Sore throat – Symptoms & causes

Overview

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 (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.

Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on the cause. Signs and symptoms might include:

• Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat
• Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw
• Swollen, red tonsils
• White patches or pus on your tonsils
• A hoarse or muffled voice

Throat anatomy

The throat includes the esophagus; windpipe, also known as the trachea; voice box, also known as the larynx; tonsils; and epiglottis.

Infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

When to see a doctor

Take your child to a doctor if your child’s sore throat doesn’t go away with the first drink in the morning, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Get immediate care if your child has severe signs and symptoms such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unusual drooling, which might indicate an inability to swallow

If you’re an adult, see your doctor if you have a sore throat and any of the following associated problems, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery:

• A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Joint pain
• Earache
• Rash
• Fever higher than 101 F (38. 3 C)
• Blood in your saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throats
• A lump in your neck
• Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
• Swelling in your neck or face

Causes

Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause most sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sore throats.

Viral infections

Viral illnesses that cause a sore throat include:

• Common cold
• Flu (influenza)
• Mono (mononucleosis)
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Croup — a common childhood illness characterized by a harsh, barking cough

Bacterial infections

Many bacterial infections can cause a sore throat. The most common is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which causes strep throat.

Other causes

Other causes of a sore throat include:

• Allergies. Allergies to pet dander, molds, dust and pollen can cause a sore throat. The problem may be complicated by postnasal drip, which can irritate and inflame the throat.
• Dryness. Dry indoor air can make your throat feel rough and scratchy. Breathing through your mouth — often because of chronic nasal congestion — also can cause a dry, sore throat.
• Irritants. Outdoor air pollution and indoor pollution such as tobacco smoke or chemicals can cause a chronic sore throat. Chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods also can irritate your throat.
• Muscle strain. You can strain muscles in your throat by yelling, talking loudly or talking for long periods without rest.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a digestive system disorder in which stomach acids back up in the food pipe (esophagus).

  Other signs or symptoms may include heartburn, hoarseness, regurgitation of stomach contents and the sensation of a lump in your throat.

• HIV infection. A sore throat and other flu-like symptoms sometimes appear early after someone is infected with HIV.

  Also, someone who is HIV-positive might have a chronic or recurring sore throat due to a fungal infection called oral thrush or due to a viral infection called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can be serious in people with compromised immune systems.

• Tumors. Cancerous tumors of the throat, tongue or voice box (larynx) can cause a sore throat. Other signs or symptoms may include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, noisy breathing, a lump in the neck, and blood in saliva or phlegm.

Rarely, an infected area of tissue (abscess) in the throat or swelling of the small cartilage “lid” that covers the windpipe (epiglottitis) can cause a sore throat. Both can block the airway, creating a medical emergency.

Risk factors

Although anyone can get a sore throat, some factors make you more susceptible, including:

• Age. Children and teens are most likely to develop sore throats. Children ages 3 to 15 are also more likely to have strep throat, the most common bacterial infection associated with a sore throat.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke. Smoking and secondhand smoke can irritate the throat. The use of tobacco products also increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box.
• Allergies. Seasonal allergies or ongoing allergic reactions to dust, molds or pet dander make developing a sore throat more likely.
• Exposure to chemical irritants. Particles in the air from burning fossil fuels and common household chemicals can cause throat irritation.
• Chronic or frequent sinus infections. Drainage from your nose can irritate your throat or spread infection.
• Close quarters. Viral and bacterial infections spread easily anywhere people gather, whether in child care centers, classrooms, offices or airplanes.
• Weakened immunity. You’re more susceptible to infections in general if your resistance is low. Common causes of lowered immunity include HIV, diabetes, treatment with steroids or chemotherapy drugs, stress, fatigue, and poor diet.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sore throats is to avoid the germs that cause them and practice good hygiene. Follow these tips and teach your child to do the same:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid touching your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses or utensils.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away, and then wash your hands. When necessary, sneeze into your elbow.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing hands when soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid touching public phones or drinking fountains with your mouth.
• Regularly clean and disinfect phones, doorknobs, light switches, remotes and computer keyboards. When you travel, clean phones, light switches and remotes in your hotel room.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have symptoms.

Sore throat – Symptoms & causes

Overview

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 (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.

Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on the cause. Signs and symptoms might include:

• Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat
• Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw
• Swollen, red tonsils
• White patches or pus on your tonsils
• A hoarse or muffled voice

Throat anatomy

The throat includes the esophagus; windpipe, also known as the trachea; voice box, also known as the larynx; tonsils; and epiglottis.

Infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting

When to see a doctor

Take your child to a doctor if your child’s sore throat doesn’t go away with the first drink in the morning, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Get immediate care if your child has severe signs and symptoms such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Unusual drooling, which might indicate an inability to swallow

If you’re an adult, see your doctor if you have a sore throat and any of the following associated problems, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery:

• A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Joint pain
• Earache
• Rash
• Fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
• Blood in your saliva or phlegm
• Frequently recurring sore throats
• A lump in your neck
• Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks
• Swelling in your neck or face

Causes

Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause most sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sore throats.

