Sore Throat

What is a sore throat?

A sore throat is a common symptom of many illnesses. If you have a sore throat, you’ll feel constant irritation or a dull ache in your throat or discomfort when you swallow.

The most common sore throat cause is pharyngitis, a viral infection. Viral infections get better on their own, but the ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC team can offer some tips and treatment for symptom relief.

Before treating you for a sore throat, the team at ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC conducts a physical exam. This includes looking at the back of your throat with a lighted scope and checking the lymph nodes in your neck for swelling. They might also use a throat swab to find out if you have a bacterial infection called Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat).

What causes a sore throat?

Pharyngitis and strep throat are far from the only possible causes of a sore throat. When you come in with a sore throat, the team at ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC consider many possibilities. Your treatment will depend on your diagnosis.

A sore throat can be caused by:

• Common cold
• Flu
• COVID-19
• Mononucleosis
• Croup (in children)
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Strep throat
• Tonsillitis
• Allergies
• Dryness
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Outdoor or indoor irritants

You can’t always avoid the infections that cause a sore throat like the common cold, strep throat, or COVID-19. But washing your hands regularly and avoiding sharing personal items like toothbrushes and utensils helps lower your risk.

How is a sore throat treated?

When recommending treatment, the ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC team considers the underlying cause and anything that makes your sore throat worse. A sore throat from a viral infection, like the common cold, COVID-19, and mononucleosis, won’t get better with antibiotics. But you can use over-the-counter pain relievers to control symptoms.

Antibiotics do work against bacterial infections like strep throat and tonsillitis. You must take all the antibiotics your doctor prescribes, even if your symptoms get better before you’re done. If you don’t, the infection can flare up and spread.

The team at ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC manages sore throats caused by other things on a case-by-case basis. They might tell you to avoid triggers like secondhand smoke, or get immunotherapy with allergy shots or allergy drops for sore throat symptoms triggered by allergies.

Call ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC today or schedule an appointment online for help with a sore throat.