What Could be Causing Sore Throat?

What Causes Sore Throat?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of sore throat we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow sore throat to develop?"

Diagnose your symptoms now!

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind sore throat consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to sore throat. For example, infectious mononucleosis.

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

recent onset fatigue

current atypical headaches

swollen axillary nodes

possible enlarged liver

multiple painful cervical nodes

postauricular node problems

high sensitivity to bright light

multiple painful axillary nodes

multiple painful inguinal nodes

recent loss of appetite

unusual current rash

elevated lymphocyte count

... and so on

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of sore throat.

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Respiratory Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about current sore throat:

Do you have a sore throat now?

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Yes, somewhat sore
→ Yes, very sore and painful to swallow

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate absence of sore throat, current sore throat or current very sore throat, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as Infectious Mononucleosis - Mono. The sore throat usually seen in mononucleosis typically clears in 7-19 days, possibly fewer.

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™