Types of sore throat

Doctors group sore throats by cause and by which part of the throat is inflamed. Knowing the type guides treatment.

By the area involved

• Pharyngitis: inflammation of the pharynx (the back of the throat), the most common type.
• Tonsillitis: inflammation of the tonsils, with swelling, redness and sometimes white patches.
• Laryngitis: inflammation of the voice box, causing hoarseness or loss of voice.
• Epiglottitis: a rare, dangerous swelling of the epiglottis, causing breathing and swallowing difficulty. This is an emergency.

By cause

• Viral sore throat: the most common type in adults and children, usually with cold symptoms.
• Bacterial sore throat: mainly strep throat, which needs testing and sometimes antibiotics.
• Allergic sore throat: from postnasal drip due to allergies.
• Reflux-related sore throat: from stomach acid reaching the throat.
• Irritant sore throat: from smoke, pollution, dry air or voice strain.
• Fungal sore throat (thrush): in people with weak immunity or after antibiotics or steroid inhalers.

By duration

• Acute: lasting days to a week or two.
• Chronic or recurrent: lasting or returning over weeks, which needs a doctor to look for reflux, allergy, infection or, rarely, tumors.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive) Texts classify throat disorders by dosha pattern. This is a traditional view and does not replace examination or testing.

When to see a doctor Recurrent or long-lasting sore throat, one-sided swelling, voice change over three weeks, or any breathing or swallowing difficulty. Call 112 for severe breathing trouble.

Remember Most sore throats are acute and viral. Long-lasting or one-sided symptoms need an ENT check.