Sore throat: Causes, symptoms, and when to see a doctor

A sore throat is a common effect of a viral or bacterial infection. Acid, chemical irritation, and acid reflux can also cause it. Treatment depends on the ... MedicalNewsTodayHealthConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribeHowtodealwithasorethroatMedicallyreviewedbyMeganSoliman,MD—WrittenbyValenciaHiguera—UpdatedonJanuary17,2022CausesSymptomsWhentoseeadoctorTreatmentHomeremediesPreventionOutlookAsorethroatcanmakeitpainfultoeatandeventalk.Thethroatcouldalsofeelscratchyandirritated,whichcanworsenwhenswallowing.Commoncausesincludeaviralinfection,suchasacoldortheflu,andbacteria.Mostsorethroatsarenotserious,butseveresymptomscanmakebreathingdifficult.Howapersondealswithasorethroatdependsontheseverityandthecause.Usually,homeremediescansoothethediscomfortuntilitgoesaway.However,sometimesitneedsmedicaltreatment.Findoutmoreaboutthecausesandsymptomsandhowtodealwiththem.AsorethroatcanbeasignofCOVID-19.CheckhereforothersymptomsandtofindoutwhattodoifyoubelieveyouhaveCOVID-19.CausesShareonPinterestMongkolNitirojsakul//EyeEm/GettyImagesVirusesandbacteriaaretwocommoncausesofsorethroats.VirusesManysorethroatsareduetoviralinfections,suchas:commoncoldsinfluenzatheEpsteinBarrvirus(EBV)mayleadtoinfectiousmononucleosis,whichissometimesknownasglandularfeverormonoCOVID-19Ifsymptomsaresevere,thepersonshouldspeakwithadoctor.However,ahealthcareprofessionalwillnotprescribeantibioticsforavirus.BacteriaStrepthroatisacommontypeofthroatinfectionduetoexposuretoastrainofStreptococcusbacterium.Symptomsinclude:asorethroatthatdevelopssuddenlypainwhenswallowingafeverwhitepatchesonthethroatredorswollentonsilsredspotsontheroofofthemouthswollenortenderlymphnodesintheneckareaThepersonmayneedantibioticstofighttheinfectionandpreventcomplications.Withouttreatment,strepthroatcanincreasetheriskofrheumaticfeverorkidneyinflammationinchildren.Strepthroataccountsfor20–30%ofsorethroatsinchildrenandaround10%inadults,accordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC).Othercommoncausesofasorethroatinclude:allergiesirritationduetodryheat,pollutants,orchemicalsreflux,whenstomachacidscomeupintothebackofthethroatcoldairMoreseverebutlesscommonconditionsthatcaninvolveasorethroatinclude:HIVinfectiontumorsofthethroat,tongue,orlarynxepiglottitisEpiglottitisisararebutpotentiallydangerousthroatinfectionwhereinflammationandswellingoftheepiglottiscanclosetheairway,makingitdifficulttobreathe.Itisamedicalemergency.Anyonewithongoingorseveresymptomsshouldconsultadoctor,astheymayhaveanunderlyingconditionthatneedsfurthertreatment.SymptomsThesymptomsofasorethroatcanvarydependingontheexactcause.Commonsignsandsymptomsinclude:ascratchysensationinthethroatpaininthethroatareathatbecomesworsewhenswallowingortalkingdifficultyswallowingsoreorswollenlymphnodesintheneckorjawareaswollenredtonsilsahoarseormuffledvoicecoughing,sneezing,andarunnynoseafeverInchildrenSorethroatscanaffectanyagegroup,buttheyaremostcommonamongchildrenaged5–15years,accordingtotheCDC.Strepthroatismorecommoninchildrenthaninadults.Theexactsymptomsdependontheage,but,aswellasasorethroat,theymayinclude:afevertender,swollenlymphnodesintheneckanirritatedmoodareducedappetiteswollentonsilswithsignsofpussmallredspotsontheroofofthemouthaheadacheabdominalpain,nausea,andvomiting,especiallyinchildrenPeoplewithstrepthroatoftenhavepainandfeverwithoutacough.Beforetheageof3years,strepthroatisuncommon.Adoctormayprescribeantibioticsforstrepthroattopreventfuturecomplications.Viralinfectionsarethemostfrequentcauseofsorethroatinchildren.Andwhiletheseinfectionswillnotrespondtoantibiotics,adoctormayprescribetreatmenttorelievethediscomfort.Thesymptomsofepiglottitisinclude:aseverelysorethroatdifficultyswallowingandbreathingahighpitchedsoundwhenbreathingindroolingskinthatlooksblue,orgrayindarkerskin,duetoalackofoxygenIfachildhasthesesymptoms,theyneedimmediatemedicalattention.Inthepast,epiglottitiswascommon,butsinceroutineHaemophilusinfluenzatypebvaccinationsbeganin1985,itsyearlyincidenceinchildrenhasfallenby99%tofewerthan1inevery100,000children.InadultsBacterialandviralinfectionsarealsocommoninadults.Thesymptomsandtreatmentaresimilartothoseforchildren.Epiglottitiscausesthesamesymptomsinadultsasinchildrenandrequiresneedsemergencymedicalattention.Thieconditionisrare,buttheannualincidenceinadultshasrisensince1986fromoneinevery100,000peopletoaround2–3adultsevery100,000.WhentospeakwithadoctorMostsorethroatsgoawayontheirownwithin5–10days,andhometreatmentisusuallysufficient.Sometimes,however,medicaltreatmentisnecessary.TheAmericanAcademyofOtolaryngology,Head,andNeckSurgerysuggeststhatapersonshouldconsultadoctoriftheyhave:asevereandpersistentsorethroatthatdoesnotgoawaydifficultybreathing,swallowing,oropeningthemouthswellinginthefaceorneckafeverof101°F(38.3°C)orabovebloodinthesalivaormucusalumpintheneckhoarsenessthatlastsover2weeksearachearashTakingaswabIfadoctorsuspectsasorethroatisbacterial,theymaytakeathroatswabfortestingtodetermineifastrepinfectionispresent.Thehealthcareprofessionalcantakeasamplebytouchingthebackofthethroatandtonsilswithacotton-tippedapplicator.ThiscanshowquicklyifgroupAStreptococcusiscausingtheinfection.Ifthetestisnegativebutthedoctorstillsuspectsstrepthroat,theymaysendasampletoalabforaculturetest,toseeifbacteriagrowovertime.Theymaydothisforteenagersandchildren,astheyhaveahigherriskofdevelopingrheumaticfeverafterastrepthroatinfection,butadultsareunlikelytodevelopthis.Ifthestreptestispositive,apersonmayneedprescriptionantibiotics.EBVtestIfadoctorsuspectsEBV,theycanrecommendabloodtesttoconfirmthecondition.Findoutmoreinourdedicatedarticle.OthercausesSometimes,asorethroatcandevelopforanotherreason,suchasatumor.Iftheproblemdoesnotgoaway,thedoctorwillperformmoreteststofindthecause.SorethroattreatmentMostsorethroatsresolvewithouttreatmentafteraroundaweek,butthiswilldependonthecause.Ifasorethroatisduetoabacterialinfection,adoctormayprescribeacourseofantibiotics.Peopleshouldalwaystakethecompletecourse,eveniftheyfeelbetterbeforefinishingallthemedication.Sorethroatsduetoaviralinfectiondonotusuallyneedmedicaltreatment.Acetaminophenormildpainrelieversmayhelpwiththepainandfever,andchildrencanusepediatricversionsofthesemedications.Apharmacistcanadvisewhichonestouseandcorrectdosages.Itisimportantalwaystofollowtheinstructionsonanymedicationandnottotakemorethantheguidelinessuggest.Apersonwithepiglottitismayneedtospendtimeinthehospital.Inseverecases,theymayneedintubationtohelpthembreathe.Iftestsrevealatumororanothercause,thedoctorwilldiscussappropriatetreatmentoptionswiththeindividual.HomeremediesAfewhomecarestrategiesmayhelprelievesorethroatsymptoms,including:gettingplentyofrestdrinkingplentyoffluidstokeepthethroatmoistandpreventdehydrationusingahumidifierorvaporizerhavingcoldtreats,suchaspopsiclesgarglingwithwarm,saltwaterlozengesorhardcandytosootheasorethroatandacoughforchildrenover2yearsandadultsusinghoneytosootheasorethroat,exceptforchildrenunder12monthsrinsingthenoseandsinuses,forexample,withanetipottakingvitaminCsupplementsifapersonisunderseverestress,althoughthereisnotenoughevidenceindicatingthisisbeneficialformostpeopleAdditionally,honeyisnotsafeforchildrenagedunder1yearduetotheriskofbotulism,atypeoffoodpoisoning.Peopleshouldalsoavoidusingtapwaterwithnetipots,asthereisariskofinfection.Askapharmacistwhichtypeofwatertouse.SoothingdrinksforasorethroatConsumingwarmliquidscanhelpeasethediscomfortfromasorethroat.Drinksthatpeoplemayconsumeinclude:warmlemonorwaterwithhoney—remembernottogivehoneytoinfantsunder12monthsofagegingerteagreenteaA2019studyconcludedthatsomeherbalteasmayhelpmanagethesymptomsofpharyngitisduetostrepthroat.Theseteasincluded:licoricebarberrythymeoreganoAlternativeremediesSomeotherhomeremediesmaybeuseful,buttheymaynotbesafeforeveryone.Theyinclude:echinaceagarlicAmericanginsengelderberryOscillococcinumvitaminDHowever,thereisinsufficientevidencetoshowthatthesearehelpful.A2017studyconcludedthatextractsofclove,ginger,danshenroot,andechinaceaflowermayreducetheinflammationfromstrepthroat.ZinclozengesA2015reviewofthreestudiesconcludedthatdissolvingtabletscontainingahighdoseofzincacetateinthemouthmayrelievesymptomsofacommoncoldinadults,includingasorethroat.However,moreevidenceisnecessarytoshowthatitiseffectiveandsafeinthelongterm.Itcanalsohavesomeadverseeffects,includingnauseaandabadtasteinthemouth.TheNationalCenterforComplementaryandIntegrativeHealth(NCCIH)sayszinclozengesmayhelpmanageacommoncoldifpeoplestartusingthemwithin24hoursofsymptomsappearing.However,theNCCIHadvisespeoplenottousezinclozengesformorethan2weeks.Individualsshouldalsoavoidnasalzincproducts,asthesemayleadtoapermanentandseverelossofsmell.Zincmayalsointeractwithantibiotics,penicillamine,andotherdrugs.Alwayscheckwithadoctororhealthprofessionalbeforetakinganyalternativeremediestomakesuretheyaresafetouseandwillnotinteractwithanothermedication.Learnmoreabouthomeremediesforasorethroat.PreventionSomesimplestepscanhelppreventinfectionsthatcauseasorethroat.Forexample:Washthehandsoften,includingaftersneezingandcoughing.Usealcohol-basedhandsanitizersifsoapandwaterareunavailable.Coughorsneezeintoatissue,throwitaway,andimmediatelywashbothhands.Avoidtouchingthenoseormouth.Avoidclosecontactwithpeoplewhohaveaninfectionandstayawayfromothersifyouhaveaninfection.Disinfectfrequentlytouchedsurfaces,suchastabletops.Followadietandexerciseplanthathelpsboostoverallhealth.SeekadviceonCOVID-19testingifsymptomsmayindicateaSARS-CoV-2infection.ForupdatednewsandresearchonCOVID-19,clickhere.OutlookAsorethroatcanbeuncomfortable,butmostarenotseriousandusuallygoawaywithouttreatment.Homeremediesandover-the-countermedicationcansoothethesymptoms.However,apersonshouldspeakwithadoctorifsymptomsaresevereorpersistentortheyhavedifficultybreathing.Ifitisduetoabacterialinfection,suchasstrepthroat,thedoctorwillprescribeantibiotics.LastmedicallyreviewedonJanuary17,2022AllergyEar,Nose,andThroatFlu/Cold/SARSInfectiousDiseases/Bacteria/Viruses10sourcescollapsedMedicalNewsTodayhasstrictsourcingguidelinesanddrawsonlyfrompeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicaljournalsandassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Welinkprimarysources—includingstudies,scientificreferences,andstatistics—withineacharticleandalsolistthemintheresourcessectionatthebottomofourarticles.