Sore Throat
By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed Next review due Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.
Key facts
A sore throat is pain, scratchiness, or irritation of the throat that often worsens when swallowing. Most sore throats are caused by viral infections and resolve within a week without treatment.
Most often affects:Children 5–15TeachersSmokersPeople in crowded environments
What commonly causes sore throat
- Viral infections (common cold, flu) — the NHS says these are the usual cause
- Bacterial infection (strep throat — Group A Streptococcus)
- Dry air or air conditioning
- Allergies and postnasal drip
- Overuse of voice (singing, shouting)
- Acid reflux (GERD)
- Smoking or being around smoke — the NHS names this alongside viruses as a usual cause
- Glandular fever — especially in teenagers and young adults, with swollen glands and extreme tiredness
What helps at home
- Gargle with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water), then spit it out — do not swallow it, and children should not try this.
- Drink plenty of water and eat cool or soft foods. A hot lemon and honey drink can soothe an adult's or older child's throat — never give honey to a baby under 12 months, and do not give hot drinks to small children.
- Ask a pharmacist about medicated lozenges — anaesthetic sprays have little proof they help when used on their own.
- Rest your voice — avoid shouting or whispering
- Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry air
- Sip cold water or suck an ice lolly — do not give young children anything small and hard to suck, because of the risk of choking.
When to get help
These three levels are different. Getting the level right is the single most useful thing this page can do for you.
Non-urgent advice: see a GP if
- The sore throat has lasted more than a week and is not improving
- You keep getting sore throats — more than five or six a year
- You have white patches or pus on your tonsils
- The glands in your neck have stayed swollen and tender for more than 2 weeks
Urgent advice: ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if
- It hurts so much to swallow that you cannot drink enough fluids
- You have a high temperature and feel very unwell with the sore throat
- One side of your throat is much more swollen and painful than the other
- Your immune system is weakened — for example by chemotherapy, diabetes or steroid treatment
- The sore throat is getting worse rather than better after a week
Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if
- Severe difficulty breathing or unable to swallow saliva
- You are making a high-pitched sound when you breathe in (stridor)
- Drooling due to inability to swallow (possible epiglottitis)
- Severe swelling causing the airway to narrow
- Your symptoms are severe and getting worse quickly
What to do next
Not sure whether sore throat needs a doctor? These are your options, cheapest and fastest first.
Questions people ask about sore throat
Reducing the chance of it coming back
- Wash hands frequently, especially during cold season
- Avoid sharing cups, cutlery, or towels with someone who is ill
- Stay hydrated to keep throat tissues moist
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
Conditions this can be part of
Listed alphabetically, not by likelihood — this page does not tell you which one you have.
- Glandular fever
- Laryngitis
- Strep throat
- Tonsillitis
Sources and further reading
This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.
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