If you are experiencing persistent irritation and scratchiness on your throat, the odds are great that you are suffering from sore throat. While the symptoms may not seem too bothersome, it’s important to get them diagnosed and get the condition properly treated in order to lower the risk of throat complications.
Symptoms of sore throat
Here’s a list of a few of the common symptoms of a sore throat:
● A muffled voice
● Hoarse voice
● Pus or white patches on the tonsils
● Redness on the tonsils
● Swelling of the tonsils
● Swelling of the jaw and/or neck glands
● Difficulty in swallowing
● Pain on the throat that worsens when talking or swallowing
Some of the common symptoms of sore throat occurring from infections include:
● Vomiting
● Nausea
● Recurring headaches
● Body aches
● Sneezing
● Runny nose
● Cough
● Fever
Causes of sore throat
In most cases, sore throat occurs from viruses that cause the flu and common cold. Here are some of the common causes of sore throat:
● Bacterial infections:
Bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) commonly cause sore throat.
● Viral infections
Some of the viral illnesses that lead to a sore throat include:
● Whooping cough
● Croup
● Chickenpox
● Measles
● Influenza (flu)
● Common cold
Other causes
Some of the other causes of a sore throat include:
● Tumours: Development of cancerous growth either on the larynx, tongue, or throat can lead to a sore throat. Presence of blood in the phlegm/saliva, lump in the neck, or noisy breathing are some of the common symptoms.
● HIV Infection: If you have HIV, you stand at an increased risk of sore throat. Being HIV positive heightens the risk of recurrent sore throat
● GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease): GERD is one of the stomach problems that can lead to a persistent sore throat.
● Dryness: Dryness in the air can increase the risk of sore throat. Make sure to avoid spending too much time indoors, especially in an air-conditioned room to lower your risk.
Diagnosis for sore throat
ENT doctors usually perform a series of tests in order to get a proper diagnosis of a sore throat. The ENT doctor may begin the diagnostic procedure by asking you about your symptoms. It’s common for ENT doctors to feel the sides of your neck to check for swollen glands.
To check the presence of a strep throat, the ENT doctor will collect the sample by running a swab on the back of the throat. The ENT doctor will then perform a rapid strep test. It usually takes a couple of days for the results to come out after the sample goes through a series of lab tests.
Treatment of sore throat
Throat lozenges can work wonders for minor cases of a sore throat. For serious cases, ENT doctors usually prescribe cough syrup, a spray that has a cooling effect on the sore throat, and other throat-soothing syrups.
Health Bulletin 