Viral infections

Viral illnesses that cause a sore throat include:

• Common cold
• Flu (influenza)
• Mono (mononucleosis)
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Croup — a common childhood illness characterized by a harsh, barking cough

Bacterial infections

Many bacterial infections can cause a sore throat. The most common is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which causes strep throat.

Other causes

Other causes of a sore throat include:

• Allergies. Allergies to pet dander, molds, dust and pollen can cause a sore throat. The problem may be complicated by postnasal drip, which can irritate and inflame the throat.
• Dryness. Dry indoor air can make your throat feel rough and scratchy. Breathing through your mouth — often because of chronic nasal congestion — also can cause a dry, sore throat.
• Irritants. Outdoor air pollution and indoor pollution such as tobacco smoke or chemicals can cause a chronic sore throat. Chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol and eating spicy foods also can irritate your throat.
• Muscle strain. You can strain muscles in your throat by yelling, talking loudly or talking for long periods without rest.

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a digestive system disorder in which stomach acids back up in the food pipe (esophagus).

  Other signs or symptoms may include heartburn, hoarseness, regurgitation of stomach contents and the sensation of a lump in your throat.

• HIV infection. A sore throat and other flu-like symptoms sometimes appear early after someone is infected with HIV.

  Also, someone who is HIV-positive might have a chronic or recurring sore throat due to a fungal infection called oral thrush or due to a viral infection called cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can be serious in people with compromised immune systems.

• Tumors. Cancerous tumors of the throat, tongue or voice box (larynx) can cause a sore throat. Other signs or symptoms may include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, noisy breathing, a lump in the neck, and blood in saliva or phlegm.

Rarely, an infected area of tissue (abscess) in the throat or swelling of the small cartilage “lid” that covers the windpipe (epiglottitis) can cause a sore throat. Both can block the airway, creating a medical emergency.

Risk factors

Although anyone can get a sore throat, some factors make you more susceptible, including:

• Age. Children and teens are most likely to develop sore throats. Children ages 3 to 15 are also more likely to have strep throat, the most common bacterial infection associated with a sore throat.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke. Smoking and secondhand smoke can irritate the throat. The use of tobacco products also increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and voice box.
• Allergies. Seasonal allergies or ongoing allergic reactions to dust, molds or pet dander make developing a sore throat more likely.
• Exposure to chemical irritants. Particles in the air from burning fossil fuels and common household chemicals can cause throat irritation.
• Chronic or frequent sinus infections. Drainage from your nose can irritate your throat or spread infection.
• Close quarters. Viral and bacterial infections spread easily anywhere people gather, whether in child care centers, classrooms, offices or airplanes.
• Weakened immunity. You’re more susceptible to infections in general if your resistance is low. Common causes of lowered immunity include HIV, diabetes, treatment with steroids or chemotherapy drugs, stress, fatigue, and poor diet.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sore throats is to avoid the germs that cause them and practice good hygiene. Follow these tips and teach your child to do the same:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid touching your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses or utensils.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away, and then wash your hands. When necessary, sneeze into your elbow.
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing hands when soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid touching public phones or drinking fountains with your mouth.
• Regularly clean and disinfect phones, doorknobs, light switches, remotes and computer keyboards. When you travel, clean phones, light switches and remotes in your hotel room.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or have symptoms.

why? Sore throat with and without fever. What to do if you have a sore throat?

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Sore throat

Supreme in the throat of can be described by the words: “ I have a sore throat ”, “ sorceres Sades ”, “ Derns ”, “ Zhulets” , or even “ Subber Gorl ”. In most cases, we are talking about discomfort in the throat caused by the inflammatory process.

Sore throat is one of the most common complaints. Few of us can boast that they have never had a sore throat. The pain in the throat can be severe, sharp, shooting, or it can be manifested by a moderate burning sensation or discomfort that is observed constantly or only when swallowing or talking. When complaining of a sore throat, the examination usually reveals redness of the throat and its swelling.

Why does my throat hurt?

Bacteria and viruses constantly attack our body. They enter us with air and food. Any infection that has penetrated this way can become the causative agent of a sore throat.

With the infectious nature of the disease, sore throat is usually only one of the symptoms. Along with a sore throat, you may experience:

• runny nose;
• cough;
• headache;
• fever, chills, increased sweating;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• skin rash;
• weakness, loss of appetite.

The most common cause of sore throat is a viral infection. In this case, the inflammation develops gradually, and the severity of the symptoms increases accordingly.

A sore throat can be caused by the following viral diseases:

• SARS;
• influenza;
• mononucleosis;
• measles;
• varicella;
• some other viral diseases.

If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the sore throat begins suddenly and immediately in a severe form. The most common bacterial throat infection is streptococcal infection.

If a person has nasal breathing for some reason and is forced to breathe through his mouth, discomfort in the throat can be caused by direct exposure to the atmosphere. The air may be too dry or cold, contain smoke, dust particles, harmful chemical compounds. As a result, the mucous membrane dries up, becomes irritated, there is a feeling of discomfort, pain, cough. Many substances sometimes found in the air are allergens. And in the case of a tendency to allergic diseases, the presence of such substances (for example, plant pollen, the smallest particles of animal hair, etc.) in the air inhaled can cause sore throat.

When sore throat is one of the main symptoms

(as a rule, in these cases, sore throat is accompanied by fever)

Diseases in which sore throat is the main or typical symptom:

• pharyngitis – inflammation of the pharynx. In the throat, dryness and perspiration are felt, it becomes painful to swallow, the temperature rises (up to 37.5-38 ° C). Often develops against the background of a runny nose;
• angina (tonsillitis) – inflammation of the palatine tonsils. It is characterized by severe pain in the throat, most pronounced when swallowing, a sharp rise in temperature to 38 ° C and above, swelling and redness of the tonsils. Submandibular lymph nodes increase, general weakness is observed;
• paratonsillar abscess – inflammation of the tissues adjacent to the tonsils. Usually develops as a complication of tonsillitis or streptococcal pharyngitis. It is characterized by the resumption of sore throat, severe and “shooting”, high temperature – up to 39 ° C, an increase in the tonsil on one side;
• laryngitis – inflammation of the larynx. Laryngitis is characterized by a sore throat, cough, and pain when swallowing.

Other possible causes of a sore throat

Why a sore throat can occur when there is no temperature

There are other possible causes of a sore throat:

• mechanical injury;
• overexertion of the muscles of the larynx and pharynx;
• glossopharyngeal neuralgia;
• entry of stomach contents into the esophageal cavity;
• tumor processes;
• in diseases of the thyroid gland, pain may be felt when swallowing;
• pain in the throat can be felt with angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, as well as with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine (in this case, there is no increase in pain when swallowing).

In these cases, sore throat is usually not accompanied by fever and other characteristic symptoms of acute respiratory infections (patients complain of sore throat without fever).

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Sore throat: when should you see a doctor?

If your throat suddenly began to bother you, but the temperature does not rise, and there are no other frightening symptoms, it makes sense to try to cope with home remedies (warm drinks, gargling). But if it was not possible to defeat the sore throat in two days, you should consult a doctor. You should not try to replace professional medicine and choose your own medicine.

It is categorically unacceptable to resort to antibiotics without an appropriate prescription from a doctor. If your illness is caused by a virus (and the common cold, often accompanied by pharyngitis, is usually a viral illness), then antibiotics will not help, but rather, they will only weaken the body by destroying beneficial bacteria.

At the same time, against the background of a viral infection, pathogenic bacteria can also become more active. And in this case, the use of antibacterial drugs may be indicated. Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of the disease, make a diagnosis and choose an effective course of treatment. Similarly, the fact that the throat is healthy – in cases where pain in the throat is caused by a disease of other organs, can only become an ENT doctor.

Be sure to see a doctor if:

• sore throat does not go away within two days with home treatment;
• the pain is very severe, it is difficult to swallow or open the mouth;
• pain is accompanied by a sharp rise in temperature;
• sore throat accompanied by skin rash;
• Throat discomfort and pain returns easily. In this case, patients usually complain that the throat hurts constantly. Such complaints, as a rule, indicate the presence of a chronic form of the disease – chronic tonsillitis or chronic pharyngitis).

Which doctor should I contact if I have a sore throat?

In case of acute pain against the background of a temperature, call a doctor at home (a therapist or pediatrician leaves if the child is sick). With a complaint of a sore throat, you can also make an appointment with an ENT doctor at any of the Family Doctor’s polyclinics.

Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

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All answers of doctors

Sore throat – Article I Clinic for evidence-based medicine NEPLACEBO

Author –
Lukankina Irina Aleksandrovna

10/26/2022

Every person has experienced a sore throat at least once. Most often, this happens for the first time in childhood, with various viral infections. But even in adulthood it can be a common problem.

Older children complain on their own that they have a sore throat or that it hurts to swallow. Babies can’t always explain what’s bothering them. More often they begin to eat poorly, refuse to drink. With severe pain in the throat, they can even swallow saliva poorly.

The most common causes of sore throats are infections. Both viral and bacterial.

Effective sore throat remedies are surprisingly sold in the store and not in the Pharmacy.

For example:

• cold drinks and melted ice cream,
• any lozenges to taste, just remember that up to 4-5 years old children can accidentally inhale a hard candy and suffocate, so the method is age-limited,
• Sucking on a piece of ice,
• Gargling with a salt solution: dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Children usually learn to gargle properly by about 6 years of age,
• For very severe sore throats, general pain medications such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can be used. These are the same remedies that you give children to reduce fever.

You may find some of the recommendations strange or questionable. Indeed, in our childhood it was customary to treat differently, and even now some doctors of the old school can advise warm drinks and prohibit ice cream.

However, there are studies confirming the safety of such recommendations. It is well known that cold dulls pain. In addition, scientists tested whether throat pain pills really work better than plain lozenges and found that there is no difference. Only pharmaceutical lozenges are usually more expensive and more likely to cause allergies and other side effects. The same results were obtained when comparing salt with special products and sprays – the effectiveness of the saline solution is not inferior, it is available to everyone and does not cause side effects.