Understanding Sore Throat: Causes, Symptoms, and When to Seek Medical Attention

A sore throat, also known as throat pain, is a common ailment characterized by pain or irritation in the throat. The primary causes of a sore throat include viral infections, group A streptococcal infection, bacterial infection, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, or dehydration, which can lead to the throat drying up.

In more serious cases, such as with a cervical artery dissection, the neck pain is unusual, persistent, and often accompanied by a severe headache. The neck pain from a carotid artery tear often spreads along the side of the neck and up toward the outer corner of the eye, while a vertebral artery tear may feel like something sharp is stuck in the base of your skull.

Strep throat, a specific type of sore throat caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) or group A streptococcus (GAS), presents with common symptoms like a red, sore, inflamed throat and tonsils, red spots on the roof of the mouth, pain when swallowing, white spots on tonsils, swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck, fever, chills, and body aches.

Pharyngitis, another form of sore throat, involves a painful inflammation of the back part of the throat (pharynx) and can affect the tonsils.

Factors like acid reflux and tonsil stones can also contribute to throat discomfort. Persistent throat pain, especially if accompanied by difficulty swallowing or weight loss, should be a cause for concern.

Poststreptococcal inflammatory syndromes, occurring typically two to three weeks after a strep infection, can cause symptoms such as fever, arthritis, rashes, subcutaneous nodules, chorea, and heart disease.

It’s important to distinguish between a sore throat caused by a virus and one caused by bacterial infections like strep throat. Signs of strep throat include tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, a fever above 100°F, and plaques on the tonsils.

If you experience a sore throat with these symptoms, especially if in close contact with young children, seeking medical advice is recommended.

For more detailed information, refer to the following resources: Sore throat, When a pain in the neck is serious, Strep throat: Symptoms, causes, and treatment, Strep Throat | Infectious Diseases, Sore Throat (Pharyngitis), When to worry about a sore throat, Poststreptococcal Inflammatory Syndromes, and Strep throat: Signs and symptoms.