Sore Throat
Sore throat may be the result of local irritation of the pharynx, as from drinking irritating or excessively hot fluids, from smoking tobacco, or from using concentrated mouthwashes or antiseptic gargles. Sore throat is a frequent prelude to the common cold. As such, the irritation is caused by an invasion of the pharynx by the responsible virus and by the common types of germs (other than viruses) that infest the tissues once the virus has become established. A serious form of sore throat is that caused by the streptococcus-so-called "strep throat." The tonsils, if still present, become infected; and the lymph nodes at the angles of the jaw become very tender.
The pharynx may become involved (with consequent sore throat) in a case of Vincent's infection of the mouth and gums. There is actual ulceration of the infected tissues. Sore throat is a part of the initial illness in measles, scarlet fever, and whooping cough. It is an associated symptom in leukemia and infectious mononucleosis. Tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess (quinsy), and retropharyngeal abscess cause thy pharynx to be extremely sore and painful. The throat becomes sore in such diseases as tuberculosis, syphilis, and cancer.
