A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow. The most common cause of a sore throat (pharyngitis) is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. It can also be caused by environmental factors like dry air.

Based on the part of the throat they affect, there are different kinds of sore throats:

• Pharyngitis affects the area right behind the mouth.
• Tonsillitis is swelling and redness of the tonsils, the soft tissue in the back of the mouth.
• Laryngitis is swelling and redness of the voice box, or larynx.

Symptoms of sore throat may include scratchy, burning, raw, dry, tender, irritated throat. Your throat or tonsils might also look red. Sometimes, white patches or areas of pus will form on the tonsils.

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