One of the commonest causes of illness, a sore throat often clears up on its own, but knowing what's causing it is important to treat it properly. Viral, bacterial, or caused by allergic elements - these kinds of sore throats have different characteristics that need different responses.

Sore throats have several origins, including infection and environmental factors. Some common causes include:

Viral infections: Viruses cause 90% of sore throat cases. Sore throats may result due to flu or common cold as well as those from chickenpox and measles that can all cause irritation.

Bacterial Infections: Streptococcus bacteria, the most common cause of strep throat, is the most common bacterial source. Strep throat is contagious and can lead to complications if untreated.

Allergies: Pollen, pet dander, and mold can trigger throat irritation, often accompanied by postnasal drip, sneezing, and watery eyes.

Environmental Factors: Dry air, pollution, and smoke can dry out or irritate the throat, creating a scratchy sensation.

Other Causes: GERD, vocal strain, even tumors may be responsible for chronic sore throats.

How to Distinguish Between Viral, Bacterial, and Allergic Sore Throats

Determining your cause of sore throat requires analysis of symptoms that accompany it, how long the sore throat lasts, and how bad the sore throat is.

Viral Sore Throats

The viruses that cause a sore throat are usually similar to a cold in their symptoms and tend to be milder than bacterial infections.

Symptoms of Viral Sore Throat

- Red, swollen throat without white patches

- Persistent cough

- Runny nose and nasal congestion

- Fever, usually mild

Duration: Viral infections last for 7–10 days without antibiotics.

Treatment: Home remedies, such as warm fluids, saltwater gargling, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate it.

Also Read: Flu Season Grips 40 States In US, CDC Reports Alarming Numbers

Bacterial Sore Throats

Bacterial sore throats, mainly strep throat, are more severe and require prompt medical attention to prevent complications.

Symptoms of Bacterial Sore Throat

- Red and swollen tonsils with white patches or streaks of pus

- High fever

- Absence of a cough

- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain (especially in children)

- Small red spots on the roof of the mouth

Diagnosis: Rapid strep tests or throat cultures confirm the presence of bacteria.

Treatment: Antibiotics are necessary to eliminate the infection. Without treatment, complications like rheumatic fever or abscesses can develop.

Sore Throats Caused by Allergies

Throat irritation is caused by postnasal drip. Allergies create a buildup and drip of mucus down the back of the throat.

Allergic Sore Throat Symptoms

- Irritation of the throat and ears

- Runny eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion

- These symptoms are usually relieved by antihistamines or removal from the source of the allergen

Duration: Allergic sore throats are sustained for as long as the allergens are exposed.

When to Seek Medical Care?

A sore throat should be taken to a doctor if:

- The condition lasts more than a week.

- There is shortness of breath or swallowing becomes painful.

- Swelling is too pronounced or the pain in the throat is extreme.

- High fever, rash, or joint pain occur along with the sore throat.

- A child shows signs of dehydration or refuses fluids due to throat pain.

Early diagnosis can prevent complications and speed recovery.

Effective Treatment for Sore Throats

Home Remedies for Viral and Allergy-Related Sore Throats

Viral infections and allergies often respond well to non-invasive treatments:

• Drink warm teas, broths, or water to soothe the throat.
• Gargling with warm, salty water can reduce inflammation.
• These help soothe an irritated throat and can alleviate coughing.

Let your body rest sufficiently. Humidifying dry air will help keep the throat moist, especially when winter is on its way.

Why Not All Sore Throats Require Antibiotics?

Bacterial infections require antibiotics such as penicillin or amoxicillin. Finish the treatment completely to avoid reoccurrence or resistance.

How to Keep Sore Throats at Bay When Winter Is Near

Prevention is better than cure, and simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk:

• Wash your hands frequently to avoid infections.
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals.
• Use air purifiers to minimize exposure to irritants.
• Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet to boost immunity.

Understanding the cause of your sore throat—whether viral, bacterial, or allergic—is key to effective treatment and recovery. While many sore throats resolve on their own, seeking timely medical advice for persistent or severe symptoms can prevent complications. Prioritize self-care, and don’t hesitate to consult a doctor when needed. Remember, your throat’s health is a vital part of your overall well-being.

A simple strep throat infection, can trigger sudden skin inflammation, leading to psoriasis, particularly in children and young adults, according to a study.

Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden showed that a strep throat infection caused by the Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacterium, can trigger guttate psoriasis by altering the behavior of key immune cells. Guttate psoriasis is an often sudden-onset form of psoriasis with small, red, "drop-shaped" scaling spots on arms and legs.

While neutrophils -- the most common type of immune cell -- are the first immune cells to respond to GAS infection, the study showed that during a streptococcal infection, the immune cells behavior changes depending on their environment.

Notably, among people with guttate psoriasis, the neutrophils presented with antigens -- fragments of pathogens that signal and guide other immune cells -- get accumulated. Once accumulated, the immune cells activated the T cells, leading to inflammation, explained the researchers in the paper, published in the journal eBioMedicine.

"Doctors have long known that strep throat can precede guttate psoriasis, but the biological explanation has been unclear," said Avinash Padhi, first author of the study and Research Specialist at the Division of Dermatology and Venereology, at Karolinska.

"Our findings suggest a link between infection and skin inflammation through the accumulation of antigen-presenting neutrophils in patients' skin," Padhi added.

