It’s possible to have a sore throat from COVID-19.
When a sore throat occurs, it tends to happen during the early part of the infection.
A sore throat isn’t always a sign of COVID-19, though.
AnnaStills / Getty Images
AnnaStills / Getty Images
What Does a COVID-19 Sore Throat Feel Like?
How Common Is It?
On the flip side, experiencing the loss of taste increased the likelihood of COVID-19 by almost 22-fold.
A sore throat, by contrast, was associated with only a 0.2% likelihood of COVID-19.
How Long Does It Last?
Symptoms of COVID-19 start two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
This differs from other viral URTIs like flu, in which symptoms develop one to four days after exposure.
People with long COVID may have symptoms lasting for weeks, months, and years.
Long COVID leads to ongoing inflammation which can be detected in the blood.
Other possible causes of a sore throat include:
How Do You Tell the Difference?
Determining the cause of sore throat may be possible to some degree based on your symptoms.
Testing too early can lead to a false-negative result.
This is especially true with at-homerapid antigen testsavailable at most pharmacies.
Your healthcare provider can determine your risk of complications and provide appropriate treatment based on your risk factors.
It can occur as an early symptom of COVID but rarely occurs as the only symptom.
you’re able to use OTC pain relievers and anesthetic lozenges or sprays to manage sore throat pain.
Resting your throat, sipping broth, and eating cold foods can also help.
Antiviral medications may be prescribed if you test positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of complications.
2024;25(4):607-621. doi:10.1038/s41590-024-01778-0
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and Symptoms of Long COVID.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Strep Throat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cold Versus Flu.
Schaefer SD.Management of acute blunt and penetrating external laryngeal trauma.Laryngoscope.
2014;124(1):233-244. doi:10.1002/lary.24068
Harvard Health.COVID-19 or something else?
Harvard Health.How long does the flu last?
Food and Drug Administration.Understanding At-Home OTC COVID-19 Antigen Diagnostic Test Results.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Testing for COVID-19.
2021;118(11):188-194. doi:10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0121
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Types of COVID-19 Treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.People with Certain Medical Conditions and COVID-19 Risk Factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of COVID-19.
