Sore throat (also called pharyngitis) is pain, scratchiness, irritation, or rawness in the throat, often making swallowing painful or difficult and sometimes accompanied by a dry or scratchy sensation. It is most commonly caused by viral infections (e.g., common cold, flu, mononucleosis, or COVID-19), accounting for the majority of cases in both children and adults. Bacterial causes include group A Streptococcus (strep throat), which tends to produce more severe symptoms without prominent cold-like features. Other triggers include allergies (postnasal drip irritating the throat), dry air or mouth breathing (especially at night), irritants (smoke, pollution, chemicals), acid reflux (GERD causing burning sensation), vocal strain (from shouting or prolonged talking), or less commonly tonsillitis, epiglottitis, or early signs of more serious conditions. Symptoms frequently include redness and swelling of the throat/tonsils (visible on exam), white patches or pus on tonsils (in bacterial cases), swollen neck lymph nodes, hoarseness, cough, runny nose, fever, headache, or body aches depending on the cause; viral sore throats often resolve in a few days to a week, while bacterial ones may persist or worsen without intervention.