Sore Throat Symptoms Sometimes accompanied by dryness or rawness, painful swallowing, constant urges to clear the throat, postnasal drip, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, fever, hoarseness, and/or laryngitis. Causes Sore throats are usually caused by viral infections, but can also be due to bacterial infections, tonsillitis, overuse of the voice, exposure to irritating substances such as cigarette smoke, allergic reactions, infections of the mouth, and/or colds and flu. Caution: Sore throats are rarely serious. However, if your sore throat does not heal within two weeks, and/or occurs with a rash, seek immediate medical attention. A sore throat caused by a Streptococcal infection (strep throat) must be identified and treated, or else it could create rheumatic fever or acute glomerulonephritis (disease of the glomerulus, a network of blood capillaries of the kidney). Treatment Click Here For The Treatments