Symptoms of Sore Throat

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Sore Throat GuideHow a Sore Throat Is Treated

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Frequent Symptoms

Rare Symptoms

Complications

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Frequently Asked Questions

Next in Sore Throat Guide

Asore throatsounds generic enough, but the symptoms you feel can vary depending on thereasonfor asore throatitself. Aside from standard pain and irritation, symptoms sometimes also include difficulty swallowing and swelling, among other things. Most of the time, symptoms go away on their own within a day or two, but they can persist. And while many may simply be unwanted, others—like high fever or rash—indicate that you should seek medical attention.

sore throat symptoms

The symptoms you have with a sore throatdepend on the cause. The throat discomfort itself may take these forms:

Respiratory infections or nasal drainage into the back of the throat are the mostcommon causesof a sore throat. With them, you are likely to have one or more of these symptoms along with a sore throat:

In young children, blood may be seen in nasal discharge or phlegm, if present. Blisters on the throat, hands, and feet may be seen if a child has a sore throat due toCoxsackievirus, leading to its common name of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Most common in the summer and fall, this virus often comes with a higher fever and more difficulty in swallowing; your child may also seem sicker than with a typical cold.

A lump in the neck that isn’t due to swollen glands can be a sign that the sore throat may be due to laryngeal cancer. Ear pain may also be a sign of a tumor, as is unexplained weight loss and changes in your voice.

If your sore throat doesn’t go away and you have any of these signs, you should see your healthcare provider. But remember, laryngeal cancer is rare.

Some potential complications are due to a sore throat itself, while others are related to causes of a sore throat.

When you have a sore throat, the pain can disrupt your sleeping patterns and worsen sleep apnea. Dehydration is a concern if you have difficulty swallowing and don’t drink enough fluids. If your sore throat continues, you may also have trouble getting adequate nutrition due to pain and difficulty in swallowing.

If a sore throat is due tostrep throat, it needs to betreatedwith a full course of antibiotics.

If strep throat is not treated, this can lead to rheumatic fever, kidney damage, heart disease, or abscesses of the tonsils.

It is important to take all of the antibiotics and not to stop once you are feeling better. If you think you might havestrep throat, you need to see a healthcare provider to have a strep test performed.

Allergies that cause post-nasal drip and a sore throat can lead to other medical problems. You are at more risk of developing asthma, which affects your airways and breathing. You also can be at more risk of developing sinusitis, ear infections, and lung infections.

Epiglottitis, swelling of the cartilage that covers your windpipe, can occur due to infections such as strep throat,Streptococcus pneumoniae, andHaemophilus influenzaetype B. This can block your airflow, requiring emergency treatment.

You should contact your healthcare provider if you have a sore throat and were exposed to someone with strep throat. Rapid strep tests can be performed in most healthcare provider’s offices in about five minutes. Throat cultures are more accurate, but they can take up to two days to provide results.

You should also contact your healthcare provider if you have a sore throat and any of thefollowing symptoms:

A majority of sore throats are minor and don’t require medicaltreatment, but a sore throat can signal a more serious infection or illness.

Talking to your healthcare provider about any concerns is always a good idea.

Frequently Asked QuestionsYes. A sore throat that includes pain, discomfort, and a sense of tightness is one of the symptoms of COVID. It seems more common in theU.K. strain.Keep in mind, it’s rare for a sore throat to be theonlysymptom you have with COVID-19.A dry bedroom, especially in the winter, is the most common cause.Mouth breathing,acid reflux,allergies,sleep apnea, and waking updehydratedare other possible reasons.If you have a sore throat with afeverof 101 degrees or more for longer than two days, it’s a sign that you may have abacterial infection.See your healthcare provider to find out if you should start antibiotic treatments.

Yes. A sore throat that includes pain, discomfort, and a sense of tightness is one of the symptoms of COVID. It seems more common in theU.K. strain.Keep in mind, it’s rare for a sore throat to be theonlysymptom you have with COVID-19.

A dry bedroom, especially in the winter, is the most common cause.Mouth breathing,acid reflux,allergies,sleep apnea, and waking updehydratedare other possible reasons.

If you have a sore throat with afeverof 101 degrees or more for longer than two days, it’s a sign that you may have abacterial infection.See your healthcare provider to find out if you should start antibiotic treatments.

Causes and Risk Factors of Sore Throat

6 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.Omaña-cepeda C, Martínez-valverde A, Del mar sabater-recolons M, Jané-salas E, Marí-roig A, López-lópez J.A literature review and case report of hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9:165. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-1973-yAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.Sore Throats.American Academy of Pediatrics.When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection.Mahase E.Covid-19: Sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia are more common with new UK variant.BMJ. 2021:n288. doi:10.1136/bmj.n288Cleveland Clinic.Can you get a sore throat from sleeping with your window open?American Osteopathic Association.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Family Physicians.Sore Throat Overview.

6 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.Omaña-cepeda C, Martínez-valverde A, Del mar sabater-recolons M, Jané-salas E, Marí-roig A, López-lópez J.A literature review and case report of hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9:165. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-1973-yAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.Sore Throats.American Academy of Pediatrics.When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection.Mahase E.Covid-19: Sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia are more common with new UK variant.BMJ. 2021:n288. doi:10.1136/bmj.n288Cleveland Clinic.Can you get a sore throat from sleeping with your window open?American Osteopathic Association.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.Additional ReadingAmerican Academy of Family Physicians.Sore Throat Overview.

Omaña-cepeda C, Martínez-valverde A, Del mar sabater-recolons M, Jané-salas E, Marí-roig A, López-lópez J.A literature review and case report of hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9:165. doi:10.1186/s13104-016-1973-yAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.Sore Throats.American Academy of Pediatrics.When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection.Mahase E.Covid-19: Sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia are more common with new UK variant.BMJ. 2021:n288. doi:10.1136/bmj.n288Cleveland Clinic.Can you get a sore throat from sleeping with your window open?American Osteopathic Association.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.

American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.Sore Throats.

American Academy of Pediatrics.When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection.

Mahase E.Covid-19: Sore throat, fatigue, and myalgia are more common with new UK variant.BMJ. 2021:n288. doi:10.1136/bmj.n288

Cleveland Clinic.Can you get a sore throat from sleeping with your window open?

American Osteopathic Association.Know the warning signs when to call the doctor if your sore throat persists.

American Academy of Family Physicians.Sore Throat Overview.

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