Sore throat & tonsillitisSore throat? Know when to see a doctor.Most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better on their own within about a week. Simple pain relief and plenty of fluids usually help. A GP can check your throat, tell you whether antibiotics are worth taking, and spot the few signs that need urgent care.Book a GP appointmentCall 07857 761328If you are struggling to breathe, drooling or cannot swallow your own saliva, call 999.Same & next-day appointmentsThroat properly examinedAntibiotics only when they helpYou keep your NHS GPGP appointment £1201What is it?2Symptoms3Causes4Who is at risk5Your appointment6What helps7Get help now8FAQs Medically reviewed by Dr Sam R Bandularatne, MBBS, DFMS, MRCGP · GP Partner & GP Trainer · GMC 5208303OUR GP Dundee · Last reviewed November 2026Seen by a GPThroat and neck examinedClear advice on antibioticsKnow when to get helpStart hereWhat a sore throat and tonsillitis areA sore throat (pharyngitis) is inflammation at the back of the throat. When the tonsils, the two soft lumps either side of the back of the throat, are mainly affected, it is called tonsillitis.Both are very common, especially in children, teenagers and young adults, and in winter and early spring. Most are caused by viruses such as colds, flu and COVID-19. Some are caused by bacteria, most often group A strep.Whatever the cause, most sore throats start to improve within a few days and are gone in about a week. Bacterial and viral sore throats are usually just as severe and last about as long.It is usually a virusColds, flu and similar bugs cause most sore throats. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.It gets better on its ownMost people feel better within a week, with or without antibiotics.Pain relief helpsParacetamol or ibuprofen, fluids and rest ease symptoms while your body fights it off.A few signs are urgentTrouble breathing, drooling or not being able to swallow need help straight away.Back to top ↑SymptomsWhat a sore throat and tonsillitis feel likeSymptoms usually come on over a day or two. You might notice:A raw, scratchy or painful throat, worse when swallowingRed, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white or yellow spotsA high temperature, or feeling hot, shivery and achyTender, swollen glands at the sides of the neckA hoarse voice, cough or runny nose with a cold virusHeadache and feeling generally unwellIn children: tummy ache, feeling sick or being sickNot wanting to eat or drink because it hurtsA cough and runny nose point towards a virus. Fever, pus on the tonsils, tender neck glands and no cough make strep bacteria more likely, which is what the GP will look for.At OUR GPGet a sore throat checkedFor a sore throat that is severe, getting worse, or not settling after a week.A 30-minute face-to-face appointment to examine your throat and decide whether you need antibiotics.Good to know: most sore throats are caused by viruses and get better without antibiotics.About GP appointments →£12030 minutes face to face · video £110 · phone £60 Book nowBack to top ↑CausesWhat can cause a sore throatMost sore throats are caused by infections that spread easily from person to person.GroupExamplesViruses (most common)Common cold, flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory virusesBacteriaGroup A strep, which also causes scarlet fever; most common in children aged 5 to 15Glandular feverA virus that can cause a very sore throat lasting longer, swollen glands and marked tirednessIrritationSmoking, dry air, overusing your voice, acid reflux or hay feverLess common infectionsSome sexually transmitted infections caught through oral sex, oral thrush in people using steroid inhalersMedicines and immunitySome medicines, such as carbimazole, methotrexate or chemotherapy, can lower white blood cells and make infections more seriousA sore throat, hoarse voice or neck lump lasting more than 3 weeks should always be checked by a GP.Who is more at riskAnyone can get a sore throat, but you are more likely to if you:are a child, teenager or young adultspend time in schools, nurseries, halls or other shared spaceshave close contact with someone who has a sore throat or coldsmoke, or are around smokehave a weak immune system, or take medicines that lower immunityit is winter or early spring, when these infections peakIf you take carbimazole, methotrexate or similar medicines, or are having chemotherapy, tell a doctor about a sore throat the same day. You may need a blood test.Back to top ↑Your appointmentWhat the GP will doThe aim is to make sure nothing serious is going on, and to agree whether antibiotics will genuinely help.Check for anything urgentYour breathing and swallowing, how much you are drinking, temperature and pulse, and whether you need hospital care.Examine your throat and neckLooking at the tonsils for swelling, spots or an abscess, and feeling for swollen neck glands.Use a simple scoreThe FeverPAIN score helps judge how likely strep bacteria are. Swabs and blood tests are only needed in some cases.Agree a planPain relief and self-care for most, sometimes a back-up