How to know when a sore throat could be something serious?

A sore throat is most of the time harmless and causes mostly due to the a viral infection like a cold or flu. It feels scratchy, painful and irritated and sometimes you could find it tough to swallow. Most of the time it goes off on its own in a few days, but sometimes an infection like strep could need some anti-biotics to prevent complication. The challenge is to know when to be sure if a sore throat could be something serious. Here we will be discussing a few points that can help you to know when to see a doctor.

1. If you have difficulty in breathing along with a sore throat, it is time to get attention of your general physician.
2. Difficulty in swallowing is another indication that you should see a doctor.
3. If you are drooling that can indicate inability to swallow, especially in kids, do not ignore it.
4. If your sore throat is lasting for more than a week, it is time to take some medical advice.
5. If you are facing difficulty in opening your mouth it could indicate something serious.
6. In case of a fever above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, a rash, earache, joint pain, blood in your saliva or phlegm, see a doctor immediately.

There are a number of reasons for a sore throat and could be due to flu, allergies or it could be as simple as a common cold. But it could also be due to a few conditions like measles, chicken pox, mono, COVID-19, croup, or even some of the serious conditions like HIV or tumours. Majority of sore throats resolve on their own in a span of three to ten days. But you need to pay special attention when you surpass the one week mark. If it persists longer than that, then it is advised to see a doctor immediately to figure out the actual cause.

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