Most common causes of Sore Throat

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While we are deeply entrenched in cold and flu season, patients often think that they have strep throat.  Many will have children who had strep throat or friends of their children who had it and want to be checked out to see if they have picked it up.  The fact is, strep throat is less common than you think, and that's a good thing.  There are several other reasons for a sore throat that are far more likely than strep throat.  So what exactly is strep throat?

Strep throat is a term that is commonly used to describe an infection of the throat by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus.  This accounts for 15 to 30 percent of sore throats in children but only 5 to 20 percent of sore throats in adults.  The most common features of a strep throat are high fever, white patches on the throat or tonsils, swollen glands, and lack of a cough.  This is very different than the common cold which presents with sore throat, cough, congestion, low-grade fever, and bodyaches.

So what are the most common causes of a sore throat?

Viral infection- this is by far the most common.  Since colds are caused by viruses they will almost always lead to a sore throat in the beginning.

Allergies and Post-nasal drip- environmental allergens can irritate the throat directly or lead to fluid draining into the back of the throat.

Acid reflux- when there is acid build-up in the stomach, it flows back up into the throat and creates irritation and may even lead to a hoarse voice.

There are many other conditions that can lead to sore throats, but those are the most common.  Viral infections and allergies/post-nasal drip are by far at the top of the list and should be considered first in the absence of the symptoms mentioned for strep throat.  So the next time you have a sore throat, take a closer look at your symptoms, your temperature, and your previous medical history for a possible answer.  It may be easier than you think!