Sore throat
Pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat, usually worse on swallowing. The vast majority are viral and settle within a week; the main job is to spot the minority that are bacterial (strep), glandular fever, or — rarely — something more serious.
What it means
A sore throat is inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) or tonsils (tonsillitis), felt as pain, scratchiness or difficulty swallowing. The overwhelming majority are caused by viruses — the common cold, flu, COVID — and resolve on their own within a few days to a week, needing only soothing measures. The key distinctions to make are: a bacterial 'strep throat' (group A streptococcus), which is commoner in children and can be helped by antibiotics, classically causing fever, swollen tender neck glands, tonsils with white patches and no cough; glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), especially in teenagers and young adults, causing a severe, prolonged sore throat with marked fatigue and widely swollen glands; and, uncommonly, red-flag causes such as a throat abscess or, rarely, throat cancer. Non-infectious causes include acid reflux, allergies, dry air and smoking.
Common causes
- Viral infection — colds, flu, COVID; by far the commonest, self-limiting.
- Bacterial (strep) throat — group A streptococcus; fever, white tonsillar patches, tender glands, no cough.
- Glandular fever (mononucleosis) — prolonged severe sore throat with fatigue and swollen glands, in young people.
- Acid reflux — irritation, often worse in the morning.
- Allergies, dry or smoky air, mouth breathing.
- Rarely — a throat abscess (severe one-sided pain, trouble opening the mouth), or persistent throat symptoms warranting exclusion of throat cancer.
Lab work-up approach
Most sore throats need no tests and are managed on the symptoms. When a bacterial (strep) throat is suspected, a rapid throat swab or clinical scoring guides whether antibiotics help. If glandular fever is likely — a young person with a prolonged severe sore throat, fatigue and swollen glands — a full blood count (raised lymphocytes) and a mononucleosis antibody test confirm it, and liver enzymes may be mildly raised. Persistent or one-sided throat symptoms, especially in smokers, are assessed directly rather than by blood tests. Mediora.AI can surface a raised-lymphocyte pattern that fits glandular fever; the assessment of a sore throat is otherwise clinical, with your doctor.
Tests Mediora.AI can interpret
Related conditions
Panels to consider
When to see a doctor
Most sore throats settle with rest, fluids and simple pain relief and need no doctor. Seek medical advice if a sore throat is severe or lasts longer than about a week, comes with a high fever, swollen tender neck glands, white patches on the tonsils, or a widespread rash, or if you have marked fatigue suggesting glandular fever. Seek urgent care for difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing saliva or drooling, a muffled voice, severe one-sided throat pain, or swelling of the neck, as these can indicate a serious throat infection or abscess. A sore throat or hoarseness that persists for weeks, especially in a smoker, should be checked. Mediora.AI helps flag the glandular-fever pattern; the assessment belongs with your doctor.