• Breathing through the mouth (can cause drying and irritation of the throat)
• Common cold
• Endotracheal intubation (tube insertion)
• Flu
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Something stuck in the throat (See: Choking child or adult and CPR)
• Strep throat
• Surgery such as tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
• Viral pharyngitis

Most sore throats are soon over. In the meantime, the following remedies may help:

• Drink warm liquids. Honey or lemon tea is a time-tested remedy.
• Gargle several times a day with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt in 1 cup water).
• Cold liquids or popsicles help some sore throats.
• Sucking on hard candies or throat lozenges can be very soothing, because it increases saliva production. This is often as effective as more expensive remedies, but should not be used in young children because of the choking risk.
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat.
• Try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen. Do NOT give aspirin to children.

Call your health care provider if there is:

• Excessive drooling in a young child
• Fever, especially 101°F or greater
• Pus in the back of the throat
• Red rash that feels rough, and increased redness in the skin folds
• Severe difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck