Understanding the issue

A sore throat is often the result of a viral infection, in which case the sufferer may also complain of other cold or flu type symptoms, such as fever, headache, runny nose, aching muscles and tiredness.

The patient may also have noticed they have swollen glands or inflamed tonsils, and they may find swallowing painful.

Common culprits include rhinoviruses, coronaviruses and parainfluenza viruses, which cause colds. Influenza, adenovirus, herpes simplex and Epstein-Barr viruses are also sometimes responsible for sore throats.

Bacterial infections are a more unusual reason for a sore throat, with Streptococcus being the main cause.

A sore throat can have a non-infectious cause, but this is rare. Sometimes the reason is obvious – for example, a condition such as hayfever, irritation from smoke or a feeding tube, or the result of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

However, in other patients, the cause is much more obscure – for example, if they unknowingly have a condition such as leukaemia or aplastic anaemia.

Medication may also be at play. Certain drugs can cause serious blood disorders (e.g. neutropenia and agranulocytosis, where there is a deficiency of white blood cells, which help fight infection).

Some drugs may cause a problem called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which presents with a high fever, aching muscles and a rash in the mouth and on the body.

Patients on such drugs, which include the thyroid medicine carbimazole, the antipsychotic clozapine and the arthritis agent sulfasalazine, should be fully aware of the potential for such issues and know to seek urgent medical help if they experience any symptoms, including a sore throat.