Working with a healthcare provider to find the underlying cause of chronic throat pain will help determine the right treatment plan. The top causes are chronictonsillitis, allergies, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Although rare, a chronic sore throat can occasionally be a sign of throat cancer.
This article will cover the different causes of chronic throat pain and treatment options. It will also cover the differences between a chronic and acute sore throat and each condition’s symptoms.
How Long Does a Sore Throat Typically Last?
An averagesore throatlasts about five to 10 days.When the pain and soreness last two weeks or longer then it is considered a chronic sore throat.
How long asore throatlasts will depend greatly on its cause. If the cause is an infection, the pain and soreness will go away when the infection subsides. However, if the sore throat is from a condition or illness that does not go away on its own, the sore throat will linger.
Acute vs. Chronic Sore Throat
Acute and chronicare two medical terms used to describe types of illnesses. Acute means it develops suddenly and doesn’t last for a long time. Chronic means that it develops slowly and can last for a long time or indefinitely.
Lemierre Syndrome: A Throat Diagnosis Not to Miss
Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of a chronic sore throat isodynophagia, the medical term for painful swallowing. Other throat symptoms include:
Chronic throat pain is known to radiate, causing pain in the ear and thetemporomandibular joint.
The underlying cause of a chronic sore throat will influence symptoms. One example would be a chronic sore throat due toallergies, which would also cause a runny nose, cough, fever, and congestion.
Contagiousness
If bacteria or a virus causes a sore throat, then it is contagious. If allergies,GERD, or other noninfectious causes result in a sore throat, then it is not contagious.
Causes
Infections tend to be the main cause of acute throat pain. However, medical conditions usually cause chronic throat pain. A 2019 study found that the most common causes of chronic throat pain are:
The 2019 study also found that 39% of study participants with chronic throat pain were chronic smokers and 31% were addicted to alcohol. If you are a smoker or drinker and have a sore throat, you should see a healthcare provider because these are risk factors for throat cancer.
One of the more common symptoms of COVID-19 is a sore throat.The soreness should subside after the infection has resolved. If soreness continues or causes any difficulty breathing contact a healthcare provider.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If a sore throat lasts more than five to 10 days contact a healthcare provider. Other reasons to contact a healthcare provider are:
Treatment
Sore throat treatment should aim to resolve the underlying cause. A healthcare provider may order tests to help determine the cause.
Prescription antibiotics may prove necessary in the event of bacterial infection. Over-the-counter medications like Aleve (naproxen) and Advil (ibuprofen) can help reduce throat pain and swelling.
Home Remedies
Products from home can often manage a sore throat. Some remedies to try include:
Summary
Treatment should aim to fix the underlying condition and manage throat pain. If a bacterial infection causes throat pain, then antibiotics may prove necessary. Home remedies and over-the-counter medication can also help reduce throat pain and its other symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Throat pain can make it hard to eat, swallow, and talk. Try using over-the-counter pain medication and home remedies to minimize the pain. If pain lasts five to 10 days, contact a healthcare provider. Throat pain that lasts that long is likely not the result of an infection and may need medical attention to go away.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA fever is the body’s response to infection. A chronic sore throat without a fever could mean that the sore throat is not the result of an infection. Medical conditions that can cause a chronic sore throat are GERD and allergies.Yes, chronic sore throat is sometimes a sign oftonsillitis. A virus or bacteria can cause tonsillitis. A healthcare provider can help identify the specific cause to effectively treat tonsillitis.If a sore throat lasts five to 10 days, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. They will be able to help identify the cause and determine a proper treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fever is the body’s response to infection. A chronic sore throat without a fever could mean that the sore throat is not the result of an infection. Medical conditions that can cause a chronic sore throat are GERD and allergies.
Yes, chronic sore throat is sometimes a sign oftonsillitis. A virus or bacteria can cause tonsillitis. A healthcare provider can help identify the specific cause to effectively treat tonsillitis.
If a sore throat lasts five to 10 days, it’s time to see a healthcare provider. They will be able to help identify the cause and determine a proper treatment plan.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Krüger K, Töpfner N, Berner R, Windfuhr J, Oltrogge JH.Sore throat.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021;118(11):188-194. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0121Kundu S, Dutta M, Adhikary BK, Ghosh B.Encountering chronic sore throat: how challenging is it for the otolaryngologists?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):176-181. doi:10.1007/s12070-017-1191-5American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Sore throats.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Krüger K, Töpfner N, Berner R, Windfuhr J, Oltrogge JH.Sore throat.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021;118(11):188-194. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0121Kundu S, Dutta M, Adhikary BK, Ghosh B.Encountering chronic sore throat: how challenging is it for the otolaryngologists?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):176-181. doi:10.1007/s12070-017-1191-5American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Sore throats.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Krüger K, Töpfner N, Berner R, Windfuhr J, Oltrogge JH.Sore throat.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021;118(11):188-194. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0121Kundu S, Dutta M, Adhikary BK, Ghosh B.Encountering chronic sore throat: how challenging is it for the otolaryngologists?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):176-181. doi:10.1007/s12070-017-1191-5American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Sore throats.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Krüger K, Töpfner N, Berner R, Windfuhr J, Oltrogge JH.Sore throat.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2021;118(11):188-194. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0121
Kundu S, Dutta M, Adhikary BK, Ghosh B.Encountering chronic sore throat: how challenging is it for the otolaryngologists?Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(Suppl 1):176-181. doi:10.1007/s12070-017-1191-5
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Sore throats.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sore throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
