When Should I Seek Care for a Sore Throat?

When you think about the most common symptoms, a few probably immediately jump to mind. While headaches and stomach problems accompany many health issues, other widespread symptoms exist. Because it comes with a few of the most common health issues — colds, allergies, and the flu — most people get a sore throat somewhat frequently.  

In many cases, that problem will clear up on its own. There are some times, though, when you need to see a doctor. That’s where we come in. 

Our team is made up of experts in acute care, meaning we have extensive experience treating sore throats and finding out what’s causing them. We can help to soothe your throat while identifying what’s behind it. 

Here are some signs you should visit us at Medical Associates Of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, for your sore throat. 

Causes of sore throats

Many causes of sore throats — including viruses like the flu and colds — will resolve on their own. As a result, knowing when to see a doctor hinges, at least to some extent, on determining what’s causing your throat problems. 

Some of the most common causes of sore throats are:

• Acid reflux
• Allergies
• Colds
• COVID-19
• Flu
• Mouth breathing
• Sinus infections
• Smoking/smoke exposure
• Strep throat
• Tonsillitis

In a lot of cases, the sore throat isn’t any cause for concern. You can usually monitor it at home and wait for it to improve. 

But it's time to see a doctor if your sore throat lasts longer than a week or has specific symptoms.  

When to see a doctor

If your sore throat comes from strep throat, it will be accompanied by symptoms like:

• A fever over 100℉ A rash
• Pain when you swallow
• Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes
• Red spots on the roof of your mouth

If those symptoms sound familiar, come see us. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that you need an antibiotic to treat. If you don’t, it can lead to complications like ear or sinus infections, or even kidney problems. 

Other signs that your sore throat might need medical attention include:

• A fever of 101℉ or more
• Blood in your saliva
• Dehydration
• Difficulty breathing
• Joint pain and swelling
• Pus or swelling you can see in your throat

Also, if your sore throat is getting in the way of your sleep, come see us. Swollen tonsils or adenoids (which sit just above your tonsils) could be blocking your airflow. 

To recap, you can monitor your throat at home for a few days if you have a sore throat. But if it has the symptoms of strep, other warning signs we outlined, or it doesn’t get better within a week, come see our team. 

Send us a message online or call our office at 972-433-7178 to book your appointment.