What Does A Covid Sore Throat Feel Like
Key takeaways:
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Most people who get coronavirus disease experience mild to moderate respiratory illness.
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Some people with COVID-19 complain of having a sore throat.
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People who have had it describe a COVID sore throat as scratchy and irritated.
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Since the World Health Organization classified it as a global pandemic in March 2020, new variants have emerged. Not everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 experiences a sore throat. But for many variants, a sore throat is one of the most prominent symptoms.
A sore throat could range from feelings of scratchiness to severe pain. Some people say a COVID sore throat feels like allergies. Others say it is like having strep throat. Many treatments and over-the-counter medications are available to treat COVID-19. These options can help ease the symptoms that may come with a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Each patient experience is unique, even if given the same diagnosis. Heres what four people who experienced it say a COVID sore throat feels like:
What To Do If You Think Your Child Has Strep Throat
If you notice these symptoms and think your child has strep throat, once again, theres no need to rush to an emergency room.
You may not need to schedule a doctors visit with your childs pediatrician, either.
Strep throat is painful, and your child may have to wait hours or even days to see a primary care physician or pediatrician.
Instead, an urgent care facility is the perfect place to turn. Places like GoHealth Urgent Care frequently test and treat strep throat, especially in young children. We can also refer an ear, nose, and throat specialist is something to think about, should the problem persist.
When you visit our urgent care center, there is no need to schedule an appointment and your wait time will be short
Another tip to remember is this: strep throat is very contagious, so make sure your child stays home from school or other responsibilities after a strep diagnosis. After 24 hours of antibiotics, the infection will no longer be contagious.
Finding Relief From Throat Pain
No matter what’s causing a sore throat, you can take steps at home to soothe an itchy, scratchy, painful throat. Try these tips to relieve throat pain at home:
- Suck on something soothing, like a piece of hard candy, a throat lozenge, or a Popsicle.
- Stay hydrated and moisten the throat by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Try adding honey to a warm drink or sip on a mug of warm tea.
- Try an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Aleve , Tylenol , and Advil or Motrin . Use in moderation and only for a short period of time.
- Run a humidifier in your home to prevent dry air from irritating your throat.
- Create a mixture of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt per cup and gargle it a couple of times per day.
It can be hard to pinpoint the cause of a sore throat, but if it doesn’t get any better, you can be sure there’s some reason for it. “If the sore throat is accompanied by very severe pain on swallowing along with a high fever, it’s best to see a healthcare provider right away,” says Flores. See your doctor, figure out the cause, and decide on treatments and remedies that best fit your diagnosis.
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About Author: Ken Harris
Ken Harris is the proudest father and a writing coordinator for the Marketing & Communications division of OSF HealthCare.He has a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a daily newspaper reporter for four years before leaving the field and eventually finding his way to OSF HealthCare.In his free time, Ken likes reading, fly fishing, hanging out with his dog and generally pestering his lovely, patient wife.
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About Hay Fever
Although hay fever doesnt cause any serious health problems, you should see your provider to rule out other conditions, such as asthma. Seek care if hay fever symptoms are getting in the way of your daily life or making it hard for you to sleep. Your provider can help you identify the allergens that are causing a reaction and recommend treatments to help you feel better.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hay fever symptoms can affect your quality of life and keep you from doing the activities you love, but effective treatments are available. Millions of adults and children manage hay fever with medications and lifestyle changes. Talk to your provider about steps you can take to relieve symptoms, breathe easier and feel better.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/30/2020.
References
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Rhinitis . Accessed 9/1/2021.
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . Rhinitis Overview. Accessed 9/1/2021.
- InformedHealth.org . Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care 2006-. Hay fever: Allergen-specific immunotherapy in the treatment of allergies. Accessed 9/1/2021.
- Wheatley LM, Togias A. Allergic Rhinitis. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jan 29 372:456-463. Accessed 9/1/2021.
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What Happens When Exposed To Allergens
An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. After youve been exposed to an allergen, your body identifies it as a threat, and your immune system kicks into high gear to protect against the perceived threat. Your body will release histamines into your bloodstream, which is what leads to allergy symptoms, such as a sore throat.
Histamines also trigger your body to produce extra mucus to keep your mouth, nose, and throat from drying out. Most days, you dont notice your bodys mucus production. But when your immune system releases too many histamines after being exposed to an allergen, this vigorous response leads to congestion, postnasal drip, and a sore throat.
