Does COVID-19 Cause a Sore Throat?

A sore throat can be a symptom of COVID-19, but it's generally not one of the most common. Other symptoms include a cough, fever, chills, headache, loss of smell or taste, and muscle pain. Inflammation caused by COVID, as well as coughing and post-nasal drip, may irritate the throat.

A sore throat has many possible causes, and treatment depends on the probable cause. Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have COVID.

What Does a Sore Throat From COVID-19 Feel Like?

A sore throat due to COVID might feel:

• Dry
• Painful when you swallow
• Scratchy or itchy

Other cold or respiratory infection symptoms like a cough, runny nose, or hoarseness (raspy voice) suggest a viral infection—as opposed to strep throat, for example. The only way to truly know if your sore throat is due to COVID is to test for the virus.

Is It Common?

A sore throat results from inflammation, which is caused by COVID. Other COVID symptoms like coughing and phlegm in the throat (post-nasal drip) can also irritate the throat.

A sore throat can be a symptom of COVID, but it's not present in all cases. Other, more common COVID symptoms include:

• Cough
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Fatigue
• Fever and chills
  
• Sore throat
  

A sore throat might be more common in the Omicron variant than in the Delta variant. One longitudinal study of over 63,000 people found a sore throat in 70% of Omicron cases versus 60% of Delta cases.

A sore throat might be much less prevalent than that. One systematic review of over 114,000 people found a sore throat in only about 14% of COVID cases.

How Long Does a COVID-19 Sore Throat Last?

A sore throat will last as long as other COVID symptoms—up to about two weeks. Some evidence suggests that a sore throat might last about six days, but this will vary from person to person.

Coughing can irritate the throat, so having a persistent cough might prolong a sore throat. A sore throat is not commonly a symptom of long COVID, or symptoms that last for four weeks or longer. Having a sore throat might increase the risk of developing long COVID.

Other Possible Causes

A sore throat can be a sign of COVID, but it does not mean you have the virus. Sore throat is a very common and non-specific symptom, meaning it's self-reported and does not indicate a specific disease. It will feel relatively the same whether you have a cold, the flu, COVID, or even strep throat.

Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections that can cause a sore throat include:

• Gonorrhea or chlamydia: Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Herpes simplex virus: A viral infection that can cause oral sores
• Mononucleosis (mono): A viral infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
• Respiratory viruses: Rhinovirus (the most common cause of the common cold), adenovirus, and the influenza virus
• Streptococcal pharyngitis (strep throat): A bacterial infection caused by bacteria group A Streptococcus
• Tonsillitis: A viral infection that causes inflamed and swollen tonsils

Other possible causes of a sore throat include:

• Allergies
• Dry, hot air
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into your esophagus
• Inhaling smoke or other irritants (e.g., smog)
• Stress
• Tumor

How To Tell the Difference

It can be difficult to determine whether a sore throat is COVID-related based solely on the symptom alone. Here's how to tell the difference between COVID and other respiratory illnesses:

• Allergies: Allergies typically cause itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. COVID, in contrast, may cause a fever, body aches, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are not common with allergies.
• Common cold: COVID may cause a fever, loss of smell or taste, and shortness of breath, which are not common with a cold.
• Flu: Flu symptoms typically develop quicker than COVID symptoms. The flu can present within one to four days of infection, while COVID may develop within two to 14 days.
• Strep throat: Strep throat may cause a high fever, whereas COVID causes a cough and runny nose.
  

Treatments

A sore throat often resolves on its own unless the infection is severe. Home remedies that may ease discomfort include:

• Drinking warm tea or lemon water with honey
• Gargling with warm salt water—about 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) salt in 1 cup of water—several times daily
• Trying throat lozenges
• Using a humidifier or breathing in steam from a hot shower

You may use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat COVID. Tylenol (acetaminophen) and (ibuprofen) are likely effective and generally safe for adults and children over the age of 2.

SARS-CoV-2, or the virus that causes COVID, is a respiratory virus. The mechanisms of upper respiratory tract viral infections (URTI) work the same as other respiratory virus symptoms. OTC medications that work for a sore throat caused by a URTI will likely work for one caused by COVID.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Reach out to a healthcare provider if you think you might have strep throat, which usually requires antibiotics to treat. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Sudden, very sore throat (especially when swallowing)
• Red and swollen tonsils with possible white patches
• Small red spots on the roof of your mouth

Other symptoms that warrant reaching out to a healthcare provider include:

• Dehydration
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• Excessive drooling (in young children)
• Rash

A Quick Review

A sore throat can be a sign of COVID, but it's a relatively rare symptom compared to others, like a cough and fever. A sore throat is a non-specific symptom, meaning there are many possible causes. The only way to know whether it's due to COVID is to test for the virus.

A sore throat generally resolves on its own, but a more severe infection might require treatment. You can use home remedies like gargling with salt water, drinking warm liquids, using a humidifier, and taking OTC pain relievers as needed to relieve pain.

The information in this story is accurate as of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.