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.

Doctors in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu surgically removed a fully developed canine tooth from the upper eyelid region of a 16-year-old boy. They described the case as the first reported instance of an ectopic tooth in the upper part of the eye socket.

The case was reported by specialists at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai in the journal Ophthalmology.

What Did The Doctors Find?

The teenager visited the hospital with painless swelling of his left upper eyelid that had lasted a month. He had no history of injury to the area.

During the examination, doctors noticed two firm, whitish projections beneath the swollen area near the inner side of the upper eyelid, the experts shared in the paper.

A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a dense structure resembling a tooth, with a crown and root, originating from the roof of the left eye socket. It extended towards the tissues in front of the orbital septum, a thin barrier separating the eyelid from the deeper eye socket, and protruded outwards with two tooth-like points on its surface.

The projections' appearance and texture raised the possibility that they were teeth. Dr. Meghana Tanwar, a medical consultant at Aravind Eye Hospital, told Live Science that they had a “fairly smooth surface and were hard on palpation.”

The doctors surgically removed the structure. Examination confirmed that it was a mature canine tooth without teratomatous elements, consistent with an ectopic tooth in the upper part of the eye socket.

Also read: Hours Of Sitting, Gaming And Binge-Watching OTT? Doctors Warn Of Blood Clot Risk In Young People

What Is An Ectopic Tooth?

An ectopic tooth develops or emerges in an abnormal location. Some remain within the mouth but appear outside their usual positions in the dental arch, while others develop outside the normal arrangement of teeth.

The latter is particularly unusual. In this teenager's case, the tooth was located in the upper orbital region rather than within the normal dental arch.

Before confirming the diagnosis, doctors considered whether the projections could be associated with a teratoma, a type of tumor that can contain different tissues, including bone and tooth tissue. They also considered whether a foreign object might be lodged in the eyelid.

Imaging and examination of the removed structure helped establish that it was a mature tooth rather than tissue associated with a teratoma.

Why Is This Case Unusual?

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Ectopic teeth have been documented in several locations, including the nasal cavity, chin and maxillary sinus, an air-filled cavity within the cheekbone. Previous reports have also described teeth in the lower part of the eye socket.

However, the doctors said they could not find an earlier report of an ectopic tooth in the superior orbit, the upper region of the eye socket.

“To the best of our knowledge this is the first and only ectopic tooth reported in the superior orbit,” Tanwar told Live Science.

“This was a first not just for us but the world over,” she said of the case. “We were very surprised by it.”

What Causes Ectopic Teeth?

READ: Non-Healing Mouth Sores? This Silent Symptom Could Signal Oral Cancer, Warn Doctors

The doctors could not determine why the tooth developed in this unusual location.

Possible explanations for ectopic tooth development include abnormalities during development, genetic factors, infections and physical trauma. However, the cause in this case remains unknown.

Imaging did not reveal any additional ectopic teeth. Tanwar said the likelihood of the teenager developing another such tooth was low.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the cancers doctors find particularly difficult to detect early. The pancreas lies deep inside the abdomen, and early disease may cause few or vague symptoms. By the time symptoms such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, abdominal or back pain or persistent digestive problems become apparent, the disease may already be advanced.

What Is PANXEON, The New Liquid Biopsy?

This is why the findings of a new international study on PANXEON, an investigational liquid biopsy, are attracting attention. Published in Nature Medicine, the study evaluated 1,785 people across four countries and explored whether a blood sample could identify early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer.

The principle behind the test is relatively simple. Cancer cells release molecular material into the bloodstream. PANXEON looks at a group of tiny molecules called microRNAs, including those carried inside microscopic packages called exosomes. These molecules can provide molecular clues about what is happening in the pancreas. The test combines this microRNA signature with CA19-9, a blood marker already used in pancreatic cancer, particularly for monitoring patients, although CA19-9 alone is not suitable as a general screening test.

Also read: Dr Rachna Shroff: Indian-American Cancer Researcher Who Turned Her Diagnosis Into Advocacy

In the study, the microRNA test detected early-stage pancreatic cancer with a sensitivity of 83.8%. When combined with CA19-9, PANXEON reached 86.8% sensitivity for stage I-II disease. Importantly, false-positive rates were 3.2% among low-risk controls and 15.6% among high-risk controls. The researchers also reported that the test showed potential for identifying high-grade dysplasia in people with high-risk pancreatic cysts.

For India, this research is relevant because pancreatic cancer, although less common than several other major cancers, represents a significant clinical challenge. India’s National Cancer Registry Programme estimated about 21,000 pancreatic cancer cases in 2022. Globally, GLOBOCAN estimated more than 510,000 new cases in the same year.

Is PANXEON Ready For Routine Screening?

But there is an important caveat: PANXEON is not yet a routine screening test. There is currently no standard screening test recommended for people at average risk of pancreatic cancer. Screening is generally considered for selected high-risk individuals, such as those with significant family histories or certain inherited genetic risks.

The new findings therefore represent a promising research direction, rather than a test people should independently seek out today. A useful early-detection test must work reliably in much larger, diverse populations and demonstrate that detecting cancer earlier actually improves outcomes.

For patients and doctors, however, the concept is important. Instead of waiting for a tumour to become large enough to produce obvious symptoms or visible changes on imaging, researchers are increasingly asking whether the molecular footprints of cancer can be detected in a simple blood sample. PANXEON is one more step towards answering that question.

I have often heard a familiar bedtime story: “I picked up my phone for five minutes, and suddenly it was 1 a.m.” The person is exhausted, yet continues scrolling through upsetting news, frightening predictions or other people’s lives.

Doomscrolling is not simply a lack of discipline. Our brains are naturally drawn towards possible threats because noticing danger has always supported survival. Each alarming headline tells the nervous system that there may be something important it must understand. The next post promises more information and perhaps a sense of control, so we continue scrolling.

How Stress And Anxiety Fuel Doomscrolling

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For someone already carrying stress or past trauma, uncertainty can feel especially difficult. Scanning for information may become the brain’s way of asking, “Am I safe? Is there something I need to prepare for?” Unfortunately, the answer rarely arrives. Instead, every new story introduces another concern.

Consider someone who goes to bed after a demanding day. Their body is tired, but their mind has had no opportunity to process what happened. They open social media for relief and encounter distressing content. Their heart rate increases, their thoughts become faster and sleep moves further away. The phone may distract them from uncomfortable feelings temporarily, while also keeping their system alert.

Screens can delay sleep by displacing bedtime and exposing us to light, but the emotional content matters too. Anger, fear and comparison create cognitive arousal, the opposite of the slowing down that sleep requires.

Simple Ways To Break The Doomscrolling Cycle

Rather than imposing a harsh digital ban, begin with a realistic boundary.

- Choose a time to stop reading news, charge the phone away from the bed or replace the final 20 minutes of scrolling with something less stimulating.

- Dim the lights, stretch gently, listen to familiar music or write down tomorrow’s worries so the brain does not have to keep rehearsing them.

- If you slip, respond with curiosity rather than criticism: “What was I trying not to feel, or hoping to find?”

When doomscrolling repeatedly disrupts sleep or becomes the main way you manage anxiety, therapy can help explore the need beneath the habit. The aim is not merely to take away the phone, but to help the nervous system discover safer ways to settle.

Sometimes, switching off the screen begins with helping the mind believe that it is safe to stop watching.

By Ms Arouba Kabir, Psychologist, Founder Enso wellness