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.

At 42, Danielle Ripley-Burgess of Kansas City, Missouri, has survived colon cancer three times, at 17, 25 and 39.

The disease often begins as noncancerous growths called polyps in the colon or rectum. Early-stage cancer and precancerous polyps may cause no noticeable symptoms. Ripley-Burgess spotted her first symptom at the age of 14 but ignored.

Her First Symptom At 14

At 14, Ripley-Burgess noticed specks of blood in her stool but hid them out of embarrassment, believing red foods might be responsible.

“I thought, I’m eating something red and that’s probably what I see,” she told Today. “So I put myself on a ‘no red foods diet’ and stopped eating anything that was red in color: everything from candy to pizza to salsa to raspberry popsicles.”

After two years she eventually told her mother, who believed it to be a case of hemorrhoids. As her bleeding worsened, and she developed fatigue and severe stomach pain, she was taken to a gastroenterologist.

Colon Cancer Diagnosis At Age 17 And 25

A few weeks after her 17th birthday, Ripley-Burgess was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. But years later, a follow-up colonoscopy revealed another cancerous polyp.

“I thought I had beaten cancer. I was getting colonoscopies every three years, and after one of them, I woke up and saw the very same look on the doctor’s face that I had seen eight years prior,” she said. “He saw a polyp that later turned out to be cancerous. I had no symptoms. At 25, I had stage 1 colon cancer.”

The second diagnosis was emotionally difficult as she feared losing the life she had built with her husband and the future they had planned.

Lynch Syndrome Increased Her Cancer Risk

Further testing revealed that Ripley-Burgess had Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of colorectal, uterine and other cancers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

She underwent a preventive hysterectomy and subtotal colectomy, which removed all but about 13 inches of her colon.

Despite these measures, a colonoscopy in 2023 yet again detected a recurrence. At 39, she opted to have the remaining colon removed and a permanent ileostomy.

“I wasn’t expecting it, but I also wasn’t completely shocked,” she said, explaining that living with Lynch syndrome meant knowing cancer could return.

Why Blood in Stool Should Not Be Ignored

Ripley-Burgess now shares her story to encourage people, especially younger adults, to seek medical attention for unusual symptoms.

“If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be: Don’t be embarrassed about your body,” she told the outlet. “If you’re seeing something with your body that’s uncomfortable and weird, and you’re not ready yet to tell a doctor, tell somebody — a friend or family member. Don’t sit in that place of: something is wrong with your body, and you don’t know what it is. Don’t sit there alone. Don’t downplay what you’re seeing,” she

Colorectal cancer is expected to cause 158,850 new cases and 55,230 deaths in the US in 2026, according to the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, medical oncologist at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Blood in the stool is one of the most common and concerning signs. While it might be due to hemorrhoids or fissures, it’s important not to assume. A proper evaluation is critical.”

Rectal bleeding can have several causes, but it should not automatically be attributed to hemorrhoids. Timely medical evaluation can help identify the cause and ensure appropriate treatment.

Six unvaccinated people, including children, have died from measles in the US this year. As of October 8, the country had reported 4,080 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Measles spreads easily through the air and can remain infectious for up to two hours. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and a rash that typically starts on the face. Infected people can spread the virus before the rash appears.

Two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are approximately 97% effective against measles and remain the best protection against the disease and its complications.

Measles Can Cause Complications Years Later

Also read: Sixth Measles-Associated Death Reported In Pennsylvania As Cases Cross 1,100

Measles also causes pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death. Some complications emerge weeks or years after the initial infection.

Three serious consequences are acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), immune amnesia, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).

According to the CDC, one to three out of every 1,000 children with measles die from respiratory and neurological complications.

ADEM: When the Immune System Attacks the Brain

An 18-year-old from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), reported as the state's fourth measles-associated death this year.

ADEM causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord when the immune system mistakenly attacks nervous system tissue. It can develop weeks after infections such as measles or influenza.

Symptoms include weakness, confusion, vision problems, and seizures. Severe cases can be fatal.

ADEM occurs in approximately one out of every 1,000 measles cases. Treatment may include steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange.

Most patients recover, but lasting problems can include motor weakness, cognitive impairment, seizures, and vision loss. In a 2022 study of 77 children with moderate to severe ADEM, nearly a quarter had persistent health issues.

Immune Amnesia: Measles Can Erase Immune Memory

Read More: Measles Cases Are Rising in US—Who Should Get A Booster Shot?

Measles can destroy immune cells that remember previously encountered pathogens, weakening protection built through past infections and vaccinations. This is known as immune amnesia.

“Immune amnesia basically destroys your immune system,” said Dr. Stephen J. Elledge, professor of genetics and medicine at Harvard Medical School. “It infects and kills the cells that store immune memories — plasma cells, B cells, and T cells. It’s like burning down a library full of immunological knowledge.”

