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Understanding Sore Throat -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of a Sore Throat?

The classic symptoms of a sore throat include a burning sensation or "scratchiness" in the back of the throat; pain, especially when swallowing; and, perhaps, tenderness along the neck. These symptoms may be accompanied by:

Sneezing and coughing
Hoarseness
Runny nose
Mild fever
General fatigue
Swollen glands in the neck

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Wow. I am almost disappointed that I'm perfectly fine. No skin reactions. No soreness. No muscle aches. No drama. And no flu, although a single dose of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine probably offers no protection. NIH Director Tony Fauci says that my experience is typical -- those of us who got the swine flu shot haven't had any unusual reactions. Earlier this week, I went to a two-day swine-flu symposium for journalists featuring all of CDC's top researchers (and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, too)...

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Call Your Doctor About a Sore Throat If:

You also have a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit without other cold symptoms; this may indicate a case of strep throat that needs treatment.
You also have flu-like symptoms that don't get better after a few days; this may indicate infectious mononucleosis.
Your child or adolescent suffers flu-like symptoms. Since the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, flu-like symptoms in these populations should be attended to quickly. Influenza is almost more likely to lead to complications in pregnant women, people with obesity, or people with chronic illness such as COPD, asthma, or diabetes.
Any pain or hoarseness lasting longer than 2 weeks; this could be a sign of throat cancer or oral cancer.
Your sore throat persists for more than a week and is accompanied by postnasal drip, sneezing, and itchy eyes; this may be a sign of allergies that require medical attention.
Your sore throat is accompanied by drooling, or you experience difficulty swallowing or breathing; this may indicate an inflamed epiglottis, the structure that overhangs the opening to the larynx, or an abscess in the back of the throat; these two uncommon conditions require immediate medical attention.
Your sore throat is accompanied by pain that moves to the ear; this may be a sign of a more serious problem.