Viruses, like those that cause colds or flu, are the most common cause of sore throat. These viruses are not strep throat. Sore throat can be a symptom of strep throat, the common cold, allergies or other upper respiratory tract illness. Most sore throats will get better on their own within one week.
Usually, a sore throat isn't a serious medical issue. Instead, it's typically an unpleasant sign that you're sick with a cold or the flu.
A sore throat without a fever can be caused by a number of things, from allergies and dry air to acid reflux and vocal strain. While it's often nothing serious, some cases can linger longer than expected and may need medical attention.
Stage 1: Days 1–3.
Your body reacts to the introduction of the virus—most commonly the rhinovirus—so you will feel a scratchy throat, body aches and fatigue.
A sore throat without other symptoms often comes from irritation, not infection. Common triggers include dry air, allergies, mouth breathing, or acid reflux. These usually cause mild discomfort that settles within a few days.
Common Causes of a Sore Throat With No Other Symptoms
Stage 1: Early (Days 1 to 3)
Within one to three days of picking up a cold virus, you may notice a tickle in your throat. About half of all people with colds report a tickly or sore throat as their first symptom. Other common cold symptoms you may experience during this early stage include: Sneezing.
COVID-19 and the flu share symptoms, including:
How to treat a sore throat yourself
Viral illnesses that can cause sore throat that may be mistaken for strep throat include:
Here are five red flags to watch for if your sore throat isn't healing.
Colds and sore throat symptoms are more gradual in that you slowly start feeling more and more sick. With strep throat, there are no other upper respiratory symptoms. With the common cold and general sore throat, patients often have other symptoms like a cough, congestion, runny nose or sneezing.
You may wonder if a sore throat is still a symptom of COVID-19 or if there are other more prevalent symptoms to look out for. Yes, sore throat and COVID are still closely associated, and a painful throat is often one of the first symptoms.
The most common cause of a sore throat, also called pharyngitis, is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat from a virus goes away on its own. Strep throat, also called a streptococcal infection, is a less common type of sore throat. Bacteria causes it.
Malaise is when you just generally feel unwell. It's somewhere between feeling healthy and sick.
Early signs of a cold and the flu include fever, headache, cough, congestion, sore throat, body aches, chills and/or exhaustion. If you treat your symptoms early enough, you may be able to prevent the virus from spreading to others or becoming worse. The first 24 hours are critical.
Signs that mean fever include:
Other health conditions that can cause sore throat are reflux, tonsil stones, muscle tension, and mononucleosis, also known as mono. Acid reflux can cause heartburn and if the acid reaches the throat it can also lead to throat discomfort.