Sorting out sore throats

How to Know When They're Serious

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.–Sore throats are one of the most common complaints when it comes to being sick, but are all sore throats the same? Dr. Greg Nicks with Graves Gilbert Walk-in Care in Bowling Green shed some light on the different types of sore throats.

“A lot of sore throats are viral in nature,” Nicks said. “The more serious types are sore throats are caused by Strep or, in some cases, mononucleosis.”

Since a sore throat is a symptom caused by an illness, it’s important to realize the warning signs of when a sore throat could be more serious. Dr. Nicks says signs such as a fever, body aches or chills, or when a sore throat lasts more than a week and a half, could indicate a more serious condition or one that won’t go away on its own.

According to Dr. Nicks, letting a sore throat go long enough can cause some other problems. Some of the bad sore throats sometimes form abscesses, which can cause significant problems because an abscess can cut off your airway.

The next time you feel a sore throat coming on, take a minute to stop and consider the symptoms so you can make a plan to treat it the right way.