Common causes of sore throats include a cold, tonsillitis, or flu. In some cases, no cause can be found. A sore throat is usually accompanied by other cold symptoms such as sneezing and coughing. It can also be accompanied by difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Sore throats may come on suddenly or develop over time. A sore throat may make it difficult to eat solid foods or even swallow liquids. Your throat might hurt when you touch it with your tongue or when you swallow.

Coughing, swelling in one area of your neck, hoarseness (loss of voice), and fever are additional signs of a sore throat that need medical attention. A throat infection, also called pharyngitis, commonly called strep throat is an infection in any part of your throat—including your tonsils (palate) and larynx (voice box). While people often think that strep throat only refers to infections caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, there are many different types of bacteria that can lead to pharyngitis.

Sore throat relief:Most sore throats are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Viruses have to run their course, which means there’s nothing you can do to get rid of them quickly (e.g., no natural cough remedy). However, if your sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or difficulty swallowing (or worse), it’s possible that you might have strep throat. In that case, make an appointment with your doctor for treatment with antibiotics.

You can also try a natural cough remedy for sore throat relief If you suffer from a sore throat, try gargling with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of warm water). Don’t swallow it! Instead, spit it out after gargling for about 30 seconds. This will help to soothe your throat, and give you relief quickly. Natural cough remedies such as a tea made from raspberry leaves, which may help to soothe your throat. Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration and stay away from spicy foods and alcohol if possible; these things only irritate sore throats further.

A really bad cold can last two weeks and require bed rest, while strep throat lasts two days and needs antibiotics. If you have been experiencing symptoms longer than three days without any relief from over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, see your doctor ASAP as it may be something more serious than a simple cold or virus!.

The Mayo Clinic recommends taking these steps to provide temporary relief from a sore throat: drink liquids, such as water, tea or broth; apply a warm compress or a cool, damp washcloth to your neck and/or throat area; take nonprescription pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve); gargle with salt water or use commercially available throat lozenges.

Avoid spicy or acidic foods and don’t smoke cigarettes, because smoking can make your throat feel worse. Also avoid alcoholic beverages because they dehydrate you, which will only worsen dryness in your throat. And if you have any questions about whether an over-the-counter medication is right for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.

For instant cough relief, you can also try foods that contain natural antihistamines, such as raw honey, apple sauce or corn syrup.

Avoid spicy, cold, and acidic foods when you’re feeling under the weather. They can irritate your throat and make you feel worse. If possible, drink plenty of warm liquids such as water or herbal tea to help soothe a sore throat. One exception: Honey is often recommended by holistic practitioners as a natural way to soothe a sore throat thanks to its anti-bacterial properties. Use caution with honey, though – too much of it can cause bacterial resistance in your body.

Also, avoid any food that may be irritating to your throat. For example, do not eat citrus fruits if you have a sore throat because they are very acidic (citrus fruit has high pH level). Do not smoke cigarettes either since they tend to inflame already irritated tissues on top of which they contain nicotine which is highly toxic and known for causing cancerous growths (Source). Likewise, smoking may also increase heart disease risk and overall mortality rate as well.