COVID-19 sore throat: What symptoms feel like and how long they last

Sore throat is a common symptom of many illnesses, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Sore throat is also a symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Although rare, it is possible to contract COVID-19 with a sore throat as the only symptom. A sore throat may also be one of the first or earliest symptoms. However, a fever or sore throat is more likely to appear first. Other early symptoms may include loss of taste and smell. It’s also possible to have COVID-19 but not have a sore throat.

This article will cover sore throat symptoms in COVID-19, sore throat associated with long-term COVID-19, non-COVID causes, treatments for COVID-19 sore throat, and more.

Describing sore throat symptoms in COVID-19

There is no evidence that a COVID-19 sore throat feels any different than sore throats associated with other causes, including the common cold, strep throat, or the flu.

Sore throat feeling

If you have a sore throat due to COVID-19, you may experience general sore throat symptoms.

Such symptoms include:

• Pain or stiffness, especially when speaking and swallowing
• Feeling dry or itchy in your throat
• redness and pain in the back of the throat

As COVID-19 worsens, you may experience a persistent cough, increased sore throat, and other symptoms.

how long lasts

Symptoms of COVID-19 appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. For the first few days, you will experience mild symptoms, including a sore throat. You may also develop a fever, which is an increase in body temperature. These symptoms may last for a few days before other symptoms appear.

After a sore throat and fever, you may develop a cough, nasal congestion, headache, and body aches. A sore throat may improve once more severe symptoms develop.

If a sore throat is your only symptom, your COVID-19 illness is mild. About 81% of people infected with COVID-19 have mild or moderate illness. Most people with mild to moderate COVID-19 can recover at home.

Even if you have mild symptoms of COVID-19, monitor your symptoms because it is possible for them to worsen and lead to difficulty breathing or severe pneumonia.

Sore throat after long-term infection with COVID-19

The term “long COVID” is used to describe the health problems and symptoms that some people continue to experience after they have overcome COVID-19. Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms at least 4 weeks after symptoms began may have long COVID-19. It is also possible to have COVID-19 for a long time but not know when you were infected.

People with long-term COVID-19 infections may experience symptoms that last weeks, months or even years after infection. However, a persistent sore throat is not a symptom of long-term COVID-19 and is more likely to be related to other illnesses.

Conditions that may cause a persistent sore throat include:

• Tuxedo: Both smoking and secondhand smoke can cause sore throats. Smoking can cause asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and is a risk factor for throat cancer.
• allergy: Allergy-related sore throats may be caused by postnasal drip (when sinuses drain into the throat). Common allergens include pollen, dust mites and pet dander.
• acid reflux: Stomach acid can enter the esophagus (the connecting tube from the mouth to the stomach) during sleep. As a result, you’ll wake up with a sore throat. Acid reflux can also cause coughing, excess mucus in the throat, and hoarseness.
• breathe through mouth: Most people breathe through their nose and mouth. However, allergies, colds, or other conditions may cause mouth breathing (breathing through the mouth only). Mouth breathing can cause sore throat, dry mouth, bad breath, hoarseness, snoring and sleep problems.
• Throat Cancer: Although a rare cause of sore throat, tumors or growths in the throat may cause sore throat.

Non-COVID causes of sore throat

A sore throat does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19. Other causes of sore throat include strep throat, the common cold, flu, tonsillitis, laryngitis, various viral infections, or throat injuries, such as:

• Pharyngitis: Streptococcus is an infection caused by: Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. In addition to a sore throat, it can cause fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, inflamed tonsils, and small red spots on the roof of the mouth.
• common cold: The common cold is caused by a viral infection and can cause a sore throat. Other symptoms include fatigue, nasal congestion, headache, sneezing and coughing.
• influenza: Flu is also caused by a viral infection and can produce symptoms similar to the common cold, including a sore throat. But symptoms are much more severe, with the flu causing fever, chills and body aches.
• tonsillitis: This is a tonsil infection caused by viruses and bacteria. Tonsillitis can also cause a sore throat, swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, and fever.
• laryngitis: Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords. It causes a sore throat and may be caused by a viral infection. Other symptoms include loss of voice, scratchy throat, dry throat and cough.
• other viral infections: Other viral infections that can cause sore throat include mononucleosis, chickenpox, measles, and mumps. Chickenpox, mumps, and mumps can be prevented or less severe through vaccination.
• throat injury: After blunt force trauma to the throat, you may experience a sore throat. This may be related to a car accident, physical assault or sports injury.
• throat surgery: If you had throat surgery to remove a thyroid gland or tumor, you may have a sore throat after the surgery.

How do you tell the difference?

