Definition
The dry scratchiness and painful swallowing that are the hallmarks of a sore throat can make one feel miserable. Yet a sore throat isn’t a disease. Most often, it’s a symptom of another illness — such as the common cold or the flu. In many cases, a sore throat is the first indication that you’re getting sick.
Sore throats are a common reason that people visit their doctors, but many of those visits aren’t necessary. Most sore throats go away on their own in about a week. Only a small percentage may require medical care.
Risk factors
Although anyone can get a sore throat, some factors make you more susceptible to throat problems. These factors include:
Age: Children and teens are most likely to develop sore throats.Children between ages 5 and 18 may have as many as five sore throats a year, whereas adults have less than half that number.
Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke: Tobacco smoke, whether primary or secondary, contains hundreds of toxic chemicals that can irritate the lining of your throat.
Allergies: If you have seasonal allergies or ongoing allergic reactions to dust, moulds or pet dander, you’re more likely to develop a sore throat than are people who don’t have allergies. Chronic or frequent sinus infections: Drainage from nose or sinus infections can cause throat infections as well.
Poor hygiene: Washing your hands carefully and often is the best way to prevent many viral and bacterial infections.
Lowered immunity: You’re more susceptible to infections in general if your resistance is low. Common causes of lowered immunity include diseases such as AIDS and diabetes, treatment with steroids or chemotherapy drugs — even fatigue and poor diet.

Causes
Most sore throats are caused by viruses — the same germs that cause colds and flu. A much smaller number are due to bacterial infections.
Viruses and bacteria both enter your body through your mouth or nose — either because you breathe in particles that are released into the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or because you have hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or use shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys, doorknobs or a telephone.
Other causes
Allergies. The same pet dander, moulds and pollens that trigger allergic reactions such as red, swollen eyes and a runny nose can also cause a sore throat.
Dryness. Dry indoor air, especially in winter when rooms tend to be overheated, can make your throat feel rough and scratchy, particularly in the morning when you first wake up.
Pollution and other irritants. Outdoor air pollution can cause ongoing throat irritation. But indoor pollution — especially tobacco smoke — is an even greater cause of chronic sore throat. What’s more, inhaling second-hand smoke is often just as damaging as smoking itself. Smokeless tobacco, alcohol and spicy foods can also inflame your throat.
Tumours: If you smoke or abuse alcohol, you’re at high risk of tumours of the throat, tongue and voice box. In some people these tumours cause few, if any, signs and symptoms. In others, they can lead to hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and sore throat.

When to seek medical advice
Although uncomfortable, most sore throats aren’t harmful and go away on their own in five to seven days. But sometimes they can signal a more serious condition. See your doctor if you or your child has any of the following:
* A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week.
* Severe difficulty swallowing or breathing.
* Excessive drooling in a young child.
* A temperature higher than 101 F in babies under age 6 months and 103 F in older children.
* Tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck.
* Pus at the back of the throat.
* Rash
* Hoarseness that lasts longer than two weeks.
* Blood in saliva or phlegm.
* Symptoms of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, severe weakness and decreased urine output.
* Contact with someone who has been diagnosed with strep throat.
Treatments and drugs
Most sore throats go away without treatment, often within a week or so. That’s a good thing, because no medical therapy exists for sore throats caused by viral infections. When you’re sick, choose fluids such as water, soups and broths — not sodas or drinks that contain caffeine, which can dehydrate you further. If you find it extremely painful to swallow, try sipping warm broth through a straw or sucking on ice chips.
What can I do at home for a sore throat?
Generally, sore throats must run their course.
Salt water gargles, hard candies, sprays for example, Strepsils (or Chloraseptic) and lozenges can provide temporary pain relief. (Caution: Lozenges and hard candy are a choking hazard for children. Avoid their use in young children.)
Sipping on hot water all day is most beneficial.