That scratchy, painful feeling in your throat is a common complaint, but what's causing it? Let's explore some of the most frequent culprits behind your sore throat.
**Viral Infections:** The most common reason for a sore throat is a viral infection, like the common cold or the flu. These often come with other symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and fever.
**Strep Throat:** A bacterial infection, strep throat, can also cause intense throat pain, often accompanied by white patches on the tonsils and swollen lymph nodes. Strep requires antibiotics.
**Allergies:** Seasonal allergies can irritate the throat, leading to soreness and scratchiness. Postnasal drip from allergies can further aggravate the throat.
**Environmental Irritants:** Smoke, pollution, and dry air can all contribute to throat irritation.
**Other causes:** Sometimes, straining your vocal cords from yelling or singing can also cause a temporary sore throat.
If your sore throat is severe, lasts longer than a week, or is accompanied by a high fever, difficulty swallowing, or swollen lymph nodes, it's crucial to see a doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
