A sore throat occurs when the throat is irritated, scratchy, or painful. The symptoms tend to get worse when you swallow. In most cases, this is a mild health issue that resolves itself over time. However, some triggers may lead to severe complications that require medical attention. Below are 8 common causes of sore throats that you should know to take preventive measures.
Bacterial Infections and Viral Infections
Several bacterial infections would lead to a sore throat. A common one is Streptococcus pyogenes, which is linked to strep throat. This bacterial strain accounts for around 10 percent of reported cases in young children and adults, but more than 30 percent of cases in school-age children. Typical symptoms of a sore throat caused by bacterial infections include bad breath, vomiting, nausea, fever, and an inflamed throat. Other bacterial strains that may also cause this condition include bacterial pneumonia, bacterial tonsillitis, Bordetella pertussis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. [1]
A sore throat can also be caused by a viral infection. Around 200 strains of virus may lead to this symptom, including coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, and adenoviruses. Typical signs include fever, headache, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion. Other viral infections linked to a sore throat include HIV, herpes simplex virus, measles virus, echovirus, coxsackievirus, infectious mononucleosis, and orthomyxo virus. Some viral infections would be treated with antiviral medications, but many others currently have no cure. [2]
