Diagnostic considerations in the evaluation and treatment of sore throat

Adults with sore throats make 40 million visits to medical facilities each year, and sore throat is the third most common reason for visits to primary care practitioners. While often associated with pharyngitis, a complaint of sore throat may also herald a variety of other underlying disorders, both common and uncommon. These disorders range from local to systemic diseases, and include infectious as well as non-infectious etiologies. This article focuses on the differential diagnosis of sore throat and reviews useful approaches to the evaluation of this prevalent symptom. Specific strategies for history taking, key findings to look for on physical exam and recommendations for the selection of appropriate laboratory studies are included. A summary of management options for the more common problems is also provided.