Sore throat normally refers to pain and ache in the pharynx and throat. Reasons for soreness may be manifold. Most common reasons include a throat infection and dry mucous membranes. You can alleviate a sore throat with self-care.
A sore throat is very common with viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections. Nasal congestion due to a common cold or allergy may also force you to breathe through the mouth. Breathing through the mouth dries the throat, which then causes pain. Also many substances, e.g. chemicals, cigarettes, and dust, irritate the mucous membranes in the throat, which may also cause pain. If you have a feeling of a lump in the throat or difficulty swallowing, this may be caused by tension around the throat or a nervous disorder or even incorrect use of the voice. Throat pain often radiates into the ears, even though the ears are not infected. In chronic throat infections, the throat is constantly slightly sore and white, and you may get hard and foul-tasting lumps, tonsil stones, in your mouth.
Strep throat, Streptococcus A infection, is the most common type of sore throat caused by bacteria. The symptoms of strep throat usually do not include a cough or blocked nose. Bacterial infection is confirmed with a bacterial throat culture or a rapid strep test. Typical findings in strep throat include the following:
rapid onset of the symptoms
very sore throat
temperature over 38°C
white spots or patches on the tonsils
swollen and tender glands under the jaw.
headache