A sore throat, also known as pharyngitis, is an irritation of the back of the throat from an underlying medical condition or a temporary injury. It is more common in children, especially when the humidity and temperatures are low, causing air to dry out the mucous membranes in the throat and cause irritation.
While sore throats are commonly seen in viral respiratory infections like the flu and the common cold, they can also result from bacterial infections and physical injury, as per the National Health Service.
Of note, a sore throat is also one of the symptoms of the Delta variant of COVID-19. However, you can have a sore throat without testing positive for COVID-19.
Here’s some more information on this topic.
Yes. A sore throat, a less common symptom of the initial strains of SARS-CoV-2 (found only in 5% to 17.4% of infected patients), has become one of the common symptoms of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Though common, the symptom is the 4th most common among fully vaccinated individuals, 3rd among the partially vaccinated, and 2nd among the unvaccinated, according to the ZOE COVID study.
If you test negative for COVID-19 but continue having a sore throat, other common causes can be pursued.
Other than COVID-19, a sore throat can also be a symptom of conditions such as flu, common cold, strep throat, and allergies. Additionally, you can get a sore throat from burns, irritation from dry air, overstraining your voice, and acid reflux, as reported by Medical News Today.
During the early stages of infection, you are more likely to feel tired, achy, have a dry cough, head congestion, and fever. You may also experience symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, diarrhea, skin rashes, discoloration of toes and fingers, and inflammation of the eye. If you experience a sore throat and any of these other symptoms, you should seek medical attention for testing immediately and go to the emergency room if having any shortness of breath.
Though delta variant remains contagious and dangerous among unvaccinated people (97% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were unvaccinated as of July 22, 2021), fully vaccinated people can also develop asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID (breakthrough infections). However, vaccine breakthrough cases are rare. According to the CDC, 178 million people in the US are fully vaccinated as of September 13, 2021, but only 15,790 patients are infected (0.008%). Among them, 3,040 patients (0.001%) have died.
Though people with breakthrough infections are at less risk for death, they can still spread the infection to others, including children and those who are not vaccinated.
So, if you have a persistent sore throat or sore throat in combination with other symptoms of COVID-19, it is recommended to get a medical evaluation. For prompt evaluation, schedule a video visit here. We will assess your symptoms to determine the possibility of taking a COVID-19 test that we will do on our premises.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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