Sore Throat Specialist

What are the symptoms of a sore throat?

Pain, scratchiness, or irritation due to a sore throat is often made worse by swallowing. Other symptoms that can occur with sore throats include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw
• Swollen, red tonsils
• White patches or pus on your tonsils
• Hoarse voice or difficulty speaking

Depending on the cause of your sore throat, you may have other symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, fatigue, or body aches and chills.

What causes a sore throat?

The most common cause of a sore throat is a virus, especially viruses that cause upper respiratory infections and the flu. Other causes of sore throats include:

• Mononucleosis (mono)
• Chickenpox
• Croup
• Bacterial infections, including strep throat
• Allergies
• Irritants, including cigarette smoke exposure
• Muscle strain
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), also called acid reflux
• Oral thrush

Other more serious causes are less common, though they may become life-threatening if they close your airway. If this is a possibility, the Schaumburg Immediate Care providers refer you to the emergency department for treatment.

How is the cause of a sore throat diagnosed?

You or your child begins your visit at Schaumburg Immediate Care with a consultation and exam with the providers in order to determine the cause of your sore throat. Your provider may press along the face, jaw, and throat to check or swelling and look inside your throat with a light to identify signs of infection.

In order to determine the cause of an infection, your provider may perform a throat swab, in which a long cotton swab is placed inside the throat to collect a sample tissue sample. This test may feel itchy or ticklish for a second when it’s performed. Your provider then tests the sample for different bacteria and viruses. Your provider gets the results within minutes and diagnoses your condition immediately.

How are sore throats treated?

For viral causes of sore throats, no medication is typically needed. However, if your sore throat is extremely uncomfortable, your provider may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen.

Sore throats caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor prescribes antibiotics for a certain number of days and explains how often and how long to take the medication in order to clear your infection.

Ease the pain of your sore throat with help from Schaumburg Immediate Care. Walk in today or set up an appointment by calling or booking online.