Sore throat refers to the inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat. It occurs frequently when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. 10% of sore throat may be due to strep throat infection. Strep throat is an infection of the pharynx, caused by groups A streptococcus bacteria, whereas sore throat may be a viral or a bacterial infection. Strep throat is common among children and teenagers, between the ages of 5 to 15.

• Smoking.
• Bacterial infection.
• Viral infection.
• Fungal infection.
• Allergy.
• Common cold and influenza.
• Measles.
• Sinusitis.

• Pain in the throat
• Irritation
• Chills and fever
• Inflammation in the throat
• Swelling of lymph glands
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Headache
• Pain in abdomen

• Eat betel leaves with liquorices (mulathi) twice or thrice a day. It serves as an excellent home remedy for sore throat.
• Make fenugreek tea and gargle with it. In six cups of water, add two tablespoon fenugreek leaves. Gargle with it 3-4 times in a day.
• Take 1-2 cloves of garlic and 2-3 cloves and make a paste. Mix with one cup of honey. Drink one teaspoon about three times in a day.
• In one cup of warm milk, add a pinch of turmeric powder. Drink the milk before going to bed.
• Take one whole onion and boil it with some water. Thereafter, mash it and add some butter, salt and pepper to it. Now eat this mixture.

• Clean your hands frequently, especially before eating. This is a powerful way to help prevent many sore throat infections. You might avoid some sore throats by reducing contact with people with sore throats, but often these people are contagious even before they have symptoms, so this approach is less effective.
• Not too long ago, tonsils were commonly removed in an attempt to prevent sore throats. This is no longer recommended in most circumstances.
• A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can prevent some sore throats caused by breathing dry air with an open mouth.