Sore Throat: Treatment, Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms & More

Viral and bacterial infections, as well as irritants and injuries, cause the majority of sore throats. Most sore throats get better in a few days without ... HealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribeSoreThroat101:Symptoms,Causes,andTreatmentMedicallyreviewedbyCarissaStephens,R.N.,CCRN,CPN—WrittenbyStephanieWatson—UpdatedonJuly24,2020Symptoms8CausesHomeremediesWhentoseeadoctorDiagnosisMedicinesAntibioticsThebottomlineWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Whatisasorethroat?Asorethroatisapainful,dry,orscratchyfeelinginthethroat.Paininthethroatisoneofthemostcommonsymptoms.Itaccountsformorethan13millionvisitstodoctor’sofficeseachyear(1).Mostsorethroatsarecausedbyinfections,orbyenvironmentalfactorslikedryair.Althoughasorethroatcanbeuncomfortable,it’llusuallygoawayonitsown.Sorethroatsaredividedintotypes,basedonthepartofthethroattheyaffect:Pharyngitisaffectsthearearightbehindthemouth.Tonsillitisisswellingandrednessofthetonsils,thesofttissueinthebackofthemouth.Laryngitisisswellingandrednessofthevoicebox,orlarynx.SorethroatsymptomsThesymptomsofasorethroatcanvarydependingonwhatcausedit.Asorethroatcanfeel:scratchyburningrawdrytenderirritatedItmayhurtmorewhenyouswallowortalk.Yourthroatortonsilsmightalsolookred.Sometimes,whitepatchesorareasofpuswillformonthetonsils.Thesewhitepatchesaremorecommoninstrepthroatthaninasorethroatcausedbyavirus.Alongwiththesorethroat,youcanhavesymptomslike:nasalcongestionrunnynosesneezingcoughfeverchillsswollenglandsintheneckhoarsevoicebodyachesheadachetroubleswallowingappetiteloss8causesofsorethroatsCausesofsorethroatsrangefrominfectionstoinjuries.Hereareeightofthemostcommonsorethroatcauses.1.Colds,theflu,andotherviralinfectionsVirusescauseabout90percentofsorethroats(2).Amongthevirusesthatcausesorethroatsare:thecommoncoldinfluenza—theflumononucleosis,aninfectiousdiseasethat’stransmittedthroughsalivameasles,anillnessthatcausesarashandfeverchickenpox,aninfectionthatcausesafeverandanitchy,bumpyrashmumps,aninfectionthatcausesswellingofthesalivaryglandsintheneck2.StrepthroatandotherbacterialinfectionsBacterialinfectionscanalsocausesorethroats.Themostcommononeisstrepthroat,aninfectionofthethroatandtonsilscausedbygroupAStreptococcusbacteria.Strepthroatcausesnearly40percentofsorethroatcasesinchildren(3).Tonsillitis,andsexuallytransmittedinfectionslikegonorrheaandchlamydiacanalsocauseasorethroat.3.AllergiesWhentheimmunesystemreactstoallergytriggerslikepollen,grass,andpetdander,itreleaseschemicalsthatcausesymptomslikenasalcongestion,wateryeyes,sneezing,andthroatirritation.Excessmucusinthenosecandripdownthebackofthethroat.Thisiscalledpostnasaldripandcanirritatethethroat.4.DryairDryaircansuckmoisturefromthemouthandthroat,andleavethemfeelingdryandscratchy.Theairismostlikelydryinthewintermonthswhentheheaterisrunning.5.Smoke,chemicals,andotherirritantsManydifferentchemicalsandothersubstancesintheenvironmentirritatethethroat,including:cigaretteandothertobaccosmokeairpollutioncleaningproductsandotherchemicalsAfterSeptember11,morethan62percentofrespondingfirefightersreportedfrequentsorethroats.Only3.2percenthadhadsorethroatsbeforetheWorldTradeCenterdisaster(4).6.InjuryAnyinjury,suchasahitorcuttotheneck,cancausepaininthethroat.Gettingapieceoffoodstuckinyourthroatcanalsoirritateit.Repeatedusestrainsthevocalcordsandmusclesinthethroat.Youcangetasorethroatafteryelling,talkingloudly,orsingingforalongperiodoftime.Sorethroatsareacommoncomplaintamongfitnessinstructorsandteachers,whooftenhavetoyell(4).7.Gastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD)Gastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD)isaconditioninwhichacidfromthestomachbacksupintotheesophagus—thetubethatcarriesfoodfromthemouthtothestomach.Theacidburnstheesophagusandthroat,causingsymptomslikeheartburnandacidreflux—theregurgitationofacidintoyourthroat.8.TumorAtumorofthethroat,voicebox,ortongueisalesscommoncauseofasorethroat.Whenasorethroatisasignofcancer,itdoesn’tgoawayafterafewdays.HomeremediesforasorethroatYoucantreatmostsorethroatsathome.Getplentyofresttogiveyourimmunesystemachancetofighttheinfection.Torelievethepainofasorethroat:Garglewithamixtureofwarmwaterand1/2to1teaspoonofsalt.Drinkwarmliquidsthatfeelsoothingtothethroat,suchashotteawithhoney,soupbroth,orwarmwaterwithlemon.Herbalteasareespeciallysoothingtoasorethroat(5).Coolyourthroatbyeatingacoldtreatlikeapopsicleoricecream.Suckonapieceofhardcandyoralozenge.Turnonacoolmisthumidifiertoaddmoisturetotheair.Restyourvoiceuntilyourthroatfeelsbetter.Shopforcoolmisthumidifiers.Summary:Mostsorethroatscanbetreatedathome.Warmliquidsorfrozenfoodsfeelsoothingtothethroat.Ahumidifiercanmoisturizeadrythroat.WhentoseeadoctorSorethroatsthatarecausedbyaviralinfectionusuallygetbetterontheirownintwotosevendays(6).Yetsomecausesofasorethroatneedtobetreated.Callyourdoctorifyouhaveanyofthesepotentiallymoreserioussymptoms:severesorethroattroubleswallowingtroublebreathing,orpainwhenyoubreathedifficultyopeningyourmouthsorejointsafeverhigherthan101degreesFahrenheit(38degreesCelsius)painfulorstiffneckearachebloodinyoursalivaorphlegmasorethroatthatlastsformorethanaweekSummary:Mostsorethroatsgetbetterontheirown,withinafewdays.Bacterialinfectionslikestrepthroatneedtobetreatedwithantibiotics.Seeadoctorforseveresymptomsliketroubleswallowingorbreathing,astiffneck,orahighfever.HowasorethroatisdiagnosedDuringtheexam,thedoctorwillaskaboutyoursymptoms,andwillusealighttocheckthebackofyourthroatforredness,swelling,andwhitespots.Thedoctormightalsofeelthesidesofyournecktoseeifyouhaveswollenglands.Ifthedoctorsuspectsyouhavestrepthroat,you’llgetathroatculturetodiagnoseit.Thedoctorwillrunaswaboverthebackofyourthroatandcollectasampletotestforstrepthroatbacteria.Witharapidstreptest,thedoctorwillgettheresultswithinminutes.Toconfirmthediagnosis,thesamplewillbesentouttoalabtobetested.Alabtesttakesonetotwodays,butitcandefinitivelyshowthatyouhavestrepthroat.Sometimesyoumightneedmoreteststofigureoutthecauseofyoursorethroat.Youcanseeaspecialistwhotreatsdiseasesofthethroat,calledanear,nose,andthroat(ENT)doctororotolaryngologist.Summary:Doctorsdiagnosestrepthroatbasedonsymptoms,anexamofthethroat,andastreptest.Forasorethroatwithoutanobviousdiagnosis,youmightneedtoseeaspecialistwhotreatsconditionsoftheears,nose,andthroat.MedicinesYoucantakemedicinestorelievethepainofasorethroat,ortotreattheunderlyingcause.Over-the-countermedicationsthatrelievethroatpaininclude:acetaminophen(Tylenol)ibuprofen(Advil,Motrin)aspirinDon’tgiveaspirintochildrenandteenagers,asit’sbeenlinkedtoararebutseriousconditioncalledReye’ssyndrome.Youcanalsouseoneormoreofthesetreatments,whichworkdirectlyonthepainofasorethroat:asorethroatspraythatcontainsanumbingantisepticlikephenol,oracoolingingredientlikementholoreucalyptusthroatlozengescoughsyrupShopforthroatlozenges.Shopforcoughsyrup.Someherbs,includingslipperyelm,marshmallowroot,andlicoriceroot,aresoldassorethroatremedies.There’snotmuchevidencethesework,butanherbalteacalledThroatCoatthatcontainsallthreedidrelievethroatpaininonestudy(7).ShopforThroatCoatherbaltea.MedicationsthatreducestomachacidcanhelpwithasorethroatcausedbyGERD.Theseinclude:AntacidssuchasTums,Rolaids,Maalox,andMylantatoneutralizestomachacid.H2blockerssuchascimetidine(TagametHB),andfamotidine(PepcidAC),toreducestomachacidproduction.Protonpumpinhibitors(PPIs)suchaslansoprazole(Prevacid24)andomeprazole(Prilosec,ZegeridOTC)toblockacidproduction.Shopforantacids.Low-dosecorticosteroidscanalsohelpwiththepainofasorethroat,withoutcausinganyserioussideeffects(8).Summary:Over-the-counterpainrelievers,sprays,andlozengescanrelievethepainofasorethroat.MedicinesthatreducestomachacidcanhelpwithsorethroatscausedbyGERD.WhenyouneedantibioticsAntibioticstreatinfectionscausedbybacteria,likestrepthroat.Theywon’ttreatviralinfections.Youneedtotreatastrepthroatwithantibioticstopreventmoreseriouscomplicationslikepneumonia,bronchitis,andrheumaticfever.Antibioticscanreducesorethroatpainbyaboutoneday,andlowertheriskofrheumaticfeverbymorethantwo-thirds(9).Doctorsusuallyprescribeacourseofantibioticslastingabout10days(10).It’simportanttotakeallofthemedicationinthebottle,evenifyoustarttofeelbetter.Stoppinganantibiotictooearlycanleavesomebacteriaalive,whichcanmakeyousickagain.Summary:Antibioticstreatsorethroatscausedbybacteria,suchasstrepthroat.Youneedtotreatstrepthroattopreventmoreseriouscomplications.Taketheentiredoseofantibiotics,evenifyoustarttofeelbetter.ThebottomlineViralandbacterialinfections,aswellasirritantsandinjuries,causethemajorityofsorethroats.Mostsorethroatsgetbetterinafewdayswithouttreatment.Rest,warmliquids,saltwatergargles,andover-the-counterpainrelieverscanhelpsoothethepainofasorethroatathome.Strepthroatandotherbacterialinfectionsaretreatedwithantibiotics.Yourdoctorcanuseaswabtesttofindoutifyouhavestrep.Seeadoctorformoreseveresymptoms,liketroublebreathingorswallowing,ahighfever,orastiffneck.LastmedicallyreviewedonSeptember27,2017FEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyCarissaStephens,R.N.,CCRN,CPN—WrittenbyStephanieWatson—UpdatedonJuly24,2020ReadthisnextWhatCausesaSoreThroatandHeadache?MedicallyreviewedbyShilpaAmin,M.D.,CAQ,FAAFPSorethroatandheadachecansometimesoccurtogether.Thecauseisoftenaviralorbacterialinfection,althoughotherconditionscanbringthemon…READMORESoreThroatvs.StrepThroat:HowtoTelltheDifferenceMedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaTaylorChavoustie,MPAS,PA-CItcanbehardtotellifyouhaveasorethroatfromavirus,orstrepthroat,whichismostoftencausedbyabacterialinfection.We’lldiscussthe…READMOREWhyDoIHaveaSoreThroatatNight?MedicallyreviewedbyJillSeladi-Schulman,Ph.D.Overthepastfewnights,you’venoticedthatyourthroathasfeltalittletenderandscratchy—youmightevensay“sore.”Itfeelsfineduringthe…READMORECanaSoreThroatCauseaStiffNeck?MedicallyreviewedbyShilpaAmin,M.D.,CAQ,FAAFPIt'snotuncommontoexperienceastiffneckalongwithasorethroat.Learnhowthesesymptomsarerelated,whatcausesthem,andhowtotreatthem.READMOREWhatCausesWhiteSpotsontheThroat?MedicallyreviewedbyBethHolloway,RN,MEdTherearemanyconditionsthatcancausewhitespotsonyourthroat.Learnmoreaboutcausesandhowyoucantreatthissymptom.READMORE12NaturalRemediesforSoreThroatMedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHTEvenifit'snotseriousenoughforatriptothedoctor,sorethroatsarepainfulandmaypreventyoufromgettingagoodnight’srest.Weroundedup…READMORETheSecretstoNeverGettingSickMedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHTLearnwhatyoucandotopreventcoldsandtheflu.We’llgiveyouavarietyoftipstokeepyouhealthyandhappy,fromeatinggreenvegetablesto…READMORETheDifferenceBetweentheColdandFluMedicallyreviewedbyCameronWhite,M.D.,MPHIt'snotalwayseasytodetermineifyouhaveacoldortheflu,butknowingthedifferenceshelpstreatmentworkmorequickly.READMOREHelpforSoreThroatsMedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,PhD,MSN,RN,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHTGettipsforsoothingasorethroat,suchasgarglingsaltwater,ruckinglozenges,usingahumidifier,drinkingteawithhoney,stayinghydrated,and…READMORETheWeirdestColdTreatmentsfromAroundtheWorldMedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHTREADMORE