Sore Throat

A sore throat is a painful, scratchy, or uncomfortable feeling in your throat, often worse when you swallow. This is often called pharyngitis. Most sore throats are caused by a virus, like the ones that cause colds or the flu. These viral sore throats usually get better on their own without any special treatment.

Sometimes, a sore throat is caused by bacteria, like a strep infection. This is called strep throat. Strep throat needs treatment with antibiotics. If left untreated, strep throat can lead to problems like kidney infections.

Less often, a sore throat might be caused by something else, like allergies, irritants, or other medical conditions. If your sore throat doesn't improve or you have other symptoms like a fever or difficulty swallowing, it's important to see a doctor to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

A sore throat can have different symptoms, depending on what's causing it. You might feel pain or a scratchy feeling in your throat. This pain could get worse when you swallow or talk. Swallowing might become difficult. You might also notice swollen lymph nodes (glands) in your neck or jaw area. Sometimes, your tonsils become swollen and red. You could see white patches or pus on your tonsils. A hoarse or muffled voice is another possible symptom.

If your child has a sore throat, it's important to see a doctor if it doesn't get better after their first drink of the day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this.

Seek immediate medical attention if your child is having trouble breathing or swallowing, or if they're drooling unusually. Unusual drooling might mean they can't swallow properly.

Adults should also see a doctor if they have a sore throat that's severe or lasts longer than a week. The American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery suggests this. Other reasons to see a doctor for a sore throat include:

• Severe or prolonged sore throat: A sore throat that's very painful or lasts for more than seven days.
• Trouble swallowing: If you have difficulty swallowing food or liquids.
• Breathing problems: If you're having trouble breathing comfortably.
• Difficulty opening your mouth: If you can't open your mouth as wide as usual.
• Joint pain: Soreness or pain in your joints.
• Ear pain: Discomfort or pain in your ears.
• Skin rash: Any new or unusual rash.
• High fever: A temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.
• Blood in your saliva or phlegm: This is a serious sign and requires immediate attention.
• Frequent sore throats: If you have sore throats happening often.
• Lump in the neck: Any new or growing lump in your neck area.
• Hoarseness lasting longer than two weeks: A persistent change in your voice.
• Swelling in your neck or face: Noticeable swelling in these areas.

In all cases, if you have any concerns about your child's or your own sore throat, it's always best to consult a doctor. They can properly diagnose the issue and recommend the best course of action.

Sore throats are often caused by viruses, like those that give you the common cold or the flu. While these are the most frequent culprits, sometimes bacteria are to blame. In simpler terms, cold and flu viruses are the usual suspects behind sore throats, but occasionally, a bacterial infection can also be the cause.

Sore throats are common, but some things make you more prone to getting one. Here are some factors:

• Age: Kids and teenagers are often more likely to have sore throats than adults. Young children, especially those between the ages of 3 and 15, are at higher risk for strep throat, a bacterial infection that frequently causes sore throats.

• Smoking and secondhand smoke: If you smoke or are around smokers, your throat is more likely to get irritated. This is because smoking can also increase your risk of getting mouth, throat, and voice box cancers.

• Allergies: Seasonal allergies or allergies to things like dust, mold, or pet dander can cause a sore throat. These allergies trigger an immune response that can irritate the throat.

• Air pollution and household chemicals: Breathing in tiny particles from things like burning fuels or certain household cleaners can irritate your throat.

• Sinus infections: If you have frequent or chronic sinus infections, the drainage from your nose can irritate your throat and potentially spread infection to it.

• Crowded environments: Sore throats, like other illnesses, spread more easily in places where people are close together. This includes places like childcare centers, schools, offices, and airplanes.

• Weakened immune system: If your body's defenses are low, you're more likely to get sick, including sore throats. A weakened immune system can be caused by several things, including HIV, diabetes, taking steroids or chemotherapy, stress, fatigue, and a poor diet.

Sore throats are often caused by germs. The best way to keep from getting a sore throat is to keep those germs away and practice good hygiene. Here's how:

Wash your hands: This is super important. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds. Think about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice! Wash your hands often, especially after using the restroom, before eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching anything in public.

Don't touch your face: Germs love to travel from your hands to your eyes, nose, and mouth. Try to keep your hands away from your face as much as possible.

Don't share: Sharing food, drinks, or utensils can spread germs easily. It's best to keep these things separate.

Cover your coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your elbow. Afterward, wash your hands.

Use hand sanitizer: If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These are great for quickly killing germs on your hands.

Avoid touching public surfaces: Public phones, drinking fountains, and doorknobs can have lots of germs. Avoid touching these with your mouth or hands.

Clean frequently touched surfaces: Things like phones, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, and computer keyboards all need cleaning. Wipe them down regularly with a disinfectant. If you're traveling, be sure to clean things like your phone, light switches, and remotes in your hotel room.

Stay away from sick people: When someone is sick, they can spread germs more easily. Keep your distance to help prevent catching a sore throat.

By following these simple steps, you can reduce your chances of getting a sore throat, and teach your children to do the same.

Doctors may check your or your child's symptoms and medical history to diagnose strep throat. Part of the examination often includes:

A physical exam, which might involve:

• Looking at the throat, ears, and nose: A doctor uses a special light to see these areas.
• Checking for swollen glands: The doctor gently feels the neck to see if lymph nodes (glands) are swollen.
• Listening to breathing: A stethoscope is used to listen to your or your child's breathing.

Doctors often use a simple test to find strep bacteria, the germ that causes strep throat. A sterile swab is gently rubbed on the back of the throat to collect a sample of throat secretions. This sample is sent to a lab for testing. Some clinics have labs that can quickly give results from a "rapid antigen test" in just a few minutes. However, another test, called a "throat culture," is sometimes used. This test is usually more accurate and takes longer, typically 24-48 hours to get results.

Rapid antigen tests can quickly detect strep bacteria, but they aren't always perfect. If the rapid antigen test is negative, the doctor might still order a throat culture to be sure there's no strep throat.

Sometimes, a different kind of lab test called a "molecular test" is used to check for strep bacteria. Like the rapid antigen test, this involves taking a throat swab sample and sending it to a lab for testing. The results from this test may be available within a few minutes.

Sore throats are often caused by viruses. These usually last about 5 to 7 days and don't need medicine like antibiotics.

If your throat hurts or you have a fever, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers to help. Examples include acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin).

For children, always use medicines made especially for kids. These are labeled "children's" or "infant" versions of acetaminophen (like Children's Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Children's Advil).

Important: Never give aspirin to a child or teen. Aspirin has been linked to a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. This is a rare but dangerous condition that affects the liver and brain.

Sometimes, a sore throat is caused by bacteria. If this is the case, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

It's very important to take all the antibiotics as prescribed, even if you feel better. Not finishing the medicine can allow the infection to get worse or spread to other parts of your body. For example, not completing the full course of antibiotics for strep throat can increase the risk of rheumatic fever or kidney problems.

If you miss a dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to catch up.

If your sore throat isn't caused by a virus or bacteria, your doctor will figure out what's wrong and recommend the right treatment for that specific condition.