Causes of sore throat
The cause of a sore throat is not always obvious. In most cases, however, it is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection.
Common Causes
Sore throat is often a symptom of:
Cold or flu: may also have congestion or runny nose, cough, fever, headache and generalized pain
Laryngitis: You may also have a hoarse voice, a dry cough, and a constant need to clear your throat.
Tonsillitis (tonsillitis): may also have red or irregular tonsils, swallowing discomfort and fever
Strep throat (neck infection): swollen lymph nodes in the neck, swallowing discomfort, and tonsillitis
Glandular fever - You may also feel very tired and have fever and inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes
It can also be caused by something that irritates the throat, such as smoke, gastroesophageal reflux (where acid sprouts from the stomach) and allergies.
Less common causes
Less often, a sore throat can be a sign of:
Quinsy (a painful accumulation of pus in the throat): the pain may be intense and you may also have trouble opening or swallowing your mouth
Epiglottitis (inflammation of the tissue flap in the throat): The pain may be severe and you may have trouble breathing and swallowing.
These conditions are more severe and should be investigated by a doctor as soon as possible (see below).
This point is useful not only in general coughing but especially if you happen to inhale bits of liquid such as saliva or anything you are drinking. We used to call it getting something down your Sunday throat. Anyway, sometimes stop a/non-productive cough and help you not embarrass yourself in a theatre, library or place where you are supposed to be silent.
Neck point: Located just above the sternal notch or just above the breast bone where the soft tissue of the front of the neck begins.
