Causes and Symptoms of Sore Throat

What is a sore throat?

A sore throat (also known as pharyngitis or tonsillitis) is a symptom of a disease affecting the pharynx or the area around the tonsils. It can be the result of an infection by a virus or bacteria. A sore throat may be symptomatic of the condition itself or one of a number of symptoms realting to a wider illness such as flu and glandular fever.

When your child complains that his throat is sore, it is usually a symptom of an illness, such as a cold. When you look at the throat with a light, it will be bright red. Children too young to talk may have a sore throat if they refuse to eat or begin to cry during feedings.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses and are part of a cold. About 10% of sore throats are caused by Strep bacteria. A throat culture or rapid strep test is the only way to know whether a sore throat is caused by strep bacteria or a virus. Without treatment, a strep throat can have some rare but serious complications.

Causes Of Sore Throat

Most sore throats are caused by viruses. Many occur at the beginning of a cold, when runny noses drain down the back of the throat and irritate it. Sore throats can also be caused by actual infection of the throat, such as strep throat, which is caused by bacteria (Streptococcus).

Your medical provider can run tests to aid in diagnosis, although the answer is not always clear-cut, especially with viral infections. The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis, is diagnosed by the presence of certain white blood cells and antibodies in your blood. Other viruses can sometimes be identified by tests. Bacteria are identified using throat cultures and other diagnostic tests

Smoking, breathing very dry air, and cheering loudly or yelling are examples of irritants that can cause you to get a sore throat. Sore throats caused by smoking, dry air, or yelling will go away on their own once you give your throat a rest (and drink plenty of water!).

A virus, such as the common cold, or a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, can also cause sore throat. A viral sore throat will go away on its own. Sore throats caused by bacteria should be treated. See your health professional if you have a sore throat and suspect it might be strep throat, which is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria. If you have strep throat but do not get medical care, you could develop serious health problems such as scarlet fever and rheumatic fever.

Symptoms Of Sore Throat

- Pain in the throat
- Chills and fever
- Inflammation in the throat
- Swelling of lymph glands
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Irritation in the throat
- Headache
- Pain in the ears
- Swelling of tonsils
- Vomiting
- Problem in breathing
- Inability to swallow food
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Joint pain
- Rash
- High fever
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
- Lump in neck
- Hoarse voice

Treatment for a sore
Treatment for a sore throat may include rest, plenty of liquids, throat lozenges, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain. Treatment with antibiotics may be required for those with a bacterial infection.

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