Sore Throat

Symptoms

Some of the most common sore throat symptoms include:

• a scratchy sensation in your throat
• pain and/or discomfort when swallowing or talking
• swollen or tender glands in your neck
• your tonsils may look red and swollen
• there may be white pus on your tonsils
• you may lose your voice

Depending on what’s causing the sore throat, you may also experience:

• a runny or blocked nose
• headache
• cough
• sneezing
• high temperature
• muscle aches and pains
• tiredness
• nausea or vomiting

If it’s a child with a sore throat, they may also:

• have a high temperature
• Show signs of lethargy, or be more tired than normal

Causes

Sore throats can be either viral, bacterial or caused by another condition. In most cases, a virus is to blame.

Viruses and bacteria are passed from person-to-person by direct contact, such as coughs and sneezes, or indirect contact, such as touching a surface that's been touched by an infected person.

Some causes of a sore throat include:

• the flu
• a cold
• measles
• chickenpox
• mumps
• mononucleosis
• laryngitis
• tonsillitis
• glandular fever
• strep throat
• allergies
• exposure to irritants, such as smoke
• GORD
• croup - which is common in children and babies

Diagnosis

Often, a sore throat will go away on its own after a few days to a week without the need to see a GP for a diagnosis or treatment.

However, if there’s no improvement after a week, you should see a GP. Likewise, if your sore throat keeps coming back, it is severe, or if you have other symptoms you’re worried about, such as a high temperature, you can see a GP.

You should also seek medical advice if you have a weakened immune system, as you are more at risk of complications from a sore throat.

Our GPs can listen to your symptoms over a video consultation and take a look at your throat before providing a diagnosis.

If you start coughing up blood, have chest pain, are drooling, have breathing or swallowing difficulties, are making a high-pitched wheezing sound as you breathe, or are deteriorating rapidly, go to A&E or call 999 urgently.

Treatment

Often, treatment from a doctor isn’t needed for a sore throat, as it will go away on its own, usually within a few days to a week.

There are things you can do at home to help ease your symptoms, including:

• taking over-the-counter pain medication (only use medication for children if it’s a child who has a sore throat)
• gargling with warm salt water (this isn’t suitable for children)
• drinking plenty of fluids - cold fluids may sooth the pain
• resting your voice
• getting plenty of sleep and rest
• sucking on throat lozenges, hard boiled sweets or even ice cubes (this isn’t suitable for children as there is a choking risk)
• avoiding smoky environments, and not smoking yourself
• using a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist
• using an anaesthetic spray to numb the back of your throat - these are available from a pharmacy

Antibiotics will only be prescribed if your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, and at the doctor's discretion. Strep throat is generally more painful and lasts longer than a sore throat caused by a virus.