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Sore throat, causes and symptoms

A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.

Strep throat (streptococcal infection), a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications. Other less common causes of sore throat might require more complex treatment.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of a sore throat can vary depending on the cause. Signs and symptoms might include:

Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat

Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking

Difficulty swallowing

Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw

Swollen, red tonsils

White patches or pus on your tonsils

A hoarse or muffled voice

Infections causing a sore throat might result in other signs and symptoms, including: Fever, Cough, Runny nose, Sneezing, Body aches, Headache, Nausea or vomiting.

Causes

Viruses that cause the common cold and the flu also cause most sore throats. Less often, bacterial infections cause sore throats.

Viral infections

Viral illnesses that cause a sore throat include:

Common cold

Flu (influenza)

Mono (mononucleosis)

Measles

Chickenpox

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Croup — a common childhood illness characterized by a harsh, barking cough

Bacterial infections

A number of bacterial infections can cause a sore throat. The most common is Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) which causes strep throat.

Prevention

The best way to prevent sore throats is to avoid the germs that cause them and practice good hygiene. Follow these tips and teach your child to do the same:

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after using the toilet, before eating, and after sneezing or coughing.

Avoid sharing food, drinking glasses or utensils.

Cough or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away. When necessary, sneeze into your elbow.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers as an alternative to washing hands when soap and water aren't available.

Avoid touching public phones or drinking fountains with your mouth.

Regularly clean telephones, TV remotes and computer keyboards with sanitizing cleanser. When you travel, clean phones and remotes in your hotel room.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

(11/28/2020)
by Mayo Clinic

More Information: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20351635

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