Pain, discomfort, or irritation in the throat, especially during swallowing, characterizes a common medical ailment known as a sore throat. Environmental factors (such as exposure to smoking or pollutants), allergies, or other irritants can all play a role, as can virus infections (like the common cold or flu) or bacterial infections (like strep throat).

A sore throat can cause mild to severe pain and discomfort, as well as additional symptoms including scratchiness, dryness, and hoarseness. When infections are to blame for a person's sore throat, additional symptoms may also present themselves.

How you treat a sore throat depends on what's causing it. In most cases, a sore throat caused by a virus will go away with rest and over-the-counter medications, whereas a sore throat caused by bacteria may require antibiotics.

Pain medicines, throat lozenges, and calming beverages like hot tea with honey are all commonly used to manage symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if a sore throat lasts more than a few days or is accompanied by other severe symptoms.