata. Toprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandhelpfulinformation,andunderstandwhich informationisbeneficial,wemaycombineyouremailandwebsiteusageinformationwith otherinformationwehaveaboutyou.IfyouareaMayoClinicpatient,thiscould includeprotectedhealthinformation.Ifwecombinethisinformationwithyourprotected healthinformation,wewilltreatallofthatinformationasprotectedhealth informationandwillonlyuseordisclosethatinformationassetforthinournoticeof privacypractices.Youmayopt-outofemailcommunicationsatanytimebyclickingon theunsubscribelinkinthee-mail. Subscribe! Thankyouforsubscribing OurHousecalle-newsletterwillkeepyouup-to-dateonthelatesthealthinformation. Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesVirusesthatcausethecommoncoldandtheflualsocausemostsorethroats.Lessoften,bacterialinfectionscausesorethroats. ViralinfectionsViralillnessesthatcauseasorethroatinclude: Commoncold Flu(influenza) Mono(mononucleosis) Measles Chickenpox Coronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) Croup—acommonchildhoodillnesscharacterizedbyaharsh,barkingcough BacterialinfectionsManybacterialinfectionscancauseasorethroat.ThemostcommonisStreptococcuspyogenes(groupAstreptococcus)whichcausesstrepthroat. OthercausesOthercausesofasorethroatinclude: Allergies.Allergiestopetdander,molds,dustandpollencancauseasorethroat.Theproblemmaybecomplicatedbypostnasaldrip,whichcanirritateandinflamethethroat. Dryness.Dryindooraircanmakeyourthroatfeelroughandscratchy.Breathingthroughyourmouth—oftenbecauseofchronicnasalcongestion—alsocancauseadry,sorethroat. Irritants.Outdoorairpollutionandindoorpollutionsuchastobaccosmokeorchemicalscancauseachronicsorethroat.Chewingtobacco,drinkingalcoholandeatingspicyfoodsalsocanirritateyourthroat. Musclestrain.Youcanstrainmusclesinyourthroatbyyelling,talkingloudlyortalkingforlongperiodswithoutrest. Gastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD).GERDisadigestivesystemdisorderinwhichstomachacidsbackupinthefoodpipe(esophagus). Othersignsorsymptomsmayincludeheartburn,hoarseness,regurgitationofstomachcontentsandthesensationofalumpinyourthroat. HIVinfection.Asorethroatandotherflu-likesymptomssometimesappearearlyaftersomeoneisinfectedwithHIV. Also,someonewhoisHIV-positivemighthaveachronicorrecurringsorethroatduetoafungalinfectioncalledoralthrushorduetoaviralinfectioncalledcytomegalovirus(CMV),whichcanbeseriousinpeoplewithcompromisedimmunesystems. Tumors.Canceroustumorsofthethroat,tongueorvoicebox(larynx)cancauseasorethroat.Othersignsorsymptomsmayincludehoarseness,difficultyswallowing,noisybreathing,alumpintheneck,andbloodinsalivaorphlegm. Rarely,aninfectedareaoftissue(abscess)inthethroatorswellingofthesmallcartilage"lid"thatcoversthewindpipe(epiglottitis)cancauseasorethroat.Bothcanblocktheairway,creatingamedicalemergency. RiskfactorsAlthoughanyonecangetasorethroat,somefactorsmakeyoumoresusceptible,including: Age.Childrenandteensaremostlikelytodevelopsorethroats.Childrenages3to15arealsomorelikelytohavestrepthroat,themostcommonbacterialinfectionassociatedwithasorethroat. Exposuretotobaccosmoke.Smokingandsecondhandsmokecanirritatethethroat.Theuseoftobaccoproductsalsoincreasestheriskofcancersofthemouth,throatandvoicebox. Allergies.Seasonalallergiesorongoingallergicreactionstodust,moldsorpetdandermakedevelopingasorethroatmorelikely. Exposuretochemicalirritants.Particlesintheairfromburningfossilfuelsandcommonhouseholdchemicalscancausethroatirritation. Chronicorfrequentsinusinfections.Drainagefromyournosecanirritateyourthroatorspreadinfection. Closequarters.Viralandbacterialinfectionsspreadeasilyanywherepeoplegather,whetherinchildcarecenters,classrooms,officesorairplanes. Weakenedimmunity.You'remoresusceptibletoinfectionsingeneralifyourresistanceislow.CommoncausesofloweredimmunityincludeHIV,diabetes,treatmentwithsteroidsorchemotherapydrugs,stress,fatigue,andpoordiet. PreventionThebestwaytopreventsorethroatsistoavoidthegermsthatcausethemandpracticegoodhygiene.Followthesetipsandteachyourchildtodothesame: Washyourhandsthoroughlyandfrequentlyforatleast20seconds,especiallyafterusingthetoilet,beforeandaftereating,andaftersneezingorcoughing. Avoidtouchingyourface.Avoidtouchingyoureyes,noseormouth. Avoidsharingfood,drinkingglassesorutensils. Coughorsneezeintoatissueandthrowitaway,andthenwashyourhands.Whennecessary,sneezeintoyourelbow. Usealcohol-basedhandsanitizersasanalternativetowashinghandswhensoapandwateraren'tavailable. Avoidtouchingpublicphonesordrinkingfountainswithyourmouth. Regularlycleananddisinfectphones,doorknobs,lightswitches,remotesandcomputerkeyboards.Whenyoutravel,cleanphones,lightswitchesandremotesinyourhotelroom. Avoidclosecontactwithpeoplewhoaresickorhavesymptoms. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment June10,2021 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Sorethroats.AmericanAcademyofOtolaryngology—HeadandNeckSurgery.http://www.entnet.org/content/sore-throats.AccessedFeb.18,2019. Sorethroat.MerckManualProfessionalVersion.http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-nasal-and-pharyngeal-symptoms/sore-throat.AccessedFeb.18,2019. Seventipstohelpyoupreventasorethroat.AmericanAcademyofOtolaryngology—HeadandNeckSurgery.https://www.enthealth.org/be_ent_smart/seven-tips-to-help-you-prevent-a-sore-throat/.AccessedFeb.18,2019. Sorethroat.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/sore-throat.html.AccessedFeb.9,2021. Drutz,JE.Sorethroatinchildrenandadolescents:Symptomatictreatment.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedFeb.18,2019. SteadW.Symptomatictreatmentofacutepharyngitisinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedFeb.18,2019. SlipperyElm.NaturalMedicines.https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com.AccessedFeb.22,2019. Takingcareofyourvoice.NationalInstituteonDeafnessandOtherCommunicationDisorders.http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/takingcare.aspx.AccessedFeb.18,2019. ChowAW,etal.Evaluationofacutepharyngitisinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedFeb.20,2019. KellermanRD,etal.Pharyngitis.In:Conn'sCurrentTherapy2019.Philadelphia,Pa.:Elsevier;2019.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedFeb.21,2019. Commoncolds:Protectyourselfandothers.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.html.AccessedFeb.9,2021. AskMayoExpert.Streptococcalpharyngitis.Rochester,Minn.:MayoFoundationforMedicalEducationandResearch;2018. Kahrilas,PJ.Clinicalmanifestationsanddiagnosisofgastroesophagealrefluxinadults.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedFeb.25,2019. GonzalezMD,etal.Newdevelopmentsinrapiddiagnostictestingforchildren.InfectiousDiseaseClinicsofNorthAmerica.2018;32:19. AIDSandopportunisticinfections.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/opportunisticinfections.html.AccessedFeb.26,2019. ShelovSP,etal.Ears,NoseandThroat.In:CaringforYourBabyandYoungChild:BirthtoAge5.6thed.NewYork,N.Y.:BantamBooks;2014. Related Products&Services Book:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemedies Book:MayoClinicGuidetoRaisingaHealthyChild SleepApneaProductsfromMayoClinicStore ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic SorethroatSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBook-MayoClinicPressNEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBookCookSmart,EatWell–2FREErecipes-MayoClinicPressCookSmart,EatWell–2FREErecipesNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalance-MayoClinicPressNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalanceFREEMayoClinicDietAssessment-MayoClinicPressFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook-MayoClinicPressMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook CON-20164002 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Sorethroat