or immediate antibiotic, and clear advice on when to come back.Back to top ↑What helpsHow to ease a sore throat at homeMost sore throats can be managed at home while they get better on their own.Take pain reliefParacetamol or ibuprofen ease pain and fever. Follow the dose on the pack, and check with a pharmacist if you take other medicines.Drink plentySip cool or warm drinks regularly so you do not get dehydrated. Very hot drinks can make the pain worse.Soothe your throatLozenges or throat sprays from a pharmacy may help for a short while. Lozenges are not suitable for young children.Choose soft, cool foodsIce lollies, yoghurt, soup and soft foods are easier to swallow.Rest at homeChildren can go back to school once the fever has gone and they feel well enough.Stop it spreadingWash hands often, catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and do not share cups or cutlery. Sore throat and tonsillitisDownload our sore throat leafletA free two-page guide for patients, families and carers: what causes a sore throat, what helps, what the doctor will do, and when to get help.PDF · 2 pages · A4 · 222 KBDownload leaflet (PDF)Open to printBack to top ↑Get help nowWhen it can’t waitCall 999 if you or your childis struggling to breathe or has noisy, high-pitched breathing · is drooling or cannot swallow their own saliva · has a muffled voice and sits leaning forward to breathe · is very drowsy, confused, or cold and blotchyContact a GP the same day, or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours, ifyou cannot swallow fluids or are passing little urine, one side of the throat or neck is swelling or you cannot open your mouth fully, pain is no better after 3 days with a fever over 38°C, you are no better after 3 to 4 days of antibiotics, or you have a weak immune system or take medicines that lower immunity.A private appointment is not a substitute for emergency care. If you are unsure, call 999 or NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑FAQsCommon questions Do I need antibiotics for a sore throat?Usually not. Most sore throats are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work on viruses. Even when bacteria are the cause, antibiotics shorten the illness by less than a day on average and can cause side effects such as diarrhoea and feeling sick. The GP will use a simple score to decide whether antibiotics are likely to help, and may give a back-up prescription to use only if you do not start to improve in 3 to 5 days. How long does a sore throat last?Most sore throats and tonsillitis start to improve within a few days and are gone in about a week, with or without antibiotics. See a GP if you are not starting to get better after a week, or sooner if you are getting worse. Is it tonsillitis or strep throat?Tonsillitis means the tonsils are inflamed. Strep throat is a sore throat caused by group A strep bacteria, one of several possible causes. Signs such as fever, pus on the tonsils, no cough and quick onset make strep more likely. Throat swabs are not usually needed. Is it contagious? When can my child go back to school?The viruses and bacteria that cause sore throats spread easily through coughs, sneezes and shared cups. Children can go back to school or nursery once their fever has gone and they feel well enough, or after at least 24 hours of antibiotics if these were prescribed. What is quinsy?Quinsy is a collection of pus (an abscess) next to a tonsil. It usually causes severe pain on one side, a muffled voice, difficulty opening the mouth and swallowing, and fever. It needs to be seen the same day and is usually treated in hospital. When are tonsils taken out?Removing the tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be considered if severe tonsillitis keeps coming back: at least 7 bouts in a year, 5 a year for 2 years, or 3 a year for 3 years. It can reduce bouts for a couple of years. Recovery takes about two weeks, and any bleeding afterwards needs urgent hospital care.Worried right now?If someone is struggling to breathe, drooling or cannot swallow, call 999. Out of hours, call NHS 24 on 111.Back to top ↑EvidenceWhere this information comes fromThis page follows current UK guidance on managing acute sore throat and recurrent tonsillitis.NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Sore throat – acuteNICE NG84: Sore throat (acute): antimicrobial prescribingBMJ Best Practice: Acute pharyngitisBMJ Best Practice: TonsillitisBMJ Best Practice patient information: TonsillectomyBack to top ↑Sore throat not getting better?Book a GP appointment and we will examine your throat and agree what will help.Book a GP appointmentWhatsApp 07857 761328This page is general information and is not medical advice or a diagnosis. What’s appropriate is a clinical decision made with a GP at your appointment. OUR GP is a trading name of SRS Health Group Limited, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. All doctors hold a licence to practise with the General Medical Council. Meet our team. We see patients from Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife. More questions? See our FAQs.