What is a sore throat?
A sore throat is a scratchy painful feeling in the back of your throat. If you have a sore throat, it may hurt to swallow or to talk. Many things cause sore throats, from bacterial and viral infections to allergies and sleeping with your mouth open. Most sore throat symptoms go away in a few days. You should contact a healthcare provider if your sore throat lasts longer than a week, gets worse or you develop symptoms like fever or swollen lymph nodes.
What does a sore throat feel like?
A sore throat may start with a raspy feeling in your throat, as if your throat is dry. It may also feel like your throat is on fire. If your sore throat gets worse, you may feel a sharp pain in your throat when you swallow or talk. You may feel pain in your ears or down the side of your neck.
Is a sore throat a serious issue?
It can be. For example, a sore throat that lasts more than two weeks may be a symptom of throat cancer. A sore throat is one symptom of COVID-19. Most of the time, however, a sore throat is a symptom of less serious conditions.
