HealthInfo Canterbury
Sore throat
Sore throats are very common especially in children and teenagers.
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, and get better by themselves with no treatment other than pain relief.
However, some sore throats are caused by a bacteria (germ) called streptococcus (strep-toe-kok-us). This is called strep throat, which your doctor can treat with antibiotics. In a few cases strep throat leads to a more serious illness called rheumatic fever.
You are at more risk of rheumatic fever if:
- you or someone in your family or household has had rheumatic fever before
- you or your child fit two or more of these descriptions:
- Māori or Pasifika ethnicity
- aged 3 to 35 years
- live in poor or crowded conditions.
Important
If you or your child have a high risk for rheumatic fever, see a doctor or nurse to check any sore throat straight away – within one or two days. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for your sore throat it's important to take them all, for the entire 10 days. This is to stop you from getting rheumatic fever.
If you have a sore throat with a runny nose, cough, hoarse voice and a headache, you may have a viral cold or flu infection.
You or your child may have fever and swollen neck glands.
Causes of sore throat
Most sore throats are caused by:
- cold or flu viruses
- glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus), in teenagers
- bacterial infection especially with streptococcus (strep throat)
- tonsillitis.
Diagnosing sore throat
Most sore throats don't need any tests.
You may have a swab taken from your throat to check for strep throat.
If your doctor thinks you might have glandular fever they will take a blood test.
Treating sore throat
Most sore throats get better after two or three days and go away completely in seven to 10 days without any treatment. If you have strep throat you will need to take antibiotics for 10 days. It's important to finish them all to stop you getting rheumatic fever.
Self-care with sore throat
- Take pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Suck on ice cubes or lozenges.
- Older children and adults can gargle warm salt water.
- Avoid smoking or smoky places.
- Get rest.
See your doctor if you or your child:
- have difficulty breathing
- can't swallow saliva, which may cause dribbling
- can't get enough fluids
- have severe pain
- have ongoing high fever
- aren't improving after two days
- have earache or joint pain.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- KidsHealth – Sore throat
Information about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of sore throats.
- Ministry of Health – Sore throats
These pages have information about what causes strep throat, how it's treated, and how it spreads.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2020.
See also:
SourcesReview key: HISTT-17240
