Allergies

Times like these make having a sore throat a sign of major issues?

Are you Dealing with a Sore Throat?

Part 1 – Types of Sore Throat and Causes

A sore throat – we’ve all been there. That unexpected bug in the back of your tongue that is so hard to get rid of and can drive you crazzzzyyyy.

It is one of the most common and famous symptoms when it comes to getting sick, and there is probably not a single person in the world who has not felt that pain.

Today, we will talk about the sore throat, what it is, and what the main causes are.

Ready? Steady? Cough? Ick!

What is a Sore Throat?

A sore throat is painful, dry, or a scratchy feeling in the throat that each of us has experienced at one point in their lives.

There are three different types of sore throats:

Pharyngitis
Tonsillitis
Laryngitis

Each of the 3 has an impact on a different area, so let’s briefly go over each one of them.

Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx and is characterized by a sore throat.The most common cause of pharyngitis is a viral infection, but it can also be caused by bacteria or another type of infection, such as strep throat.

Tonsillitis

Secondly, we have tonsillitis, a swelling of the tonsils – A soft tissue you have in the back of your mouth.

This is one of the most significant causes of a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

Much like the first one, this is caused mainly by viral infections ad is fairly common in children.

Laryngitis

The symptoms can vary but usually have a lot in common. The ones that are usually pointed out mainly suggest a dry, scratchy and raw throat.ad more …yuck.

It is also quite normal to have accompanying symptoms to the sore throat – as well: runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, fever, headaches, body aches and more yuck.

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, which is the organ that produces sound during speech.

There are many causes including acute upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, and vocal abuse.

Laryngitis can also be caused by smoking cigarettes or inhaling other substances such as paint fumes, lead fumes or fumes from glues…or endless possibilities.

What Causes A Sore Throat

There are quite a few reasons for your throat to feel sore (besides Covid-19, Delta, Omicron) and it is usually a combo of climate change, changing seasons, and the immune capabilities of the body.

As you have learned above where we explained the three types of sore throat, viral infections are the major causes for catching a bug in your throat…(semi-pun intended).

Did you know that an estimated 90% of all cases of sore throat are related to viruses?

Now, certainly, all these viruses are not life-threatening but are sure to leave you in your bed for some time, and the first place it hits…it’s the throat.

It’s almost as if your throat is the messenger that says, “Something is about to go wrong!” (Wear a Mask.)

Bacterial Infections

After viruses we have bacterial infections. Pretty close to viruses, bacterial infections are also a pretty common culprit for a sore throat.

The most common bacterial infection is strep throat, which is caused by the Streptococcus (Remember this is a Spelling Bee) bacteria.

Next, we have allergies – every person has them, and though not if particular danger, they all cause a sore throat!

When the immune system reacts to allergy triggers like pollen, grass, and pet dander, it releases chemicals that cause symptoms like nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing and throat irritation.

Excess mucus can drip down the back of the throat and cause inflammation and irritaion.

The Environment

Right after that, we have environmental factors like dry air, which are. also a prevalent factor for having a scratchy throat.

Dry air sucks moisture from the mouth and throat and leave them feeling dry and irritated.

This usually happens during the colder seasons when a Heater is on… PLUS – in super hot weather when the AC is constantly on.

Smoking (Or Smoke)

The final major reason for a sore throat is smoking.

Tobacco smoke dries out the throat and leaves it feeling raw and tender, which is also the case with fumes from fireplaces and plants as well as smoke coming from chimneys.

So, whether you are a smoke or not, breathing in smoke and/or dirty air can possibly lead to irratations.