Sore throat (ICD-10-GM R07.0: Sore throat) is pain that occurs in the area of the throat, mouth, and pharynx.
Sore throat is a common symptom of pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat). In most cases, sore throats are signs of a mild upper respiratory tract infection that is predominantly viral (viral rate of up to 80%). The definition “pharyngitis” includes pharyngitis, rhinopharyngitis (combined inflammation of the nasal mucosa (rhinitis) and pharyngeal mucosa (pharyngitis)), acute tonsillitis (tonsillitis) or tonsillopharyngitis – see under the disease of the same name.
According to the acute S2k guideline, only one of the following three diagnoses should be given for patients with sore throat with or without difficulty swallowing:
- “acute tonsillitis” (palatine tonsillitis).
- “acute pharyngitis” (pharyngitis).
- “acute tonsillopharyngitis” (pharyngitis and / or palatine tonsillitis).
Sore throat can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Frequency peak: The disease occurs predominantly in the group of under 45 years.
Sore throat is the main concern in just under 2% of patient contacts in family practices (in Germany and the USA). One-sixth of cases are considered serious by physicians.
Course and prognosis: When a sore throat is present, a determination must be made – as far as possible – as to one of the following diagnoses: acute tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), acute tonsillopharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx and/or palatine tonsils) or acute pharyngitis (inflammation of the pharynx). These mentioned diagnoses represent the most common causes of sore throat.
Only rarely is a visit to the doctor necessary (e.g., if a high fever occurs at the same time). Sore throat should improve spontaneously (by itself) after one to two days and disappear after about a week.
The further course or prognosis depends on the disease at hand. See the relevant diagnosis for details.
