Sore Throat

 

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).

Symptoms of Sore Throat

A sore throat can make it painful to swallow. A sore throat can also feel dry and scratchy. Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory tract illness.

The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of the bacteria called group A strep:

  • Cough

  • Runny nose

  • Hoarseness (changes in your voice that makes it sound breathy, raspy, or strained)

  • Conjunctivitis (also called pink eye)

Symptoms of sore throat, whether caused by viruses or by the bacteria called group A strep, can often be similar.

Symptoms of Strep Throat

The most common symptoms of strep throat include:

  • Sore throat that can start very quickly

  • Pain when swallowing

  • Fever

  • Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

  • Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth

  • Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck

Sometimes someone with strep throat also has a rash known as scarlet fever (also called scarlatina).

When to Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you or your child have symptoms of strep throat. You or your child may need to be tested for strep throat.

Also see a doctor if you or your child have any of the following:

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Blood in saliva or phlegm

  • Excessive drooling (in young children)

  • Dehydration

  • Joint swelling and pain

  • Rash

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see your doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Follow up with a doctor if symptoms do not improve within a few days, get worse, or if you or your child have recurrent sore throats.

There is much more to learn: www.cdc.gov

 
Cyndi Burt