Having a sore throat is a painful and uncomfortable experience. My last experience was terrific! I couldn’t wait for my tonsils to be normal again. It was difficult to swallow, talk, yawn. 

It is an experience I do not wish to repeat for myself or anyone else. And if you have experienced it, I’m sure we’re on the same page. 

In this article, we’ll dive into all you need to know about sore throats, especially the causes, prevention, and treatment so that sore throats could be a bygone situation. 

What Is a Sore Throat?

In case you haven’t experienced a sore throat - which I’ll be surprised by, or you’re not sure what it is, here is what it is:

A sore throat is a painful, scratchy, or dry feeling in the throat, with or without swallowing. Pain in the throat is a common medical complaint which accounts for about 2% of the visits to adult primary healthcare per year.

Sore throats usually ease away on their own or after using some home remedies. However, if your sore throat persists, ensure to visit a professional for a check-up because sore throat shares symptoms with other medical conditions and is sometimes a symptom of other medical conditions, like upper respiratory tract infection.

Types of Sore Throat

Have you noticed that sore throats affect different parts of your throat? But, somehow, you figure out it is still a sore throat. It is because the throat has three parts and sore throats affect a part of the throat giving it a different feeling. 

There are three types of sore throat based on the part of the throat affected.

1. Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is the swelling of the pharynx located at the back of the throat. It is more often called sore throat.

2. Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is swelling and redness of the tonsils, two soft tissues in the back of the mouth. It is most common in children as they interact with each other alot, making them susceptible to bacteria. It also occurs in adults.

3. Laryngitis

Laryngitis is the inflammation of the voice box or larynx as a result of irritation, overuse or infection. It could be acute, lasting less than three weeks or chronic, lasting more than three weeks. Most instructors complain of laryngitis because they strain their voice alot. 

How To Know You Have a Sore Throat

Sore throat symptoms vary depending on the cause. Sore throat is also similar to other conditions, including the infamous COVID-19. So to know if you have a sore throat, look for the following signs and symptoms. 

If you have a sore throat, your throat may feel:

• scratchy
• dry
• painful
• irritated
• burning
• raw

In most cases, it hurts more when you swallow or talk.

Observe your tonsils at the far end of your mouth using a mirror. If they look reddish with white patches or areas of pus, you most likely have tonsillitis. However, the white patches are seen more in strep throat than in sore throat.

A sore throat may come with other symptoms like:

• nasal congestion
• runny nose
• cough and sneezing
• Fever and chills
• swollen glands in the neck
• hoarse voice
• body aches
• headache
• trouble swallowing
• loss of appetite

If you experience a persistent sore throat with these symptoms, ensure you see a doctor. 

What are the Causes of Sore Throat?

You can have a sore throat as a result of allergies, irritants or a couple of exposures to microscopic organisms causing infections. These are 8 common causes of sore throat: 

1. Viral infections

Viral infections are one of the most common causes of sore throats. The viruses that cause sore throat include:

• influenza virus — the flu
• coronavirus
• common cold
• measles — rashes and fever
• chicken pox — itchy and bumpy rashes all over the body
• mumps — swelling of the salivary glands in the neck
• mononucleosis
• HIV

2. Bacterial Infections

Asides from viral infections, bacterial infections also contribute to the causes of sore throat. The most common bacterial infection that causes sore throat is strep throat (also called streptococcal pharyngitis).

Strep throat is caused by Streptococcus bacteria and affects the throat and tonsils. It is responsible for about nearly 20-30% of sore throat cases in children. 

STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia can also cause a sore throat.

3. Allergies

Allergens like pet dander, pollen, mold, dust and grass can trigger reactions in the immune system. This reaction from the body releases chemicals causing symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, itchy eyes, sneezing and itchy throat or irritation.

The throat irritation gets worse if there is a postnasal drip — when excess mucus drips down the throat.

