Some causes, likestrep throatand acute laryngitis, are temporary and often resolve on their own.
If severe enough,swallowing problemsfrom pharyngitis can lead to weight loss or other health concerns.
This article will cover the different causes of throat pain and explain when you should see a healthcare provider.
Illustration by Alexandra Gordon for Verywell Health
It will also offer suggestions for easing a sore throat.
Viral Infections
A virus is the most common reason for sore throat.
Bacterial Infections
Strep throatis a bacterial infection of the throat.
It can cause severe throat pain and painful swallowing.The tonsils may become very swollen.
A bacteria calledArcanobacterium haemolyticumcan cause throat pain as well as a rash.
Bacterial causes ofthroat painneed to be treated with antibiotics.
If left untreated, strep throat complications can include heart or kidney damage.
Sinus Infections
Your sinuses are a set of hollow cavities in your skull.
The infected mucus can cause throat pain.
That’s why a sorethroat caused byacid refluxis often worse in the morning.
Nighttime acid reflux can also wear away the protective enamel on teeth.
Environmental Irritants
Irritation from dry air, chemicals, or cigarette smoke can cause a sore throat.
Treatment will usually mean limiting or removing the cause of the exposure.
Laryngitis
Laryngitisis an inflammation of your voice box.
This can happen when you overuse your voice.
Laryngitiscan be a problem for singers and other people who use their voices as part of their work.
The condition also causes hoarseness and throat pain when talking.
Intubation
Intubationis a procedure where a breathing tube is inserted into the airway.
This can cause irritation that leads to throat pain.
Breathing tubes are used during surgery or due to illness or injury.
The pain is temporary and will usually go away a day or two after the tube is removed.
Other Medical Procedures
Medical procedures likeesophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD) may cause throat pain.
During an EGD, an endoscope is inserted through the mouth and into the throat.
This procedure is also called an upper endoscopy.
Throat Cancer
Tumors or other growths associated withthroat cancercan cause throat pain.
This is not a common cause of sore throat.
Other causes are much more likely.
Your provider will need to rule out serious conditions that might lead to dangerous health problems.
These may include:
See a healthcare provider if you have extreme pain or severe swelling of the tonsils.
Throat pain accompanied by a rash is often bacterial.
A healthcare provider can decide if you need antibiotics.
It is hard to tell the difference between bacterial and viral throat pain.
Strep throat can lead to serious complications if left untreated, so when in doubt, get tested.
Almost any healthcare provider can perform a strep test.
This includes family practitioners and urgent care providers.
Anat-home testis undergoing testing for approval.
Your primary care provider is a good place to start, but you may also need to see anallergist.
An allergist can determine if allergies are the cause of your throat pain.
This requires a provider’s diagnosis.
It is not an emergency, but it does need to be treated.
Primary care and general practitioners often diagnose acid reflux.
They can perform diagnostic tests or refer you to a specialist if needed.
This will help rule out any serious conditions.
A healthcare provider may examine you, look at your medical history, or order tests and/or imaging.
If it is a rapid strep test, you will get immediate results.
A sore throat that is caused bysinusitisor infections of the nasal passageways may be diagnosed with a throat culture.
The clinician may also take samples of yoursputum, which is the material you cough up.
You may get a call in a day or two to confirm a strep throat diagnosis.
If you are allergic, you will have a reaction.
Blood tests can also look for antibodies (immune system proteins) to specific allergens.
The results of skin testing are available immediately.
Blood test results may take a few days.
If you respond to the medication, your provider may diagnose you with acid reflux.
Similarly, a trial ofantihistamine medicationcan help your provider to diagnose allergies.
This may be done before allergy testing.
This may be done if the suspected cause is a lump, growth, or sinusitis.
Acid reflux and similar problems are often diagnosed with an upper endoscopy.
The barium coats your esophagus and stomach to make them visible on x-rays.
You’ll also be asked about your symptoms and health history.
Your provider will examine you for lumps or bumps in the throat.
A lump or bump that accompanies a sore throat could be a lymph node.
It could also be something more concerning, like cancer.
If your provider cannot identify it as a lymph node, you may need abiopsy.
How Throat Pain Is Treated
There are a few options fortreating your sore throat.
Many of these can be started right away.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections like strep throat.
They do not work against viruses.
This treatment may be a one-time injection or oral antibiotics taken over a period of time.
check that to let your healthcare provider know if you have any drug allergies.
There are many alternative antibiotics you might take if you are allergic topenicillinor another antibiotic.
The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the sooner symptoms like sore throat will go away.
They include:
Pain Medication
Pain medication can help control the pain from any punch in of sore throat.
Over-the-counter options include:
These medicines are very effective at controlling sore throat pain.
Cough drops may also be helpful.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Warm, caffeine-free tea can help you stay hydrated.
Some people report relief after taking a commercial product called Throat Coat.
Still, some people have found them helpful.
Talk to your healthcare provider before takingherbal medications, especially if you are also taking prescribed medication.
Preventing Throat Pain
Many of the causes of sore throat can beprevented.
Lifestyle changes and better hygiene can also help you avoid sore throats.
Wash for at least 20 seconds.
see to it you wash from your fingernails to your wrists.
Preventing Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can be related to your weight.
Ask your healthcare provider if this may be true for you.
If so, weight loss is a great lifestyle adjustment.
It can reduce your symptoms and help prevent long-term throat pain.
Long-term Allergy Treatment
Ask your healthcare provider about long-term use of oral or nasal allergy medications.
Immunotherapy such asallergy shotsmay also be an option.
See a healthcare provider if your sore throat lasts more than a week or if you have painful swallowing.
A sore throat can be diagnosed with lab tests or a simple exam.
Sometimes imaging may be required.
Over-the-counter medications can treat the cause and the symptoms of many sore throats.
Alternative remedies may also help.
If you have a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics.
Hand washing can help prevent sore throats triggered by viral and bacterial infections.
Lifestyle changes and long-term medication use may help sore throats that have other causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
One-sided throat pain, with or without swallowing, could have several causes.
Sore throat and other COVID symptoms can last five to seven days or longer in some cases.
For some people, symptoms may come and go for days to weeks after they first begin.
Most sore throats triggered by a viral or bacterial infection do go away on their own.
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