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What Causes A Sore Throat On One Side
Whether it is the left or right side of your throat, discomfort and pain can be presented by various health conditions ranging from mild to severe.
Some can be taken care of with home remedies, while more serious symptoms should be treated by your doctor.
1. Dental procedures or conditions can result in a sore throat on only one side. An abscessed tooth or gum disease can cause your throat to ache, particularly if there is an infection that can spread into the throat region.
The position you rest in during a procedure can also affect your breathing ability, resulting in a sore throat.
2. Common cold or flu symptoms most often include a sore throat. You may feel this more on one side during resting hours if you sleep on one side as the mucus will drain into your throat from your nose.
3. Swollen lymph nodes from an illness such as a cold or ear infection can be felt on either side at times. When the neck lymph nodes became enlarged, they are usually felt more on one side.
4. Vocal cord nodules are calluses that appear on the vocal cords after continuous use of voice with little rest. They can make a particular spot in the throat very sore.
7. Peritonsillar abscess can cause the throat to be very painful on one side. A complication of tonsillitis, this develops from a pus-filled sore near the tonsils.
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Can A Toothache Cause A Sore Throat On One Side
Toothache may cause a sore throat on one side, usually the side on which the toothache is present.
The exact cause for this is not known but it may be due to infection spreading to the throat and irritating the tonsils on one side.
Sore throat is actually a secondary symptom of a toothache and may not directly occur due to it.
Sore throat on one side may occur due to multiple reasons such as tooth infection, nasal mucus entering the throat during a viral or bacterial infection and mouth sores.
When To See A Doctor For Ear Or Throat Pain When Swallowing
Ear and throat pain on one side when swallowing can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, some common and others that are very serious. Many times, it is a temporary symptom of a cold, flu or other type of viral infection. However, when you have continuing throat or ear pain, you may need to see a doctor. If your ear and throat pain are accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you may want to see your primary physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist :
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Sore Throat On One Side: 7 Causes And Treatments
Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.
Most of us have experienced the scratchy, aching pain of a sore throat at least once in our lives. The discomfort is often caused by a virus, the effects of a known health condition or certain medications.
When only one side of your throat hurts, it could signal a specific condition affecting your tonsils, lymph nodes, or lymphatic tissue.
Or it could just be the unpleasant result of recent dental work as you sometimes breathe differently depending on the procedure done.
Letâs take a closer look at why you may have a sore throat on one side, regardless of whether the right or left side of the throat hurts.
In this article:
Does One Side Of Your Throat Hurt Here Are The Possible Causes
If you frequently head to your doctor for a sore throat, it most probably happens due to the cold, flu, or allergies. Theres no doubt that a sore throat can give you painful sensations, but its not something to be afraid of. However, a sore throat on one side can indicate a serious illness.
Lets take a look at eleven potential causes of a sore throat on one side.
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What’s The Best Way To Manage A Sore Throat From Allergies
Fact: You dont need to suffer through this, and allergists say there are a few things you can do to try to relieve your pain. Ultimately, Dr. Wada says, the best treatment is a combo of tackling your nasal symptoms and sore throat. Try these treatment options.
- Use an antihistamine. Antihistamines block the effects of histamines, lessening the risk youll develop allergy symptoms, including a sore throat, Dr. Wada says.
- Try a nasal steroid spray. Nasal steroid sprays help reduce inflammation in your nasal passages, Dr. Wada says, and could help tamp down on post-nasal drip.
- Gargle with warm salt water. Not only does it feels soothing on your throat, Dr. Wada says, the salt in the water can help pull mucus out of the area and make you feel better.
- Have some honey. If a cough is behind your sore throat, consider having a spoonful of honey. Research has found that honey can reduce how often and how intensely you cough when youre sick. Honey can also be soothing for sore throats for anyone over age one, Dr. Wada says.
If you have a sore throat from allergies and this is a regular thing for you, Dr. Parikh recommends talking to your doctor or allergist about allergen immunotherapy, which are shots you can take to help reduce your reaction to allergens. These can make you less allergic to the trigger over time, Dr. Parikh says.
How You Get Strep Throat
Group A strep live in the nose and throat and can easily spread to other people. People who are infected spread the bacteria by talking, coughing, or sneezing, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria. They can also spread the bacteria from infected sores on their skin.
It usually takes two to five days for someone exposed to group A strep to become ill with strep throat.
