Wednesday, 26 October 2016

What Your Reason for Having a Sore Throat?

A study conducted in 2015 found that potentially deadly bacteria, called Fusobacterium necrophorum, were responsible for one out of five cases of sore throat in young adults. It is very difficult to detect this bacteria, since the patients often get a negative result on the strep test.

Most of the people don't think of throat infections as a big issue and tend to ignore it, but recent developments in the field shown that these infections can have a complex nature. For example, in Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, about 70% of the cases are caused by viruses, rather than by bacteria.

While most of the cases are likely to get better with time and rest, medication is needed in a few cases, and for that, the cause needs to be identified. This brings us to the question: What is your reason for having a sore throat?

Common Cold

Medically known as Pharyngitis, the common cold is caused by a drop in temperature, the body's inability to adapt to the sudden change, consumption of cold beverages and exposure to allergens.

In our day-to-day life, we travel in public transport, meet different people and no matter how many times we wash our hands, there is always a possibility of coming in contact with a virus. While most of the cases of common cold last between three to seven days, if it exceeds this period, visit a doctor.

Strep Throat

Unlike the common cold, strep throat is caused by the streptococcus bacteria and can have more severe symptoms, such as fever and swollen tonsils. It requires proper consultation with a doctor and is reported to lead to about 25% of the cases of sore throat in children and 10% of the cases in adults. 

After a diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, depending upon the nature and severity of the infection.


The name may not sound very scary but allergies can lead to bigger issues, such as nasal stuffiness, problems in breathing, and dry mouth and throat. In some cases, it could lead to postnasal drainage, and there can also be a problem of cough and sore throat.

Most of the times, the symptoms of allergies are similar to the symptoms of a common cold but they can be differentiated by the fact that allergies are caused seasonally and last for weeks. They are also caused by allergens and not by viruses. They could lead to itchiness, watery eyes and rashes.

To get the proper treatment, identify the reasons for your sore throat and treat the cause as soon as possible.