Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms?

The classic symptoms of a sore throat include a burning sensation or "scratchiness" in the back of the throat; pain, especially when swallowing; and, perhaps, tenderness along the neck. These symptoms may be accompanied by:

• Sneezing and coughing
• Hoarseness
• Runny nose
• Mild fever
• General fatigue

Call Your Doctor If:

• You also have a fever higher than 101 degrees F without other cold symptoms; this may indicate a case of strep throat that needs treatment.
• You also have flu-like symptoms that don't get better after a few days; this may indicate infectious mononucleosis.
• Any pain or hoarseness lasts longer than two weeks; this could be a sign of throat cancer or oral cancer.
• Your sore throat persists for more than a week and is accompanied by postnasal drip; this may be a sign of allergies that require medical attention.
• Your sore throat is accompanied by drooling, or you experience difficulty swallowing or breathing; this may indicate an inflamed epiglottis, the structure that overhangs the opening to the larynx, or an abscess in the back of the throat; these two uncommon conditions require medical attention.