Is My Sore Throat Concerning?

From common colds to cheering on your team a little too enthusiastically, there are a number of ways you or a family member can develop a sore throat.

To help you figure out the best course of action when it comes to sore throats in your family, the experienced and comprehensive team of healthcare providers here at Michigan Avenue Primary Care wants to share a few great rules of thumb for this common problem.

There’s sore and then there’s painful

If you or a family member develops a sore throat that goes beyond sore and is downright painful, please come see us so we can get you some relief.

What is the sore throat tied to?

Most sore throats are a byproduct of viral infections like colds and flus. And if you consider that kids get about eight colds per year, or more, and adults get 2-3 colds per year, sore throats aren’t exactly uncommon. 

So, if the sore throat develops as part of a viral sickness, it’s usually not cause for concern. If you develop a sore throat outside of a cold or flu and you have no idea why, it’s a good idea to come in for a sick visit, especially if it goes on for more than a few days.

Whether the sore throat is due to an environmental issue or related to allergies or something else entirely, it’s best to get to the bottom of the problem. 

The sore throat drags on

In most cases, cold- and flu-related sore throats and strep throat last about 3-7 days, though they can linger up to 10 days. If the sore throat doesn’t show any signs of improvement and lasts more than a week or 10 days, it’s a good idea to have us check it out.

Difficulty swallowing

If the sore throat leads to difficulty swallowing, don’t wait for help. This is a serious issue and requires immediate attention.

Fever and other symptoms develop

If you or a family member has a sore throat and other symptoms, such as fever and rash, it’s a good idea to get checked out, especially if these symptoms have been lingering for several days or more.

There’s a bulge or lump in your throat

If you have a sore throat and you also develop a visible bulge, please come see us at your earliest convenience.

The good news is that, in most cases, sore throats aren’t cause for concern. That said, there are times when the issue can benefit from a higher standard of care, especially if it’s signaling a larger problem.

Whatever the circumstances, your road to care is just a phone call, click, or visit away. For expert sore throat care, please contact us at our Chicago, Illinois, clinic, which is located in The Loop, to schedule an appointment. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, M-F, 8 am to 4 pm.