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4. Irritants

Chemicals and other substances in the air can irritate the throat. Many of these irritants include:

• smoke, including smoke from tobacco (and chewing tobacco)
• air pollution
• alcohol
• cleaning products and other chemicals
• air sprays and air fresheners
• spicy foods

5. Dryness

Sore throat due to dryness occurs mostly in dry seasons, like the harmattan. Indoor dry air can also suck out moisture from the mouth and throat leaving them dry, itchy and irritated. 

Sometimes, breathing through your mouth can cause a dry and sore throat. That is why sore throat occurs alongside chronic nasal congestion.

6. Throat Injuries

Injuries cause pain in the areas affected, in the same way, injuries in the throat can cause pain and irritation in the throat. Injuries and irritation in the throat can happen as a result of:

• food getting stuck in the throat
• straining the vocal cords and throat muscles
• yelling, singing, or talking loudly for long

7. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where gastric acid goes up into the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

When there is acid reflux, you feel a burning sensation in your throat causing symptoms like heartburn. 

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also known as silent reflux, can cause the acid from the stomach to flow back up into the esophagus or throat, causing a sore throat.

8. Tumor

Tumors in the throat, voice box, or tongue are the least common causes of sore throat. It is usually a sign of cancer and persists for a long time. Tumors in the throat usually come with hoarseness, pain and difficulty in swallowing, noisy breathing, lump in the neck and blood in phlegm.

Sore throat Vs Strep Throat

Strep throat is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. A sudden sore throat is usually a symptom of strep throat. Other symptoms include:

• painful swallowing
• fever
• feeling swollen lymph nodes in front of the neck
• headache
• stomach pain
• red or swollen tonsils, which sometimes have white patches or spots of pus
• tiny red blotches on the roof of the mouth
• nausea or vomiting

If you have strep throat, you may also develop a rash known as scarlet fever or scarlatina.

How to Differentiate Strep throat from Sore throat

Conditions such as coughing, runny nose, pink eye, or hoarseness, which are likely to occur alongside a sore throat, are not associated with strep throat.

Also, with time, a sore throat usually eases off on its own, but strep throat will require antibiotic treatment.

Simple Remedies for Sore Throat and Strep Throat

Try out these home remedies to get rid of a sore throat:

• Gargle with a warm saltwater mixture. (Recipe: A cup of water + ½ to 1 teaspoon of salt) You don’t have to swallow it. 
• Drink other soothing warm liquids, like hot tea or coffee with honey or warm water with lemon. You can also try herbal teas.
• Suck on ice cream, popsicles, and hard candy, preferably a mint or lozenge to cool your throat. (Don’t give lozenges to your children less than two years). 
• Use a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.
• Rest your voice. If you’re a gym instructor (or one who needs to talk or shout for a long time), you might need to take a short break till you feel better.
• For strep throat, you can ask your doctor about over-the-counter antibiotics you can use. 

In addition, get plenty of rest so that your immune system gets the chance to fight those foreign beings. 

When to See the Doctor

Most times, sore throat relieves on its own after a few days. See your doctor immediately if: 

• the sore throat persists after 7-10 days
• you begin to experience difficulty in breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth
• you begin to feel pain in your joints
• your ear starts aching
• you develop rashes or fever
• you spit phlegm (thick mucus) and (or ) blood
• the sore throat keeps coming back
• you feel a lump in your neck
• your child with a sore throat starts drooling

How to Prevent Sore Throat

After looking at the causes of sore throat, it is evident that the best way to prevent yourself from an ugly sore throat experience is by avoiding the causes - germs, irritants and allergens. You can also follow these hygiene tips: 

• Wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and after sneezing or coughing (devote 20 seconds to this).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially after contacting an unclean surface.
• Try as much as possible to avoid sharing utensils and drinking glasses.
• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue and dispose of it after using it. 
• Always have your alcohol-based sanitizers with you.
• Keeps your hands to yourself, especially in the hospitals.
• Regularly disinfect items you frequently use such as remotes, computer keyboards, door handles, phones, and light switches.
• Avoid close contact with infected individuals.

The preventive measures seem over the top, but with these, you can avoid many other infections and health conditions asides from sore throat. 

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