First Lady Michelle Obama shares tips on parenting with moms and other audience members in a WebMD Town Hall meeting in Miami, Florida.
Information and Resources
What may increase your risk of problems from a sore throat?
Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Exposure to someone who has had a positive test for strep throat
- History of allergies, such as hay fever
- History of an abscess near the tonsils (peritonsillar abscess)
- History of injury or surgery to the throat or neck
- History of previous episodes of strep throat. People who have had strep throat in the past are more likely to have it again.
- History of radiation therapy to the throat or neck
- History of rheumatic fever
- History of thyroid disease
- Living with smokers or regularly exposed to secondhand smoke
- Previous surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Engaging in risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected intercourse, multiple partners, or prostitution
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Occupational exposure to smoke, dust, fumes, or chemicals
Medicines
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Chronic kidney disease
- Rheumatic fever
- Valvular heart disease
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
February 25, 2008
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.
© 1995-2010 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Top 12 Health Topics-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Top 12 Videos-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Hot Topics
- Which Drugstore Tooth Whiteners Work Best?
- Kids' Top 6 Worries and How to Fix Them
- Surprising Headache Triggers
- Safe Ways to Lose Weight Fast
- Counting Carbs When You Use Insulin
- Fibromyalgia: Symptoms and Treatments
- CML: How It Affects Your Body
- 6 Sex Mistakes Men Make
- Dupuytren's Contracture: What You Need to Know
- Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
WebMD Video: Now Playing
FROM CBS NEWS
Third of malaria meds from Asia, Africa are fake
Almost half of malaria medications in southeast Asia and over a third from sub-Saharan Africa were packaged poorly, including some expired drugs that had been repackaged
More from CBS News:
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Advertise With Us|WebMD Corporate|Medscape Reference|eMedicineHealth|RxList|Medscape|MedicineNet|BootsWebMD
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.