It is important to know that some infected people do not have symptoms or seem sick. People sick with strep throat are much more contagious than those who do not have symptoms.
People can get sick if they:
- Breathe in respiratory droplets that contain the bacteria
- Touch something with those droplets on it and then touch their mouth or nose
- Drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as a person infected with group A strep
- Touch sores on the skin caused by group A strep or come into contact with fluid from the sores
Rarely, people can spread group A strep through food that is not handled properly .
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Pain And Fever Without A Cough Are Common Signs And Symptoms
In general, strep throat is a mild infection, but it can be very painful. The most common symptoms of strep throat include:
- Sore throat that can start very quickly
- Pain when swallowing
- Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth
- Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck
Other symptoms may include a headache, stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting especially in children. Someone with strep throat may also have a rash when this happens it is known as scarlet fever .
The following symptoms suggest a virus is the cause of the illness instead of strep throat:
A sore throat that starts quickly, pain with swallowing, and fever are some of the common signs and symptoms of strep throat.
Sore Throat And Globus
Globus pharyngeus is a foreign body sensation in the throat. Patients will complain of something stuck in my throat. Globus that can be well localized may stem from a neoplasm, a vocal cord granuloma, tonsilliths, or an actual foreign body. A more vague or diffuse sense of globus can also arise from edema of the postcricoid area . The postcricoid area is the party wall between the larynx and esophageal inlet, and can be affected by refluxed stomach contents from below, or infectious or allergic mediators found in nasal discharge from above. All patients with a chronic sore throat should be questioned about their allergic history and reflux symptoms such as prior diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux or ulcer, epigastric burning, sour brash, chronic throat clearing, intermittent voice change, and globus.
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Best Sore Throat Remedies To Make You Feel Better Fast According To Doctors
Some home remedies only mask painbut these solutions can help you get rid of your sore throat completely.
Sore throat symptoms can be rough. Your saliva goes down like sandpaper, every cough makes you wince, and the only thing you can think about is making that lump in the back of your throat go away.
But to ease the pain, you need to understand whats causing your sore throat in the first place: dry air, smoking, acid reflux, viral infections like the flu or common cold, and bacterial infections like strep can all lead to a sore throat.
In general, a viral infection usually comes with other symptoms, like muscle aches and fatigue, along with your sore throat, says Chester Griffiths MD, an otolaryngologist at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. With a bacterial infection, on the other hand, the pain is usually more focused on your throat and the soreness tends to be pretty severe, Dr. Griffiths says. You may also have intense pain when you swallow, along with a high fever.
Exposure to smoke, breathing in dry air, and having acid reflux tends to feel very different from an infection, says Jason Abramowitz, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at ENT and Allergy Associates. Usually patients do not feel as sick overall the pain is also usually not as severe, he says.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
It can be difficult to decide whether a one-sided sore throat is a cause for worry. There are several nonserious reasons for soreness on just one side of the throat, but there are also serious conditions that can create this symptom, too.
If you have a sore throat that isn’t getting better or worsening after a week or so, talk to your healthcare provider. This goes for a sore throat that affects one side or your entire throat.
Other red flags that should cause you to call or visit a healthcare provider include:
- Difficulty swallowing
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Home Remedies For Throat And Ear Pain
There are a few things that you can try to relieve your throat and ear pain at home, including:
- Keeping your upper body elevated while you sleep
- Sucking on cough drops
- Drinking plenty of cold fluids and eating ice pops or ice cream
- Applying warm compresses or cold packs to your throat or the side of your head over your ear
How Can I Treat Allergy Symptoms
The most foolproof way to keep allergy symptoms under control is to avoid exposure to the allergens that cause your symptoms.
However, thats not always practical. For example, individuals who are allergic to the pollen of ragweed, a common plant, are unlikely to be able to avoid going outdoors for the entire flowering season.
On that note, they may be able to limit their time outdoors by bringing their workouts inside, hiring someone to mow the grass, and avoiding outdoor events whenever possible.
People who suffer from allergy symptoms associated with indoor mold may not be able to move to a new house or work in a different office building.
In these cases, medications can be used to treat allergy symptoms.
There are three common types of medications that are used to treat allergy symptoms: antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids.
Antihistamines, decongestants, and corticosteroids are all available both over the counter and as prescription medications.
If you find that you experience allergy symptoms on a regular basis, either seasonally or year-round, talk to your doctor about what medications they recommend to help control your symptoms.
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