What is a sore throat?

A sore throat is a pain, scratching or throat irritation, which often gets worse when you swallow. A viral infection such as cold or flu is the most common cause of a sore throat( pharyngitis). A sore throat caused by a virus ends alone.

Symptoms:

1. Throat pain that usually comes on quickly
2. Painful swallowing
3. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of puss
4. Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate)
5. Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
6. Fever
7. A headache
8. Rash
9. Nausea or vomiting, especially in younger children
10. Body aches

Causes of sore throats

Causes of sore throats range from infections to injuries. Here are eight of the most common sore throat causes.

1. Colds, the flu, and other viral infections

Viruses cause about 90 percent of sore throats. Among the viruses that cause sore throats are:

1. the common cold
2. influenza — the flu
3. mononucleosis, an infectious disease that’s transmitted through saliva
4. measles, an illness that causes a rash and fever
5. chickenpox, an infection that causes a fever and an itchy, bumpy rash
6. mumps, an infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands in the neck

2. Strep throat and other bacterial infections

Bacterial infections can also cause sore throats. The most common one is strep throat, an infection of the throat and tonsils caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria.

Strep throat causes nearly 40 percent of sore throat cases in children. Tonsillitis and sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat.

3. Allergies

When the immune system reacts to allergy triggers like pollen, grass, and pet dander, it releases chemicals that cause symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, and throat irritation.

Excess mucus in the nose can drip down the back of the throat. This is called postnasal drip and can irritate the throat.

4. Dry air

Dry air can suck moisture from the mouth and throat, and leave them feeling dry and scratchy. The air is most likely dry in the winter months when the heater is running.

5. Smoke, chemicals, and other irritants

Many different chemicals and other substances in the environment irritate the throat, including:

1. cigarette and other tobacco smoke
2. air pollution
3. cleaning products and other chemicals

After September 11, more than 62 percent of responding firefighters reported frequent sore throats. Only 3.2 percent had had sore throats before the World Trade Center disaster.

6. Injury

Any injury, such as a hit or cut to the neck, can cause pain in the throat. Getting a piece of food stuck in your throat can also irritate it.

Repeated use strains the vocal cords and muscles in the throat. You can get a sore throat after yelling, talking loudly, or singing for a long period of time. Sore throats are a common complaint among fitness instructors and teachers, who often have to yell.

7. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

The acid burns the esophagus and throat, causing symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux — the regurgitation of acid into your throat.

8. Tumor

A tumor of the throat, voice box, or tongue is a less common cause of a sore throat. When a sore throat is a sign of cancer, it doesn’t go away after a few days.