Symptoms

Fever
cough
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain or a scratchy sensation in the throat
Pain that worsens with swallowing or talking
Difficulty swallowing
Sore, swollen glands in your neck or jaw
Swollen, red tonsils
White patches or pus on your tonsils
A hoarse or muffled voice

What To Expect

Depending on the cause of a sore throat, there are various courses. In the beginning, affected persons are plagued by a sore throat , followed by symptoms such as burning in the nose, sneezing, a cold, headache, fever and cough. The sore throat disappears after two to three days, while the other cold symptoms disappeared after one week.

Made Worse By

A lot of conditions and external factors can make a sore throat worse. It's important to save your voice. If you speak or scream too much, the vocal chords are put under more strain and the unpleasant feeling in the throat will be intensified. Drinking alcohol or too little water can also worsen the sore throat. You should also avoid smoking and dry air. Finally, spicy food can cause irritation in the throat. Especially when the throat is already irritated, the consumption of strongly spiced food can be particularly painful. Coarse or hard foods such as toasted bread, crisps or nuts can be particularly difficult to swallow and cause further friction and grazes in the throat.

How Common

Adults have colds about two to four times a year, children on average six to eight times. The reason for the increased occurrence of colds in children: The immune system is not yet fully developed and cannot fully fend off the cold viruses. In addition: In kindergarten, after-school care or school, children sit, play or learn close together, the risk of transmission is particularly high.