Sore throat is a very common symptom of viral infection, often as part of a cold or flu. It can also be the first warning sign of childhood illnesses such as measles, mumps and chicken pox. Laringytis, where the larynx or voice-box becomes inflamed, and glandular fever are also associated with a sore throat, as is oral candidiasis or thrush . In all these cases of viral infection, your best bet is to treat the symptoms of sore throat and wait for the infection to clear up by itself. Occasionally sore throat will indicate a bacterial infection such as tonsillitis or strep throat, and your doctor may prescribe antibiotics .
Mouth ulcers can also make the throat sore.
The main symptom of a sore throat is a raw feeling at the back of your throat, which may look red and inflamed. Your throat can feel dry and you will probably have difficulty swallowing. Other possible symptoms are hoarseness or loss of voice and swollen glands in your neck. If you have glandular fever or 'kissing disease', which mostly affects young adults from 15 years upwards, you are likely to have a high temperature, a headache and swollen glands in your neck, armpits or groin, a high temperature and a headache. Oral thrush makes itself known through sore, creamy-coloured patches in the mouth.