Sore throat is usually caused by viral infection. In the medical community, sore throat is also known as pharyngitis. It is one of the most common symptoms of a cold or a flu. For children, sore throat is the leading cause of ambulatory care visits. Other causes of sore throat include tonsillitis and strep throat.

Identification

The symptoms of sore throat include dry, swollen throat, and pains when swallowing and talking. A sore throat also often comes with other symptoms of the underlying cause of sore throat. For instance, if your sore throat is caused by a flu, you might also experience running nose, fever and coughing. On the other hand, if you develop strep throat, you may experience gastrointestinal symptoms, high temperature, pharyngeal exudate headache and chills.

Significance

In addition to cold and flu (influenza), other causes of sore throat include tonsillopharyngitis, tonsillitis and strep throat. Strep throat is a form of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) infection. Strep throat can cause rheumatic fever, if not treated properly.

Size

In the United States, about 10 to 12 percent of children visit their pediatricians due to symptoms of sore throat. Among these children, about one-third develop strep throat. The prevalence of strep throat is highest for children ages five- to 10-years old.

Considerations

Smoking, whether primary or second hand, increases the risk of developing a sore throat. Similarly, exposure to chemicals or allergens may cause throat irritation. Good hygiene practice, such as washing hands regularly and carefully, reduces the risk for sore throat. Chronic sinus infections may also lead to throat infections.

Expert Insight

Take precautions against sore throat if your immunity is low, for instance, due to diabetes, chemotherapy treatment or AIDS. Low immunity increases the risk of viral and bacterial infection. There are several diagnostic tests which can be used to determine whether a person has strep throat or not. The sensitivity of these diagnostic test is typically 80 to 90 percent.

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