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