A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.
Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.
Causes
Causes of sore throat include:
Viruses, like those that cause colds or flu
The bacteria group A strep, which causes strep throat (also called streptococcal pharyngitis)
Allergies
Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
Of these, infections from viruses are the most common cause of sore throats.
Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria called group A Streptococcus (also called Streptococcus pyogenes).
Sore throat symptoms
The symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on what caused it. A sore throat can feel:
scratchy
burning
raw
dry
tender
irritated
It may hurt more when you swallow or talk. Your throat or tonsils might also look red.
Sometimes, white patches or areas of pus will form on the tonsils. These white patches are more common in strep throat than in a sore throat caused by a virus.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses. That means antibiotics, drugs used to treat bacterial infections, won’t help your child get better any faster.
There’s one exception: strep throat. Bacteria does cause that condition, so antibiotics will help. If you think your child may have strep, you should see a doctor to find out.
Treatment
Most sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not help viral sore throats. Using these medicines when they are not needed leads to antibiotics not working as well when they are needed.
Sore throat is treated with antibiotics if:
A strep test or culture is positive. Your provider cannot diagnose strep throat by symptoms or a physical exam alone.
A culture for chlamydia or gonorrhea is positive.
Sore throat caused by the flu (influenza) may be helped by antiviral medicines.
The following tips may help your sore throat feel better:
Drink soothing liquids. You can either drink warm liquids, such as lemon tea with honey, or cold liquids, such as ice water. You could also suck on a fruit-flavored ice pop.
Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp or 3 grams of salt in 1 cup or 240 milliliters of water).
Suck on hard candies or throat lozenges. Young children should not be given these products because they can choke on them.
Use of a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can moisten the air and soothe a dry and painful throat.
Try over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen.
Possible Complications
Complications may include:
Ear infection
Sinusitis
Abscess near the tonsils
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your provider if:
You develop a sore throat that does not go away after several days
You have a high fever, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, or a rash
Seek medical care right away if you have a sore throat and trouble breathing.
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