Throat Condition

Sore Throats

Overview

Sore throats can be painful and annoying. But most sore throats are caused by a minor illness and go away without medical treatment.

Several conditions can cause a sore throat.

Viral infections

Sore throats may be caused by a viral illness, such as:

  • The common cold. Colds are the most common type of viral infection.
  • Infection of the voice box (laryngitis).
  • Mononucleosis. This is also called mono, or “the kissing disease.” It’s a viral infection that tends to cause a persistent sore throat.
  • Other viral infections, such as mumps, herpangina, or influenza.

Bacterial infections

A bacterial infection may also cause a sore throat. These kind of infections include:

  • Strep throat. Strep throat usually does not cause congestion or a cough.
  • Inflammation or infection of the tonsils (tonsillitis) and sometimes the adenoids (adenoiditis).
  • Infection of the tissues around the tonsils (peritonsillar abscess).
  • Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis).
  • Inflammation of the uvula (uvulitis).
  • In rare cases, a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. These infections can happen if you’ve engaged in high-risk sexual behavior.

Irritants and injuries

A sore throat that lasts longer than a week is often caused by irritants or an injury. Examples include:

  • Throat irritation from low humidity, smoking, air pollution, yelling, or nasal drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drip).
  • Breathing through your mouth when you have allergies or a stuffy nose.
  • Stomach acid that backs up into the throat. This may be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD often occurs with heartburn, an acid taste in your mouth, or a cough . But sometimes a sore throat is the only symptom.
  • An injury to the back of the throat. Examples include a cut or puncture from falling with a pointed object in your mouth.

Treatment for a sore throat

Treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. You may be able to use home treatment to get relief.

Because viral illnesses are the most common cause of a sore throat, it’s important not to use antibiotics to treat them. Antibiotics do not help with viral infections. Using an antibiotic when you don’t need to exposes you to other risks, such as having an allergic reaction and having side effects from the medicine. Examples of side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill good (beneficial) bacteria and allow antibiotic-resistant bacteria to grow.

For sore throats caused by strep, treatment with antibiotics may be needed.

Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx, also called the voice box. The larynx is in the throat just above the trachea (sometimes also called the windpipe). When the vocal cords of the larynx become inflamed, the voice may get raspy, hoarse, or lower in pitch.
Postnasal drip is when mucus from the nasal passages and sinuses drains into the throat. Postnasal drip can cause a sore throat, laryngitis, a cough, bad breath, hoarseness, and sometimes wheezing. Postnasal drip often improves on its own, but if it lingers it may need treatment with medicines.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays (such as Flonase, Nasacort, and Nasonex) are used to help allergy symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose. They help reduce inflammation in the nose. They start working quickly, but it may be several weeks before you get the full effect. Here are some tips for using these sprays: You may need to prime the sprayer before you use it. This means spraying it into the air a few times to make sure you get the right amount of medicine. Follow the directions on the label. Blow your nose before you spray. This will help clear out your nostrils. Gently sniff the medicine into your nose as you spray. Don't snort, or the medicine will go all the way into your throat where it won't do much good. Aim the nozzle straight toward the outer wall of your nostril. This will help keep the medicine from irritating the inner walls of your nose, especially your septum (the wall that separates your left and right nostrils). Don't blow your nose for 10 minutes or so after you spray. And try not to sneeze. Clean your sprayer once a week. The label will tell you how.