A sore throat is pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow food or drink liquids. The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own.
Strep throat, a less common type of sore throat caused by bacteria, requires treatment with antibiotics to help prevent further complications. Other less common causes of sore throat may require more complex treatment.
