Pharyngitis
Causes of a sore throat
A sore throat is often just one symptom of a bacterial or viral infection, such as the common cold.
The most common types of bacteria and viruses that may cause a sore throat include:
- the rhinovirus, coronavirus and parainfluenza viruses, which normally cause the common cold – these are responsible for a quarter of all sore throats
- different types of streptococcal bacteria – group A streptococcal bacteria cause 10% of sore throats in adults and nearly a third of sore throats in children, with groups C and G also thought to be a cause of sore throats
Other bacteria and viruses each tend to be responsible for less than 5% of sore throats. These include:
- types A and B of the flu virus
- adenovirus – which can also cause conjunctivitis, an infection in the eye
- herpes simplex virus type 1 – which normally causes cold sores
- the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – which normally causes glandular fever
There are many other, rarer, bacteria and viruses that are each responsible for less than 1% of sore throats.
Catching an infection
The bacterium or virus that causes a sore throat is usually caught from someone else who is already infected. For example, the common cold is spread through tiny droplets of fluid that contain the cold virus, launched into the air when someone coughs, sneezes or speaks.
If you breathe in one of these droplets or touch a surface that has the virus on it, and then touch your face, you may become infected.
Once you have caught an infection, two types of sore throat can develop. These are:
- pharyngitis – when the area at the back of your throat (the oropharynx) becomes inflamed
- tonsillitis – when your tonsils (the two lumps of tissue either side of your throat) become inflamed
Read more about treating a sore throat.
Non-infectious causes
Less commonly, sore throats can have non-infectious causes. These include:
- irritation caused by cigarette smoke or alcohol
- irritation from a nasogastric tube (passed down your nose and into your stomach to provide liquid food if you can’t eat solid food)
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease – a condition that causes acid to leak upwards from the stomach into the gullet
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome – a very severe allergic reaction to medication
- Kawasaki disease – a rare condition that affects children under five years of age
- allergies – such as hay fever (an allergic reaction to pollen or spores) which, in rare cases, may also cause a sore throat
- some blood disorders, such as leukaemia (cancer of the bone marrow) or aplastic anaemia (when the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells)
- oral mucositis (inflammation of the layer of tissue that lines your mouth), which can be caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy (cancer treatments)
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue in the centre of bones that produces blood cells.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
Tonsils
Two small glands found at the back of your throat, behind the tongue.
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- Published Date
- 2014-07-24 16:08:34Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-07-22 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-07-22 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Cold sores,Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease,Genital herpes,Influenza (seasonal),Sore throat,Virus infections
Pharyngitis
Introduction
A sore throat (pharyngitis) is normally a symptom of a bacterial or viral infection, such as the common cold. In around a third of cases, no cause for the sore throat can be found.
If you have a sore throat, you may also have:
- swollen tonsils (tonsillitis)
- enlarged and tender glands in your neck
- discomfort when swallowing
If your sore throat is caused by bacteria or a virus, you may also experience symptoms associated with common infectious conditions, such as:
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over
- aching muscles or tiredness
- a headache
- a cough
- a runny nose
Read more about the causes of a sore throat.
Treating a sore throat
Sore throats are common, especially in children and teenagers. This is because young people have not built up resistance (immunity) against many of the viruses and bacteria that can cause sore throats.
Most sore throats are not serious and usually pass without the need for medical treatment. Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and self-care tips can usually help to relieve the symptoms of a sore throat without the need to see a GP.
Antibiotics are not usually prescribed for a sore throat, unless it is particularly severe or you are considered at risk of a more serious infection.
Read more detailed information about treating a sore throat.
How long will a sore throat last?
A recent UK study looked at people who book a GP appointment for a sore throat (probably those with worse symptoms). The results found:
- in 50% of cases, moderately bad symptoms of a sore throat had settled seven days after the onset of the illness
- in 80% of cases, moderately bad symptoms of a sore throat had gone after 10 days
When to seek medical help
Make an appointment to see your GP if:
- you have a persistent high temperature above 38C (100.4F), which does not go down after taking medication
- your symptoms do not improve within a week
It’s important to investigate the cause of your temperature because it may be the result of a more serious condition, such as:
- epiglottitis – swelling and redness (inflammation) of the epiglottis (the flap of tissue at the back of the throat, underneath the tongue); if left untreated, it can cause breathing difficulties
- quinsy – an abscess (a painful collection of pus) that develops between the back of the tonsil and the wall of the throat, usually caused by a bout of severe tonsillitis
Blood tests may be carried out if your GP suspects you have a type of viral infection called glandular fever (also known as infectious mononucleosis).
Emergency medical care
Contact your GP, local out-of-hours service or NHS 111 as soon as possible if you have a sore throat and you:
- are in severe pain
- have difficulty breathing
- are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe (stridor)
- start drooling
- have a muffled voice
- have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or are not able to swallow enough fluids
If your symptoms are very severe or getting worse quickly, visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department or call 999 for an ambulance.
At-risk groups
While most sore throats can be treated at home, some people are more at risk than others of developing complications from a sore throat, and may need additional treatment.
See your GP at the first sign of infection if you:
- have HIV and AIDS (a virus that attacks the body’s immune system)
- have leukaemia (cancer of the bone marrow)
- have asplenia (when your spleen, an organ behind your stomach, does not work properly or has been removed)
- have aplastic anaemia (when your bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells)
- are receiving chemotherapy
- are taking an immunosuppressant medicine (which stops your immune system working) – for example, because you have had an organ transplant
- are taking an antithyroid medication (to stop your thyroid gland producing too many hormones), such as carbimazole
- are taking a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) – for example, to treat arthritis (a common condition that causes inflammation in the joints and bones)
Arthritis
A common condition that causes inflammation (redness and swelling) in the joints and bones.
Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and some others are good for you.
Immune system
The immune system is the body’s defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.
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- Published Date
- 2014-07-24 16:01:20Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-07-23 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-07-23 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Arthritis,Immune system,Sore throat
Pharyngitis
Treating a sore throat
Sore throats are not usually serious and often pass in three to seven days. There are some treatments you can use at home to relieve your symptoms.
When to see your GP
You should see your GP if you:
- fall into one of the groups of people at risk of developing complications – this includes anyone with a weakened immune system due to medication, or a condition such as HIV
- have persistent symptoms that are not improving or responding to self-care
Visit your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E) or call 999 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms such as:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- severe pain
- drooling
- a muffled voice
- a high-pitched sound as you breathe (stridor)
Read more about when to visit your GP.
Painkillers
For treating sore throats, over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, are usually recommended. These may also help reduce a high temperature (fever).
You should not take aspirin or ibuprofen if you have:
- asthma
- current or past stomach problems, such as a stomach ulcer
- current or past liver or kidney problems
Children under the age of 16 should never be given aspirin.
Take painkillers as necessary to relieve your pain. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions so you do not exceed the recommended or prescribed dose.
Self-care tips
If you or someone in your family has a sore throat, the tips below may help relieve the symptoms:
- avoid food or drink that is too hot, as this could irritate the throat
- eat cool, soft food and drink cool or warm liquids
- adults and older children can suck lozenges, hard sweets, ice cubes or ice lollies
- avoid smoking and smoky environments
- regularly gargling with a mouthwash of warm, salty water may help reduce swelling or pain
- drink enough fluids, especially if you have a fever
Steam inhalation is not recommended, as it’s unlikely to help a sore throat and there is a risk of scalding.
Antibiotics
The use of antibiotics is not usually recommended for treating sore throats. This is because most sore throats are not caused by bacteria.
Even if your sore throat is caused by bacteria, antibiotics have very little effect on the severity of the symptoms and how long they last, and may cause unpleasant side effects.
Overusing antibiotics to treat minor ailments can also make them less effective in the treatment of life-threatening conditions. This is known as antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotics are usually only prescribed if:
- your sore throat is particularly severe
- you are at increased risk of a severe infection – for example, because you have a weakened immune system due to HIV or diabetes (a long-term condition caused by too much glucose in the blood)
- you are at risk of having a weakened immune system – there are some medications that can cause this, such as carbimazole (to treat an overactive thyroid gland)
- you have a history of rheumatic fever (a condition that can cause widespread inflammation throughout the body)
- you have valvular heart disease (a disease affecting the valves in your heart, which control blood flow)
- you experience repeated infections caused by the group A streptococcus bacteria
Delayed antibiotics prescription
If your GP thinks you might need antibiotics, they may issue a prescription but ask you to wait up to three days for symptoms to improve.
If your sore throat gets worse, or has not improved after three days, you should have instructions to either:
- take your prescription slip to a pharmacy
- return to the GP surgery after three days to collect your medication
Recent studies show that complications of a sore throat are uncommon and usually not serious. A delayed antibiotic prescription seems to be as effective as an immediate prescription in reducing complications.
Using a delayed prescription provides similar benefits to an immediate prescription. Most importantly, this helps you to avoid taking antibiotics when they’re not needed and helps prevent antibiotic resistance.
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils (the two lumps of tissue on either side of your throat). If your child has repeated infections of the tonsils (tonsillitis), a tonsillectomy may be considered.
Read more about treating tonsillitis.
Persistent sore throat
If you have a persistent sore throat (one that lasts three to four weeks), your GP may refer you for further tests. This is because your sore throat may be a symptom of a more serious condition. Some possibilities are described below.
Glandular fever
If you are 15-25 years of age with a persistent sore throat, you may have glandular fever (also known as infectious mononucleosis, or mono). This is a type of viral infection with symptoms that can last up to six weeks.
Cancer
A persistent sore throat can also be a symptom of some types of cancer, such as throat cancer. This type of cancer is rare and mainly affects people over the age of 50. In the UK every year, 5,300 people are diagnosed with cancer of the oropharynx (the area at the back of your throat) or mouth.
Read more about mouth cancer.
Non-infectious causes
In some cases, a sore throat may be caused by substances that irritate the throat. Sources can include:
- alcohol
- cigarette smoke
- an allergy – such as hay fever
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – when stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and into the gullet
You may find that avoiding these substances, or seeking treatment for an allergy or COPD, can help to reduce symptoms of a sore throat.
Giving up smoking
If you smoke, giving up will reduce irritation to your throat and strengthen your defences against infection.
The NHS Smoking Helpline can offer you advice and encouragement to help you quit smoking. You can call the helpline free of charge on 0300 123 1044 (England only) or visit the NHS Smokefree website.
Your GP or pharmacist will also be able to give you help and advice about giving up smoking, or you can read more about quitting smoking.
Preventing a sore throat
As sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections, they can be difficult to prevent.
If you have a sore throat caused by an infection, you can help prevent the infection spreading by practising good hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly and keeping surfaces clean and free of germs.
Read more about how to prevent germs from spreading.
Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and others are good for you.
Immune system
The immune system is the body’s defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.
Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
Tonsils
Two small glands found at the back of your throat, behind the tongue.
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2014-07-24 16:11:38Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-07-22 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-07-22 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Antibiotics,Fever,Glandular fever,Immune system,Painkillers,Sore throat,Throat,Tonsillectomy,Tonsillitis