If you or a family member has a sore throat that persists for a few days and does not get better or develops other symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider. The only way to know for sure if your sore throat is caused by COVID-19 is to get tested.

The cause of your sore throat may be determined based on your symptoms. For example, COVID-19 may cause a loss of smell or taste that other causes typically do not. Symptoms of the common cold appear gradually, and fever and difficulty breathing are rare with the common cold.

Like COVID-19, flu symptoms appear suddenly and worsen quickly. However, COVID-19 symptoms tend to be more severe and may last for weeks, whereas most people with the flu get better in about 5 to 7 days.

Strep throat can occur quickly, and most people with the disease will have a high fever. Strep throat does not usually cause a cough or runny nose, which are more common with COVID-19.

Allergies can cause a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing. Allergies do not cause fever, body aches, fatigue or shortness of breath as symptoms of COVID-19.

Even if you think you know what’s wrong with you, or you’ve tested negative for COVID-19, you should contact your health care provider if you develop severe symptoms, don’t get better, or have risk factors and preexisting health conditions.

Such risk factors include being over 65, in poor health and taking medications that affect the immune system’s ability to fight infections, or having chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, obesity or diabetes.

How to treat sore throat due to COVID-19

There is no cure for COVID-19 sore throat. It will improve on its own. But there are some things you can try to relieve throat pain and discomfort.

You can try one or more of the following home remedies to control a sore throat:

• Cold drinks and food: Drink cold drinks and eat cold foods to relieve sore throat. Try ice water, chilled juices, popsicles and ice cream.
• stay hydrated: Drinking more water can help you recover faster. Consider drinking broth and tea with honey to help relieve throat discomfort and soreness.
• Gargle with salt water: Saline solution can help relieve aches and pain in your throat.
• Lozenges and sprays: Over-the-counter (OTC) lozenges and sprays can relieve pain. Their numbing effect can make a sore throat feel better.
• Honey: This is a natural option that coats the throat to relieve pain. While there’s no evidence that it helps relieve sore throats associated with COVID-19, research suggests it can relieve pain after tonsillectomy surgery. Honey is safe for anyone over 12 months of age.
• Use a humidifier: A humidifier can increase air humidity and help relieve throat irritation.
• over-the-counter pain relievers: Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and aspirin can all relieve sore throats.
• Give your throat a rest: You should avoid things that make a sore throat worse. This includes crunchy foods with sharp edges, spicy and acidic foods, and smoking. Consider not yelling and giving your voice a rest.
• antiviral drugs: If you are at higher risk for complications from COVID-19, your healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral treatment. Antiviral drugs like Paxlovid (nimatravir and ritonavir) can prevent you from getting seriously ill. Your healthcare provider may prescribe additional treatments if necessary.

When to test

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that if you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested immediately. If you are asymptomatic and have been exposed to COVID-19, you should wait at least five days after exposure before getting tested.

You can get tested at home with a rapid antigen test available at most pharmacies. These tests can detect more viral particles but can also give false negatives. This means a false detection doesn’t mean you’re not contagious or have COVID-19; it just means you haven’t reached the threshold for viral particle testing yet.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are more sensitive and can be done at a health care provider’s office or at a COVID-19 testing site. These tests can detect smaller amounts of the virus earlier.

Symptoms requiring medical attention

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and test positive, you should contact your health care provider. This is especially important if you have a chronic illness or a compromised immune system. Your healthcare provider can advise you on treatment options based on your unique health condition and the symptoms you experience.

Most people can manage symptoms of COVID-19 at home with rest and over-the-counter treatments. However, others may experience more severe symptoms.

Watch for the following serious COVID-19 symptoms in yourself or others, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or pressure on your chest
• Puzzled
• Unable to wake up or stay awake
• Pale or bluish skin, lips, or nails

If you or someone close to you is experiencing these symptoms, call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

generalize

Sore throat is a common symptom of COVID-19. It can appear as an early symptom or as a standalone symptom. You may not get a sore throat after getting COVID-19.

If you develop a sore throat and think you may have COVID-19, stay home and call your health care provider. They can advise you on tests and treatments.

Use over-the-counter pain relievers, lozenges, and sprays to manage sore throat and discomfort. Consider other ways to relieve a sore throat, such as eating and drinking cold foods and beverages and resting your voice.

Depending on your health and the symptoms you experience, your healthcare provider may prescribe antiviral medications or other treatments.

If you develop more severe symptoms of COVID-19, you should contact your healthcare provider. Get emergency care if you have trouble breathing, chest pain or tightness, confusion, trouble staying awake or waking up, or pale or blue lips, skin, or fingernails.