Throat pain can be caused by various factors including infections, irritants, allergies, and other conditions:
- Viral infections such as the common cold, flu, COVID-19, mononucleosis, measles, and chickenpox are the most common causes of a sore throat. These typically improve on their own.
- Bacterial infections like strep throat caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria can cause throat pain and may require antibiotic treatment.
- Allergies to pollen, pet dander, dust, and molds can cause throat irritation often due to postnasal drip.
- Dry air and environmental irritants like smoke, pollution, and chemicals can dry out or irritate the throat.
- Muscle strain from yelling, talking loudly or for long periods, and acid reflux (GERD) can also cause throat pain.
- Less commonly, serious causes like tumors or abscesses can lead to persistent throat pain.
Thus, your throat might hurt due to a viral or bacterial infection, allergy, dry environment, irritants, strain, acid reflux, or other less common causes depending on your symptoms and exposure.
