Causes and Symptoms of Sore Throat

Posted by sanjay on Thursday 16 Apr 2009

345

A sore throat is not an illness on its own. Instead it is a symptom of other illnesses. The medical term for a sore throat is pharyngitis because the pharynx or back of the throat becomes inflamed and swollen. This is typically due to a cold or cough. While sore throats are not a serious condition, they should be looked at to see if they are a precursor to a more serious illness.

What causes a sore throat?
Sore throats can happen for many reasons. They may occur when a person is sick with a cold or the flu. They can be a precursor to more serious illnesses or they can be related to someone’s lifestyle. A person can get a sore throat if they are suffering from a cold, virus, allergies, or sinus infection.

There are many illnesses that start off with a sore throat. They range from mononucleosis and strep throat to diphtheria, acid gastro esophageal reflux disease, and HIV. Sore throats can also happen when a person raises their voice and shouts. A person’s habits and their environment can also cause a sore throat. People who smoke too much or drink too much alcohol can get a sore throat. Also, the pollutants in the air can cause a sore throat.

What are symptoms of a sore throat?
One of the first signs of a sore throat is that a person will experience pain in their throat and will have a difficult time swallowing any foods or beverages because the throat has become inflamed and swollen. They may also lose their voice. When a person has a sore throat the lymph glands on the side of their neck become swollen. This swelling can cause pain in the ears and head. In more severe cases, the tonsils can swell, the person can run a fever, they may vomit, or their saliva will have blood or phlegm in it.

Home remedies
One of the most common ways to ease a sore throat is to gargle with warm salted water. Most of the treatments for a sore throat revolve around warm water mixtures. Garlic, honey, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, and lemon can be added to warm water in different concoctions.