Causes and symptoms of a sore throat

What causes a sore throat?

A sore throat can be caused by:

Tonsillitis – inflammation of the tonsils, found at the back of the throat can cause a severe sore throat. It is common in children and teenagers, but adults can get it too. It can feel like a bad cold or flu, but the symptoms usually go away after 3 to 4 days. It is important to get plenty of rest and drink cool drinks to soothe the throat, and you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen (always follow the on-pack guidance). You can also try to gargle with salty water as this can help.  Of course, you can talk to your pharmacist to get advice on how to treat the condition. If symptoms persist after one week, we recommend you talk to your GP.

Laryngitis – this is when your voice box or vocal cords in the throat become irritated or swollen. It usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks but does come on quite suddenly. As with tonsillitis, you can talk to your pharmacist for advice on the best course of action and ways to soothe the symptoms.

Glandular fever – this is most common in people aged 15 to 24. Symptoms include a high temperature, swollen glands, sore throat, a rash, headache, and tiredness. Glandular fever should get better by itself after a few weeks with rest, plenty of fluids, and pain remedies if required. You should talk to your GP if you have a very high temperature, severe sore throat, and extreme tiredness.

Strep throat – this is a bacterial throat infection that can also affect the tonsils. In some cases, a strep A infection in the throat may need to be treated with antibiotics. You can speak to one of our pharmacists if you suspect you (or your child) have this infection using our Pharmacy First service.

Sore throat symptoms

Typical symptoms of a sore throat can include:

• A painful throat, especially when swallowing

• A dry scratchy throat

• Redness in the back of your mouth

• A mild cough

• Swollen neck glands

• Bad breath

Remedies for a sore throat

In the same way cold and flu symptoms can be managed at home, there are different over-the-counter remedies to help ease the symptoms of a sore throat. Our health and wellness shop offers a range of products to help.

You can also:

• Add salt to warm water and gargle (only suitable for adults)

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water

• Try soft, cool foods like yoghurt

• Get plenty of rest

• Suck ice cubes or an ice lolly to soothe stinging