Mayo Clinic: “Swollen lymph nodes.”
Slideshow: Anatomy of a Sore Throat
We all know that raw, scratchy feeling in the back of the throat. It could just be dry winter air, seasonal allergies, or a plain old cold. But it also could be a bacterial condition, like strep, or a viral infection or something else. Only your health care provider can tell for sure. But you can look for a few signs on your own.
Take a Good Look
2/20
Grab a flashlight, look in the mirror, and say, “Ahhh.” You could find some important clues. You might see white dots or patches in the back of your throat. Your tonsils — the bumps on either side at the back of your throat — might be red and swollen, too. These could be signs of bacterial infection like strep throat or oral thrush, or a viral infection like oral herpes or mononucleosis. They also might be something else, like tonsil stones, which are painful calcium deposits on your throat.
Do You Have Cold Symptoms?
3/20
If you have a cough and drippy nose along with your sore throat, that could be good news. You may feel crummy, but you’re less likely to have a serious infection. You probably just have a common cold virus and post-nasal drip.
Do You Have a Fever?
4/20
Colds can cause a fever, but it’s usually just a mild one. If you have a sore throat and a fever over 101 F, it’s more likely to be a throat infection like strep than a simple cold. But these don’t always raise your temperature — so watch for other symptoms.
Are Your Lymph Nodes Swollen?
5/20
The most common reason is infection — viral or bacterial. Lymph nodes trap and destroy germs, and they can swell up when they start to fight an infection. You might feel them under your jaw or on either side of your neck. But it doesn’t always mean anything serious. Even the common cold can cause swollen lymph nodes.
How Much Does It Hurt?
6/20
When a cold causes your sore throat, it can be plenty painful, but it usually goes away after a couple of days. Bacterial infections, like strep throat, tend to cause more severe pain that doesn’t get better. With strep, it may hurt so much that you can barely swallow. Sometimes, it can cause nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, or stomach pain as well.
Is There a Rash?
7/20
A rash on your neck and chest that sometimes spreads to the rest of your body can be a sign of a group of bacterial infections called streptococcal infections. The most minor of these is strep throat, but they also include more serious ones, like scarlet fever, bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and toxic shock syndrome. They all need to be treated by a doctor — usually with antibiotics — as soon as possible.
Bacterial Infections
8/20
They may feel the same, but a common sore throat and bacterial infections are very different. Most sore throats are caused by viruses, like the cold virus. No medication will cure a cold virus — you have to let your body heal on its own. But antibiotics can fight a bacterial infection, such as strep, and stop it from spreading.
Colds & Antibiotics: Just Say No
9/20
If you have a sore throat from a cold, antibiotics won’t help at all. They only help against bacteria not viruses. Taking antibiotics when you don’t really need them has a risk, too. Too much exposure to antibiotics can turn regular bacteria into “super bugs” that don’t respond to treatment.
Rapid Strep Test
10/20
To figure out if strep — the most common bacterial throat infection — is causing your sore throat, your doctor may use a rapid strep test. Results are ready in 5 to 10 minutes, but the test doesn’t pick up all cases of strep. If yours is negative, your doctor may send a throat culture to the lab to be sure. That’s more thorough, but you won’t get the results for a few days.
Antibiotics for Strep
11/20
If you do have a positive strep test, your doctor will give you oral antibiotics. You’ll probably feel better in a day or two, but don’t stop taking the medication — finish the whole course, which is usually 10 days. If you stop too soon, some of the bacteria could survive and get you sick again. You’ll still be contagious up to 24 hours after you start antibiotics, so wash your hands often to protect people around you. And throw away your toothbrush.
Home Care for Sore Throats
12/20
No matter the reason for your sore throat, simple home remedies can make you feel better. One thing that might work is a saltwater gargle. Just mix half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of water, then gargle, and spit it out. It can keep your throat moist, help with swelling, and ease that raw, scratchy feeling.
Humidifier or Vaporizer
13/20
Steam from a humidifier or vaporizer can keep your scratchy throat moist and cut down on pain. You can also lean over a sink with hot running water. Drape a towel over your head to trap the steam, and breathe deeply. Try this for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day.
Warm Compress
14/20
Try a warm water bottle or heating pad against the outside of your throat. Or wet a towel with hot water to make your own warm compress. It can help soothe tender lymph nodes in your neck.
Soothing Foods
15/20
If you need an excuse to eat ice cream, a sore throat is a great one. The cold has a numbing effect, and the creamy texture makes it easy to swallow. Other soothing foods include milkshakes, gelatin, and hot soup. If your sore throat is especially painful, stay away from crunchy or spicy foods.
Hydration
16/20
If you have a fever and don’t drink enough fluids — because it hurts to swallow — it can make you dehydrated. Choose drinks that are easy on your throat: Water and warm tea are good choices. Stay away from citrus drinks, though, because they may sting your sore throat.
Pain Relievers
17/20
Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen can help dull the pain of a sore throat. But be careful if you’re taking something for a cold or the flu — some of those medications already include a painkiller. You don’t want to take a double dose.
Sore Throat Sprays and Lozenges
18/20
You can soothe a painful sore throat with a numbing spray or lozenge. (But don’t give lozenges to small children.) Carry a travel-size throat spray in your purse or briefcase for relief on the go. Sucking on ice chips can also bring some relief.
Decongestants
19/20
If you have a cold — and fluid draining from your nose irritates your throat — you could try a decongestant nasal spray or oral decongestant. They help dry up postnasal drip and give your throat some relief. Just follow the directions and don’t take them longer than recommended. If you use any other regular medications — or have high blood pressure or heart problems — check with your doctor first.
Lingering Sore Throat
20/20
If it lasts longer than a week or gets worse, check with your doctor, even if you had a negative strep test. A throat swab may miss bacteria, so you may need another one. A sore throat that doesn’t go away could also be a sign of acid reflux, mononucleosis, or another condition.
Show Sources
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- Kenneth Eward / Science Source
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American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: “Sore Throats.”
Bradley University: “A ‘superbug’ approach to antibiotics.”
CDC: “Sore Throat,” “Symptom Relief.”
Cleveland Clinic: ““Group A Streptococcal Infections.”
HealthyChildren.org: “When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection.”
Mayo Clinic: “Swollen lymph nodes.”
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health: “Eating Problems and Ways to Manage Them.”
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health: “Strep Throat.”
New Health Advisor: “White Spots on Throat”
Rutgers Health Services: “Cold & Flu.”
University of Michigan: “Infectious Mononucleosis.”
Wisconsin Department of Health Services: “Streptococcal Pharyngitis.”
What Causes White Spots in Your Throat?
White spots in your throat may seem a little scary, but they’re not usually a sign of anything too serious.
Lots of different health conditions can cause them. Some go away on their own in a week or so, while your doctor will need to treat others with medicine.
Strep Throat
When you think about the symptoms of this bacterial infection, a sore throat and trouble swallowing probably come to mind first. But it commonly causes white patches on your tonsils, too. You might also have these:
- Fever
- Headache
- Swollen or sore neck glands
- Swollen and red tonsils
- Red spots on the roof of your mouth
- A rash (called scarlet fever)
With strep throat, the sore throat comes on suddenly and you usually don’t have a cough. Children sometimes have a stomachache and rash, feel nauseated, and may vomit.
A group of bacteria called streptococcus causes strep throat. Your doctor can take a throat swab and do a quick test to tell if you have the infection. If the sample comes back positive, they’ll give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria. You may start to feel better in as little as a day, but the antibiotics need about 10 days to finish the job.
Tonsillitis
The two tonsils at the back of your throat filter out germs to keep you healthy, but those germs can get trapped inside and cause an infection.
In addition to a white or yellow coating in your throat, you also might have:
- Red tonsils
- A sore throat
- Sore lymph nodes on the side of your neck
- Changes in the sound of your voice
- Fever
- Trouble swallowing
- Bad breath
- A stiff neck
Most of the time, viruses cause tonsillitis, so there’s no cure or treatment. The illness usually runs its course in 3 or 4 days. Make sure you drink lots of fluids and rest. If bacteria caused your tonsillitis, your doctor can give you antibiotics to treat it.
Oral Thrush
This is a yeast infection in your mouth, and it happens most often in babies and older adults.
The white patches can stretch back into the sides of your mouth and tongue — some people say they look like cottage cheese. If you try to scrape them off, you’ll see red spots and possibly have bleeding underneath.
You may also feel like there is cotton in your mouth. Your tongue may hurt or burn, making it hard to swallow or speak easily or to taste food and drinks.
See your doctor if you think you or your baby has oral thrush. They’ll give you antifungal medications and check you out to make sure you don’t have an illness that caused it.
Mononucleosis
Along with white areas in your mouth, mononucleosis can make you feel really tired and bring on other symptoms like:
- Fever
- A sore throat
- Swollen and sore lymph nodes
- Head and muscle aches
These are worst in the first 2 weeks.
Because viruses (especially the Epstein-Barr virus) cause most cases of mono, there’s no real treatment. It’s best to rest, drink lots of fluid, and take ibuprofen or naproxen for fever and aches.
Show Sources
CDC: “Strep Throat,” “Candida infections of the mouth, throat and esophagus,” “Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis.”
Mayo Clinic: “Strep throat,” “Tonsillitis,” “Oral thrush.”
KidsHealth from Nemours: “Strep Throat,” “Tonsillitis.”
National Health Service, UK: “Tonsillitis.”
Informedhealth.org: “Oral thrush (oral candidiasis): Overview.” Cleveland Clinic: “Thrush,” “Mononucleosis.”
American Sexual Health Association: “Oral Herpes,” “Herpes treatment.”
American Dental Association: “Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Your Mouth.”
American Academy of Dermatology: “Herpes simplex: Diagnosis and treatment.”
University of Michigan University Health Service: “Infectious Mononucleosis.”
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