Sore throat

Category: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat · All head & senses symptoms

What it can feel like

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or rawness in the throat, often worse on swallowing. Most sore throats are viral and settle within a week; the pattern of fever, swollen glands, cough and the appearance of the tonsils helps separate viral causes from bacterial tonsillitis.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

A sore throat can be associated with viral infections (colds, flu, glandular fever), bacterial tonsillitis, dry or smoky air, shouting, acid reflux and post-nasal drip from the sinuses.

Other possible causes

A sore throat can also be associated with an abscess beside the tonsil (quinsy), inflammation of the epiglottis (an airway emergency, mainly in unvaccinated children), and — when one-sided and persistent in adults — throat tumours.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

Sore throat with difficulty breathing, drooling or inability to swallow saliva — emergency
Sore throat with a muffled 'hot potato' voice and difficulty opening the mouth
A one-sided sore throat lasting more than three to four weeks
Sore throat with high fever, dehydration or a spreading neck swelling

What a clinician may do

A clinician will examine the throat, neck glands, ears and temperature. Most sore throats need no tests; swabs and blood tests for glandular fever are used selectively, and antibiotics are reserved for patterns suggesting bacterial infection or high-risk patients.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchWhat a real sore throatWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchPharyngitis managementWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchAcute pharyngitisWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my sore throat is bacterial?

Bacterial tonsillitis is more likely with fever, pus on the tonsils, tender neck glands and no cough — but even clinicians cannot be certain by eye, which is why scoring systems and sometimes swabs guide the antibiotic decision.

When is a sore throat not a sore throat?

When it is one-sided and persistent in an adult — especially with earache on the same side, a neck lump or hoarseness — it stops being 'just a sore throat' and needs an examination of the throat and voice box, because early tumours present exactly like this.

Related symptoms — Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

Bad breath (halitosis)Bleeding gums Blocked ear feeling Blocked or runny nose Blurred vision Difficulty swallowing

Browse the S section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.

Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.