Sore Throat: Acute

Summary

• A sore throat is when you have a pain at the back of your mouth.
• This may be because you have swelling in the part of your throat behind the soft palate (pharyngitis) or swelling of your tonsils (tonsillitis).
• A sore throat is commonly caused by an infection either from a virus or bacteria.
• Sometimes there is no sign of infection and in 1 out of 3 people no cause can be found.
• The most common infectious causes include the common cold, flu, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or scarlet fever, herpetic pharyngitis, pharyngoconjunctival fever and glandular fever. 
• You should see your doctor urgently if you are taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), a medicine called carbimazole, on chemotherapy or taking an immunosuppressive medication. The reason for this is that these medicines can cause severe problems with your immune system.
• You should see your doctor urgently if you have leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, or problems with your spleen or HIV/AIDS. The reason for this is that these illnesses can cause severe problems with your immune system.
• You should see your doctor immediately if you have a high-pitched sound when breathing, difficulty breathing or are dehydrated. The reason for this is that these problems mean that your condition is worsening.
• Most people get better after 7 days with or without antibiotic treatment.
• You should take ibuprofen or paracetamol for our fever, headache and throat pain.
• Your doctor might not prescribe antibiotics unless your symptoms are very severe, or if you are taking DMARDs, immunosuppressive medications, chemotherapy or you have heart disease.

Get me better

What should I do?

You should see your doctor immediately if;

• You have a high-pitched sound when breathing, difficulty breathing or are dehydrated.
• Your symptoms have lasted for more than 3 weeks.

What medication should I take?

• You should take paracetamol or ibuprofen. See Analgesia - mild-to-moderate pain.
• You can buy both of these from the supermarket or pharmacy

Do I need to see a doctor?

Most people get better after 7 days with or without antibiotic treatment.

You should see your doctor immediately if:

• You have a high-pitched sound when breathing, difficulty breathing or are dehydrated.
• Your symptoms have lasted for more than 3 weeks.