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.Allan,G.M.,etal.(2014).Preventionandtreatmentofthecommoncold:Makingsenseoftheevidence.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3928210/Commoncolds:Protectyourselvesandothers.(2021).https://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/index.htmlFink,C.,etal.(2018).Marshmallowrootextractforthetreatmentofirritativecough:Twosurveysonusers'viewoneffectivenessandtolerability[Abstract].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30064132Fluandcolds[Factsheet].(2016).https://files.nccih.nih.gov/s3fs-public/Flu_and_Colds_01-27-2016.pdfHemilä,H.,etal.(2015).Theeffectivenessofhigh-dosezincacetatelozengesonvariouscommoncoldsymptoms:Ameta-analysis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4359576/Lichtor,J.L.,etal.(2016).Epiglottitis:Ithasn'tgoneaway.https://pubs.asahq.org/anesthesiology/article/124/6/1404/14501/EpiglottitisIt-Hasn-t-Gone-AwaySorethroat.(2021). https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/sore-throat.htmlStrepthroat:Allyouneedtoknow.(2022).https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.htmlThecommoncoldandcomplementaryhealthapproaches:Whatthesciencesays.(2020).https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/the-common-cold-and-complementary-health-approaches-scienceWijesundara,N.M.,etal.(2019).Herbalteaforthemanagementofpharyngitis:Inhibitionof Streptococcuspyogenes growthandbiofilmformationbyherbalinfusions.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6783935/FEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyMeganSoliman,MD—WrittenbyValenciaHiguera—UpdatedonJanuary17,2022LatestnewsAnxietyinmen:FightingstereotypesEczema:Bestmoisturiserforkidsistheonetheywilluse,studyconcludesPlantcompoundeffectiveagainstlungcancerinlaboratorysetting'Gender-affirminghormonetherapyislife-saving,'expertsaysArthritistreatment:NoevidencethatdiethelpsRelatedCoverageWhatyouneedtoknowaboutlaryngitisMedicallyreviewedbyNicoleLeighAaronson,MD,MBA,CPE,FACS,FAAPLaryngitisisinflammationofthemucousmembraneofthelarynx,alsoknownasthevoicebox.Itcanbeacuteorchronic,butinmostcasesisnot…READMOREReasonsforwhitespotsonthetonsilsMedicallyreviewedbyNicoleLeighAaronson,MD,MBA,CPE,FACS,FAAPIfapersonhasasorethroat,checkingthetonsilscanhelptoidentifythecause.Severalconditionscancausewhitespotstoappearonthetonsils…READMOREWhattoknowaboutstrepthroatMedicallyreviewedbyAviVarma,MD,MPH,AAHIVS,FAAFPStrepthroatresultsfromtheStreptococcuspyogenesbacterium,whichcanspreadthroughairbornedroplets.Learnabouthowtorecognizeandtreat…READMOREWhatcausesaswollenuvula?MedicallyreviewedbyNicoleLeighAaronson,MD,MBA,CPE,FACS,FAAPInthisarticle,learnabouttheuvula,whyitmaybecomeswollen,whatmighthavecausedtheswelling,andwhichhometreatmentsmayberecommended.READMOREWhatcausesatickleinthethroatandhowtogetridofitMedicallyreviewedbyAlanaBiggers,M.D.,MPHThisarticlelooksathowtotreatatickleinthethroat.Itincludesinformationonwhatitfeelslikeandhowitdiffersfromotherthroatpain.READMORE