Overview
Like colds, the vast majority of sore throats are caused by viral infections. This means most sore throats will NOT respond to antibiotics. Many people have a mild sore throat at the beginning of every cold. When the nose or sinuses become infected, drainage can run down the back of the throat and irritate it, especially at night. Or, the throat itself can be infected.
Some viruses can cause specific types of sore throat. For example, Coxsackievirus sometimes causes blisters in the throat, especially in the late summer and early fall. Mononucleosis and the flu can also cause specific viral throat infections.
Strep throat is the most common bacterial cause of sore throat. Strep throat often includes a fever (greater than 101°F), white, draining patches on the throat, and swollen or tender lymph glands in the neck. Strep cannot be accurately diagnosed by looking at the throat alone; it requires a laboratory test. Children may have a headache and stomach pain. A sore throat is less likely to be strep throat if it is a minor part of a typical cold (with runny nose, stuffy ears, cough, and similar symptoms).
Homemade Tea Remedy
Wellness Minute: Natural Remedies, including Sore Throat
In this Wellness Minute, Dr. Adam Shafran and Lee Kantor touch a remedy tea mixture for sore throats using clove bud, ginger and cinnamon.
Sources: National Institutes of Health (NIH); Adam Shafran, DC
