![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pdxent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/throat-512x768-1.webp\" "\\"sore")
<\/p>\nAt one time or another, pretty much everybody in Portland has experienced a sore throat. Whether the result of illness or overuse of the voice, sore throats are never pleasant. Most of the time they are harmless, but occasionally may indicate a more serious underlying condition. Knowing when to seek treatment is key to a quick recovery.<\/p>\n
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Obviously, soreness is the telltale symptom of a sore throat. But throat pain is only one of the symptoms you\u2019ll experience. Itchiness, scratchiness, hoarseness<\/a>, dryness, swollen glands in the jaw and neck, inflamed tonsils<\/a> and swallowing difficulty may all accompany a sore throat. Most sore throats are the result of viral infections<\/a>, but more serious symptoms such as the following may indicate a more serious condition:<\/p>\n Sore throats caused by viral infections \u2013 typically preceding or following a cold or flu \u2013 usually clear up on their own in a few days. Gargling with warm salt water<\/a>, sucking on throat lozenges or cough drops and making sure to stay hydrated can help relieve discomfort and speed up the process.<\/p>\n More serious problems include strep throat, an infection caused by the streptococcus bacterium, and tonsillitis. It can be difficult to distinguish these from viral causes; the faster symptoms develop and the more severe they are, the more likely it is that you are experiencing something more serious. Strep throat is often accompanied by a fever of 101\u00ba or higher and swollen lymph nodes, while tonsillitis might cause fever, chills, earache, stomachache, neck stiffness, bad breath and white or yellow spots on the tonsils.<\/p>\n\n