How Cells Shape Immune Response

Magdalini Lourda, senior author of the study and senior research specialist at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, noted that the "results challenge the traditional view of neutrophils as simple first-line defenders".

The findings show that the neutrophils play "a wider role in shaping immune responses, which may be important when designing future treatments."

How Was The Study conducted?

To find how neutrophils work in psoriasis, the blood neutrophils from psoriasis patients were compared with those from healthy individuals. Blood neutrophils from patients with severe strep-related lung inflammation were also compared.

What Is Guttate Psoriasis?

Guttate psoriasis is a distinct form of acute-onset psoriasis. It is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by the sudden appearance of red, scaly, and smaller skin lesions widespread over the body.

The condition typically follows an infection, most commonly tonsillitis caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS). Adolescents and young adults are the most affected. It accounts for about 2 per cent of all cases of psoriasis.

Genetics, environmental triggers, such as an upper respiratory tract infection, and the onset of an inflammatory condition in a distant organ are the major risk factors.

The condition may be diagnosed by skin biopsy, throat swab culture, and blood tests.

Hangover star Ken Jeong's wife Tran Ho Jeong in 2007 discovered a hard lump in her breast while she was breastfeeding their newborn twins Alexa and Zooey. She was diagnosed with stage 3 triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in 2008.

What Is Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

As per the American Cancer Society, it is an advanced aggressive, and fast-growing cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes or tissue, however, does not distant organs. It is characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors, which requires a combined approach of chemotherapy, surgery, and sometimes also radiations As per the American Cancer Society, TNBC accounts for about 10 to 15 per cent of all breast cancers.

At stage 3, TNBC has grown extensively and invaded nearby tissues and is likely to spread to lymph nodes. However, it has not metastasized to distant organs.

Hangover Star Ken Jeong's Wife Cancer Journey

As doctors said, for Tran, it was a "year of hell". She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy when Ken was filming The Hangover. This was then followed by a mastectomy and radiation therapy.

"I am going to survive this. I am going to fight. I have to live for the girls and for Ken," she said. After two years of battle, Tran was finally declared cancer free in 2010. Ken called it "the greatest moment" of his life.

What Happens In Breast Cancer?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer globally with around 2.3 million new cases every year. At the rate of 1 in every 8 person in both sexes and a quarter of all cancer in women with 70% mortality occurs due to constrained resources.

It is a disease where abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumors. If it is left unchecked, the tumors can spread throughout the body and become fatal.

It originates in the milk ducts or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form is not life-threatening and can be detected in the early stages. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue and create tumors that cause lumps or thickening. These invasive cancers can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs and metastasis can be life-threatening and fatal.

Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

The common signs are:

• A breast lump or thickening, often without pain
• Change in size, shape or appearance of breasts
• Dimpling, redness, pitting or other changes in the skin
• Change in nipple appearance or the skin surrounding the nipple (areola)
• Abnormal or bloody fluid from the nipple

Treatment

The treatment depends on the stages and subtypes of the cancer. However, common treatments involve:

• Surgery to remove breast tumor
• Radiation therapy to reduce recurrence of breast cancer around the breast tissues
• Medicals to kill cancer cells and prevent spread
• Therapies like hormonal and chemotherapy or targeted biological therapy

A new global analysis by the World Health Organization and its cancer research arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, has found that prevention could dramatically reduce cancer cases worldwide. The report estimates that 37 percent of all new cancers in 2022, about 7.1 million cases, were linked to causes that can largely be avoided.

The findings are based on data from 185 countries and 36 cancer types and were released ahead of World Cancer Day. Researchers examined 30 risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol, obesity, lack of physical activity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation and nine cancer causing infections. The report stresses that prevention may be the single most powerful tool available to reduce the global cancer burden.

According to WHO data, tobacco remains the biggest contributor, responsible for about 15 percent of all new cancer cases globally. Infections accounted for around 10 percent while alcohol contributed to roughly 3 percent. Three cancers together made up nearly half of all preventable cases worldwide. Lung cancer was strongly linked to smoking and polluted air, stomach cancer to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer to human papillomavirus infection.

WHO cancer control experts said the analysis shows clearly how much cancer risk comes from factors people and governments can act on before the disease even develops.

Differences between men, women and regions

The report shows clear gender differences. Preventable cancer accounted for 45 percent of new cases among men compared with 30 percent among women. Among men, smoking alone contributed to 23 percent of new cancers followed by infections at 9 percent and alcohol at 4 percent. Among women, infections were the largest contributor at 11 percent, followed by smoking at 6 percent and high body mass index at 3 percent.

The burden also varied widely across regions. In women, preventable cancers ranged from 24 percent in North Africa and West Asia to 38 percent in sub Saharan Africa. Among men, East Asia had the highest share at 57 percent while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the lowest at 28 percent. Researchers say these differences reflect lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, workplace safety standards and public health policies.

The WHO report highlights practical steps that could reduce cancer cases. These include stronger tobacco control laws, limits on alcohol use, vaccination against HPV and hepatitis B, improved air quality, safer workplaces and promotion of healthier diets and physical activity.

Health officials say coordinated action across sectors such as transport, education, labour and energy can prevent millions of cancer diagnoses and lower long term healthcare costs while improving overall population health.