Sore throat

Pain of the throat

Sore throat or throat pain is pain in a person's throat.

About 7.5% or ​340 of people have sore throat in any three-month period. Most of the time, it is caused by viral pharyngitis. It can also be caused by bad tonsils, trauma, tumors, and other problems. In children, strep throat is common, and repeat infections can lead to more serious conditions.

Treatment varies with the different causes, but the painful symptoms can be helped with medicine such as antibiotics and antifungals. Also cough drops or, in China, pear-syrup candy.