Sore throat without other symptoms

Most new sore throats are caused by a virus and go away within a week. Because you use your throat constantly to swallow, eat, breathe, and talk, it is hard to rest the throat, so even minor pain can be bothersome. Home treatment usually helps.

A sore throat that lasts for longer than a week is often caused by allergies, low humidity, smoking, air pollution, irritation from heating and cooling systems, or yelling. Experts disagree about whether a sore throat is caused by a postnasal drip. If a sore throat doesn't improve with home treatment, a visit to a doctor is needed. If you know the cause of a chronic sore throat but your symptoms have changed, a visit is also appropriate.

Occasionally a persistent sore throat may be caused by another problem, such as mononucleosis (mono, "the kissing disease"), or chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that causes extreme tiredness.

In rare cases, a sore throat may be a symptom of a serious condition of the throat or neck, such as a thyroid condition or cancer. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that may rarely cause a sore throat.

Your doctor can evaluate a persistent sore throat and recommend treatment.