What is a sore throat and what causes it?

A sore throat is a common complaint, most often caused by a virus; less commonly by a bacterial infection. In addition to pain on swallowing, you may experience a dry, scratchy sensation in the throat, a reddened throat and back of the mouth, a cough, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Most sore throats clear up within a week and do not require antibiotics.

What to do

  1. Rest. Avoid activities that strain the throat, and smoky environments.
  2. Drink plenty of fluids. Cool water eases the pain; warm drinks are also suitable.
  3. Eat cold or soft foods (yoghurt, porridge, etc.) that are easy to swallow.
  4. Paracetamol or ibuprofen relieves sore throat pain. Follow the package instructions. If pregnant, consult a pharmacist before taking any medication.
  5. Over-the-counter remedies beyond the above have not proven their effectiveness and generally only affect the wallet.
About antibiotics

A sore throat does not usually require antibiotics, as the cause is most often a virus. Antibiotics are prescribed only if a bacterial infection is suspected.

What to avoid

  • Avoid smoking and smoky rooms.
  • Do not use antibiotics borrowed from others unless there is a medical indication — they will not help a viral sore throat and may cause side effects.

When to contact us

Contact us if any of the following apply:

  • A child is under 5 years old and needs help for a sore throat.
  • The sore throat does not improve within a week.
  • Sore throats recur frequently.
  • A lump or ulcer in the mouth or throat that persists for more than 3 weeks.

When to call 1220 or 112

See also: Where to seek help.

1220 — GP advice line (daily until 22:00, Estonian only)
  • You are concerned about your symptoms.
  • High fever, shivering or sweating.
  • Signs of fluid depletion — urine is dark and strong-smelling, and you are urinating significantly less often than usual.
  • Your immune system is weakened (e.g. diabetes, chemotherapy).
112 / A&E — call immediately or go to emergency
  • Difficulty breathing or unable to swallow at all due to pain, not even saliva
  • Heavy drooling (possible sign that swallowing is not possible).
  • A wheezing or whistling sound on breathing in (stridor)
  • Symptoms worsening rapidly.

Sources

NHS.uk — Sore throat. Page last reviewed: 08 April 2024.

Contains adapted NHS.uk material under Open Government Licence v3.0. Original material: © Crown copyright.