Sore Throat Symptoms & Treatment

Medically reviewed by:

Dr Dan Bunstone - Medical Officer

Updated: Aug 18, 2021

Next review: Aug 18, 2022

A sore throat (sometimes referred to as 'pharyngitis') is a fairly common condition. It’s when your throat feels all scratchy and it may be painful to talk or swallow.

It’s usually caused by a viral infection, but can sometimes be caused by the streptococcus bacteria.

A sore throat is often a symptom of a broader medical issue, such as a cold or the flu, but it can occur on its own too.

Sore throats don’t tend to last very long and most people will recover fully within a week. However, if your sore throat isn't going away or is particularly uncomfortable, our doctors are on hand to help.

Some of the most common sore throat symptoms include:

a scratchy sensation in your throat
pain and/or discomfort when swallowing or talking
swollen or tender glands in your neck
your tonsils may look red and swollen
there may be white pus on your tonsils
you may lose your voice

Depending on what’s causing the sore throat, you may also experience:

a runny or blocked nose
headache
cough
sneezing
high temperature
muscle aches and pains
tiredness
nausea or vomiting

If it’s a child with a sore throat, they may also:

have a high temperature
Show signs of lethargy, or be more tired than normal

Sore throats can be either viral, bacterial or caused by another condition. In most cases, a virus is to blame.

Viruses and bacteria are passed from person-to-person by direct contact, such as coughs and sneezes, or indirect contact, such as touching a surface that's been touched by an infected person.

Some causes of a sore throat include:

the flu
a cold
measles
chickenpox
mumps
mononucleosis
laryngitis
tonsillitis
glandular fever
strep throat
allergies
exposure to irritants, such as smoke
GORD
croup - which is common in children and babies

Often, a sore throat will go away on its own after a few days to a week without the need to see a GP for a diagnosis or treatment.

However, if there’s no improvement after a week, you should see a GP. Likewise, if your sore throat keeps coming back, it is severe, or if you have other symptoms you’re worried about, such as a high temperature, you can see a GP.

You should also seek medical advice if you have a weakened immune system, as you are more at risk of complications from a sore throat.

Our GPs can listen to your symptoms over a video consultation and take a look at your throat before providing a diagnosis.

If you start coughing up blood, have chest pain, are drooling, have breathing or swallowing difficulties, are making a high-pitched wheezing sound as you breathe, or are deteriorating rapidly, go to A&E or call 999 urgently.

Often, treatment from a doctor isn’t needed for a sore throat, as it will go away on its own, usually within a few days to a week.

There are things you can do at home to help ease your symptoms, including:

taking over-the-counter pain medication (only use medication for children if it’s a child who has a sore throat)
gargling with warm salt water (this isn’t suitable for children)
drinking plenty of fluids - cold fluids may sooth the pain
resting your voice
getting plenty of sleep and rest
sucking on throat lozenges, hard boiled sweets or even ice cubes (this isn’t suitable for children as there is a choking risk)
avoiding smoky environments, and not smoking yourself
using a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist
using an anaesthetic spray to numb the back of your throat - these are available from a pharmacy

Antibiotics will only be prescribed if your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, and at the doctor's discretion. Strep throat is generally more painful and lasts longer than a sore throat caused by a virus.

Sore Throat

Dr Dan Bunstone - Medical Officer

What is a sore throat?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment