Sore Throat

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Sore throat

Sore throats are common and usually not serious. Most people will have at least 2 or 3 every year. Children and teenagers are more likely to get sore throats than adults.

Most sore throats will clear after a few days. About 9 in 10 people with a sore throat get better in less than a week.

Sore throat symptoms

Sore throats are usually a symptom of a viral infection.

As well as pain in your throat, you may have:

• dry scratchy throat
• redness in the back of the mouth
• bad breath
• mild cough
• swollen neck glands

You may also have:

• a runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• fever
• a tickly cough

Sometimes your voice may get hoarse.

Information:

A sore throat can be a symptom of COVID-19.

Advice about symptoms of COVID-19 and what to do

Causes of sore throat

Most sore throats are caused by a virus.

Viruses cause:

• tonsillitis
• glandular fever
• laryngitis

Sometimes bacteria cause sore throats. The bacterial infection Strep A causes strep throat and scarlet fever. These can give you a sore throat.

Your GP may prescribe an antibiotic for severe strep throat that is not responding to other treatment.

Treating a sore throat at home

Most sore throats will clear after a few days. Usually, you do not need to contact a GP if you have a sore throat.

Painkillers you can buy without a prescription will usually relieve the symptoms of a sore throat.

Most sore throats are caused by a virus so antibiotics do not help. Almost all sore throats will get better without antibiotics.

Babies and children

To help soothe a sore throat and keep your child hydrated:

• encourage them to drink water, juice or milk
• breastfeed or bottle feed your baby
• give them an ice lolly to suck on

Ask a pharmacist about pain relief for children.

Adults

To help soothe a sore throat:

• avoid hot food and hot drinks
• eat cool, soft food
• drink plenty of cool or warm liquids
• avoid smoking - get help to quit smoking
• gargle with warm, salty water - do not give children salt water to gargle

How to gargle with salt water

1. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
2. Gargle with the solution, then spit it out.
3. Repeat as often as you like.

Do not swallow the salt water.

Medicines for sore throat

Ask a pharmacist about medicines to help relieve the pain and discomfort of a sore throat.

It can help to use:

• paracetamol or ibuprofen
• medicated lozenges or anaesthetic sprays
• medicated sprays

You can buy these without a prescription.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as colds and flu.

GPs do not usually prescribe antibiotics for sore throats.

This is because most sore throats are caused by a virus and antibiotics will not:

• relieve pain or help your symptoms
• help you recover faster

Your GP will only prescribe antibiotics if they think you have a severe bacterial infection (strep throat) and other treatments have not worked.

Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:

• you have a sore throat and a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
• your child or baby is not drinking enough or has dry nappies
• you have a sore throat and weak immune system
• you still have a sore throat after 2 weeks
• you're worried about your sore throat

A severe or long-lasting sore throat could be strep throat or tonsillitis.

Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department (ED) if:

• you have difficulty breathing
• you're drooling or cannot swallow your saliva
• your symptoms are severe and getting worse quickly
• your baby is very sleepy, lethargic, not responding to you or difficult to wake