Sore throat, also known as throat pain, is pain or irritation of the throat. The majority of sore throats are caused by a virus, for which antibiotics are not helpful. Sore throats that are "non-group A streptococcus" are assumed to be caused by a viral infection. Sore throat is a common reason for people to visit their primary care doctors and the top reason for antibiotic prescriptions by primary care practitioners such as family doctors.
- viral infections
- group A streptococcal infection (GAS) bacterial infection
- allergies
- smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
- muscle strains and conditions
- sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea
Definition
A sore throat is pain felt anywhere in the throat.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sore throat include:
- a scratchy sensation
Diagnosis
The most common cause (80%) is acute viral pharyngitis, a viral infection of the throat. In children, streptococcal pharyngitis is the cause of 35–37% of sore throats. A group A streptococcus infection can be diagnosed by throat culture or a rapid test:
- In order to perform a throat culture, a sample from the throat (obtained by swabbing) is cultured (grown) on a blood agar plate to confirm the presence of group A streptococcus.
Pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol (acetaminophen) help in the management of pain. The use of corticosteroids seems to increase slightly the likelihood of resolution and the reduction of pain, but more analysis is necessary to ensure that this minimal benefit outweighs the risks. Antibiotics probably reduce pain, diminish headaches and could prevent some sore throat complications, but as these effects are small they must be balanced with the threat of antimicrobial resistance. It is not known whether antibiotics are effective for preventing recurrent sore throat.
There is only limited evidence that a hot drink can help alleviate a sore throat, and other common cold and influenza symptoms. If the sore throat is unrelated to a cold and is caused by, for example, tonsillitis, a cold drink may be helpful.
There are also other medications such as lozenges which can help soothe irritated tissues of the throat.
Without active treatment, symptoms usually last two to seven days in children.
Statistics
In the United States, there are about 2.4 million emergency department visits with throat-related complaints per year.