Why Is My Throat Sore?

A sore throat in the mornings can go hand in hand with winter weather and dry air. But how can you tell when a sore throat is just a symptom of a cold or allergies, and when it may be something more serious?

Nurse practitioner and infectious disease expert Kelly Farrow from University of Rochester Medicine breaks down the key signs and symptoms of strep throat.

How Can I Tell if My Sore Throat Is Just Allergies or a Cold?

If a sore throat is caused by allergies or a mild cold, you’ll usually be able to go on with your day without too much difficulty. If you’re not experiencing fever or fatigue in addition to the sore throat, then it is likely due to something non-infectious like allergies. Sometimes mild colds can also start with a sore throat and few or no other symptoms.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses, so a sore throat can be one of the first signs of a cold, flu, or another viral illness.

How Can I Tell if My Sore Throat Is Strep Throat?

Unlike with a mild cold or allergies, if you have strep throat, you will likely feel very ill. In addition to a very sore throat that hurts more when swallowing, you will experience extreme fatigue and fever. You may also have swollen lymph nodes in the neck. To get an accurate diagnosis, it’s important to connect with a health care provider.

A sudden sore throat with fever and pain when swallowing can be a sign of strep throat. A cough, runny nose, or hoarseness is more likely to point to a viral infection. Symptoms can provide clues, but you will need to get a test to confirm strep throat.

How Is Strep Throat Treated?

If you think you have strep throat, contact your doctor. They can test you to determine whether you have strep throat and whether you need antibiotics.

Antibiotics can shorten the duration of illness by making the symptoms less severe, help you recover quicker, and prevent the spread to others. Learn more about staying healthy and safe while taking antibiotics.

How Can I Treat a Sore Throat at Home?

Home remedies can relieve symptoms, but they do not replace testing and antibiotics if you have strep throat.

Several at-home remedies can help relieve your symptoms, including:

• Drinking plenty of fluids, such as broth, hot tea, soup, or water with lemon
• Gargling several times a day with warm salt water
• Sucking on lozenges or cough drops
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
• Using a steam humidifier or sitting in a hot bath

What Causes a Sore Throat?

Most sore throats are caused by viruses. The bacteria group A streptococcus causes strep throat, but strep is a less common cause of sore throat.

Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection, called group A streptococcus. The infection causes pharyngitis, inflammation at the back of the throat. Strep throat is more common in children and young adults than it is in adults.

Is Strep Throat Contagious?

Yes. However, it’s less contagious than other common illnesses, such as COVID-19 or the flu.

Strep throat can spread from person to person through close contact. It’s most commonly spread through particle droplets between close contacts, meaning family members, intimate partners, or young kids sharing toys.

Can You Get Strep Throat Without Tonsils?

Yes. Because strep throat affects the lining of the throat, even those who have had their tonsils removed can still get it.