The pain is relieved by pain killers, decongestants, and salt water spray in the nose. To use the spray, lean over a sink and spray vigorously up each side of the nose. Let the excess drain down into the sink. Sometimes a hot pad over the sinuses will help. The most common cause of a sore throat is a cold with drainage down the back of the throat.
Similar symptoms can occur with sinus infections and even with an allergy.
Those that are a result of a strep infection show symptoms of being very sick, having a fiery red throat with white membranes over the tonsils, showing a bright red tongue, and enlargement of the lymph nodes underneath the jaw. Occasionally, there may be an associated bright red rash over the trunk. This type of infection needs to be treated with an antibiotic. Most of the other types of sore throats can be treated symptomatically. Mononucleosis can also produce symptoms identical to strep.