Overview
A sore throat is one of the most common complaints in general practice and ENT medicine. In most cases it is caused by an acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, predominantly triggered by viruses, which resolves on its own within about a week. In an OpenClinic24 video consultation, you describe your symptoms to a doctor without having to visit a practice. An orienting throat inspection is possible via camera: with good lighting, redness, coatings on the tonsils or one-sided swelling can often be assessed on video. Following the doctor's assessment, a private prescription for symptomatically effective preparations may be issued, for example from pain-relieving or locally numbing drug classes. The consultation also clarifies whether self-care is sufficient or whether a physical examination, a throat swab or antibiotic therapy at a local practice is required. Billing is a private service under the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ) for privately insured patients and self-payers.
Common causes
By far the most frequent cause of a sore throat is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, often accompanied by a runny nose, cough and hoarseness. Bacterial infections, in particular streptococcal tonsillitis with purulent coatings on the tonsils, high fever and swollen cervical lymph nodes, are less common but more often require antibiotic treatment. Other possible causes include glandular fever (mononucleosis), laryngitis with pronounced hoarseness, and lateral pharyngitis. Non-infectious triggers include dry indoor air, cigarette smoke, vocal strain, allergies and reflux of stomach acid. Persistent or one-sided symptoms without signs of infection should be evaluated by an ENT specialist so that rare but serious causes are not overlooked. The precise classification is based on the symptom pattern, the course over time and the findings of the throat inspection.
When to see a doctor
Seek medical advice if a sore throat lasts longer than a week, worsens despite self-care, or is accompanied by fever above 39 degrees Celsius. Further warning signs are severe one-sided pain with difficulty opening the mouth, which may indicate abscess formation, purulent coatings on the tonsils, markedly swollen cervical lymph nodes, a skin rash, and sore throat in people with a weakened immune system. Recurrent tonsillitis and hoarseness lasting more than three weeks also warrant medical evaluation. Call emergency services (112) if shortness of breath, muffled speech, inability to swallow with drooling, rapidly increasing swelling in the neck area or a feeling of suffocation occurs; these signs can indicate a life-threatening obstruction of the airways. The video consultation helps you assess your symptoms, but in such emergencies it never replaces immediate emergency care.