A 2019 study published in Science, co-authored by Elledge, found that measles could erase up to 73% of a person's antibody repertoire.

This loss can leave people vulnerable to infections their immune systems had previously learned to fight. Research published in 2015 suggested that rebuilding immune protection can take two to three years.

SSPE: A Fatal Disease That Can Emerge Years Later

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, progressive neurological disease caused by a persistent measles virus infection in the central nervous system.

SSPE is "the most enigmatic and terrifying consequence of measles", Andrew Pavia, MD, a pediatric infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Utah, told CIDRAP News.

Symptoms may appear seven to 10 years after measles, even in people who initially recover. Early signs include personality changes, mood swings, and headaches. The disease can progress to involuntary movements, seizures, vision loss, cognitive decline, coma, and death.

There is no known cure, and SSPE is ultimately fatal.

Infants Face a Higher SSPE Risk

Children who contract measles during infancy face a particularly high risk of SSPE.

The CDC estimated that seven to 11 out of every 100,000 people infected during the US measles resurgence of 1989–1991 were at risk of developing the disease.

A 2016 review of California health records estimated that SSPE occurred in approximately one out of every 609 children who contracted measles before 12 months of age.

A child in Los Angeles died of SSPE last year after contracting measles as an infant, before becoming eligible for the MMR vaccine. In the United States, the first dose is generally recommended at 12 to 15 months.

With measles cases continuing to rise, Pavia warned that SSPE "is a potential time bomb."

The increasing popularity of GLP-1 medications is making its way onto college campuses, where young women face growing pressure to meet ideals of thinness and beauty.

Media reports suggest that the use of GLP-1 drugs, including semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound), is rising among young women, including those with normal BMIs, seeking to achieve a thinner appearance.

Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, with some also approved for weight management, these medications can be highly effective but require a prescription and appropriate medical monitoring. Using them without a medical indication may expose people to unnecessary health risks, an expert warned.

Jay Campbell, a longevity and peptide expert and bestselling author, said

that while these drugs were developed to address metabolic conditions, they have been “hijacked as a cosmetic shortcut.”

“For someone who's metabolically dysregulated, they are a genuine medical intervention,” he told Fox News Digital. “But to a 20-year-old sorority member with a normal BMI, they look like an aesthetic hack in a syringe.”

GLP-1 Drugs Gain Attention Among College Girls

Also read: GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Zepbound Use Rises 24-Fold Among American Women After Childbirth

A 2024 analysis published in JAMA found that 162,439 young adults ages 18 to 25 received at least one dispensed GLP-1 prescription in 2023.

Women accounted for 76.4% of these patients, although the analysis included medications prescribed for both diabetes and weight management.

Separately, the 2025 Monitoring the Future survey found that 2% of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 reported using a prescription GLP-1 medication, while another 2% said they had used one without a prescription.

Sororities can amplify pressure to maintain a certain appearance, with social media and comparisons among members potentially encouraging interest in GLP-1 drugs. Campbell said rapid, visible weight loss can quickly become a talking point within sorority houses, prompting other young women to consider the drugs as a shortcut to achieving a thinner look, including those with normal BMIs.

Risks of Using GLP-1 Drugs for Cosmetic Weight Loss

College-aged women may already be vulnerable to body-image pressures, Campbell noted, and social media can intensify those concerns.

GLP-1 medications can offer substantial benefits to eligible patients. In clinical studies of people taking these medications for obesity, fat mass generally accounts for more of the weight lost than lean mass, Campbell pointed out.

“The peptide isn't catabolic by itself – the real risk is that a healthy 20-year-old who isn't obese has far less metabolic and muscular reserve to lose from in the first place.”

When a young woman loses weight rapidly without consuming enough protein or doing resistance training, she may lose a greater proportion of lean mass, Campbell warned. Rapid weight loss can also contribute to facial and body changes sometimes referred to as “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic body.”

Read More: WHO Cautions Against GLP-1s As First-Line Treatment For Childhood Obesity, Prioritises Lifestyle Changes

5 Things To Know Before Using GLP-1 Drugs

1. Check if you need them: Consult a doctor to determine whether GLP-1 treatment is medically appropriate.
2. Protect muscle mass: Eat enough protein and include resistance training to help preserve muscle during weight loss.
3. Understand pregnancy risks: Semaglutide labeling advises stopping Wegovy at least two months before a planned pregnancy. Tirzepatide can reduce oral contraceptive effectiveness for four weeks after starting treatment and after each dose increase.
4. Monitor mental health: Discuss any history of eating disorders, anxiety or depression with your prescriber and report worsening symptoms.
5. Consider long-term safety: Discuss potential risks, side effects and ongoing monitoring with a qualified doctor before starting treatment.