A persistent sore throat can occur with common conditions like allergies and postnasal drip. In most instances, it’s possible to treat your symptoms at home.
Sore throats can result in pain, a scratchy sensation, hoarseness, and burning when you swallow.
A persistent sore throat can recur multiple times, or it can be long term (chronic). It can result from a variety of conditions, including a handful of severe infections, so it’s important to pinpoint its cause as quickly as possible.
Learn more about the causes of a persistent sore throat, how it can be treated, and when you should consider speaking with a doctor.
A number of conditions can trigger a persistent sore throat, including:
Allergies
When you have an allergy, your immune system is hyper-reactive to certain substances that are usually harmless. These substances are called allergens.
Common allergens include foods, certain plants, pet dander, dust, and pollen. You’re particularly susceptible to a persistent sore throat if you have allergies associated with things you breathe in, such as pollen, dust, and mold.
The most frequent symptoms associated with these types of airborne allergies include:
- runny nose
- coughing
- sneezing
- itchy eyes
- watery eyes
The postnasal drip from a runny nose and inflamed sinuses is the most likely cause of a sore throat due to allergies.
Postnasal drip
When you have postnasal drip, excess mucus drains from your sinuses into the back of your throat. This can lead to a persistent raw, sore, or scratchy throat. Postnasal drip can be triggered by factors such as weather changes, spicy foods, and allergies.
Mouth breathing
Breathing through your mouth regularly, particularly when you’re asleep,
Most of the time, mouth breathing is due to some kind of nasal obstruction that prevents you from breathing properly through your nose. This can include nasal congestion and sleep apnea.
Acid reflux
Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has weakened and becomes unable to close tightly. Stomach contents then flow backward and up into the esophagus. Sometimes acid reflux can lead to a sore throat. If you’re having symptoms daily, it’s possible for them to cause persistent soreness.
Over time, the acid from your stomach can damage the lining of the esophagus and your throat.
Tonsillitis
If you’re experiencing a prolonged sore throat and are unable to find relief, it’s possible you may
Tonsillitis can recur (reappearing multiple times per year) and my require treatment with prescription antibiotics.
Mono
Another cause of sore throat and tonsillitis, mononucleosis (or mono for short), results from an infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). While mono can last for around
It’s possible a person with mono might experience a persistent sore throat for the duration of the active infection.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. You might think of an STI as something that only affects your genitals, but a gonorrhea infection in the throat can occur from unprotected oral sex.
When
Environmental pollution
If you live in an area like a large city, it’s
Smoking
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can cause a scratchy or sore throat, along with worsened respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
In mild cases, exposure to toxins in cigarette smoke can lead to a sore throat. Smoking is also a
If you have a persistent sore throat that isn’t due to an infection, it’s possible to treat your symptoms at home. Here are some things to try to relieve symptoms of a sore throat:
- suck on a lozenge or piece of hard candy
- drink plenty of water
- eat popsicles or chipped ice
- run a humidifier if the air in your house is dry
- irrigate your nasal passages with a neti pot or bulb syringe
- give yourself a steam treatment (breathing steam from a bowl of hot water or in the shower)
- sip warm broth or tea
- add honey and lemon to warm tea or water
- sip juice with a small amount of diluted apple cider vinegar
- take a pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Alleve)
- gargle with salt water
- limit exposure or remove allergens from your environment
- take over-the-counter allergy or cold medication
- consider stopping smoking, if you do smoke
If your sore throat lasts longer than 2 days it is important to speak with a doctor. In most instances, a sore throat can be easily diagnosed and treated.
You should speak with a doctor or seek emergency treatment immediately if you experience:
- severe pain that impairs eating, talking, or sleeping
- high fever over 101˚F (38˚C)
- intense, severe pain on one side of your throat, along with swollen glands
- trouble turning your head
In some cases, a doctor will need to intervene with treatment solutions to help you find relief:
- If your sore throat is due to acid reflux, a doctor might prescribe antacid medication to relieve your symptoms.
- A doctor may prescribe a prescription allergy medication, allergy shots, or nasal spray if seasonal allergies are causing your sore throat.
- For tonsillitis, a doctor will typically prescribe a course of antibiotics if a bacterial infection is involved.
- A doctor might prescribe steroid medication to relieve the swelling and pain of an EBV infection if you have mono.
If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
Most of the time, a persistent sore throat can go away on its own within a few days to a week, depending on its cause and treatment. Throat infection symptoms may persist for up to
If you require tonsillectomy surgery or surgery to treat an abscess, you should expect to experience some pain in your throat during the recovery period.
Sore throats are common and can result in pain, hoarseness, and burning when you swallow.
A number of conditions can trigger a persistent sore throat, including:
- allergies
- mouth breathing
- acid reflux
- mono
- postnasal drip
In most instances, a sore throat is nothing serious and can be treated at home. However, if it persists for more than 2 days and is also accompanied by a high fever, it is important to speak with a doctor immediately. They can make a diagnosis and put together an effective treatment plan.