Why does a sore throat occur when having a cold?

Generally, a sore throat during a cold may be caused by dry environments, overuse of the voice, acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, or other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation at a hospital to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Dry Environment

In dry environments, the mucous membranes in the throat area can lose moisture, leading to dryness and congestion of the mucosa, which can cause pain and may be accompanied by symptoms such as dryness, itching, and coughing in the throat. It is recommended to maintain suitable indoor humidity, use a humidifier, and drink plenty of warm water to keep the throat moist.

2. Overuse of the Voice

Excessive use of the voice during a cold, such as speaking loudly or singing, can irritate and damage the mucous membranes in the throat, causing pain and possibly accompanied by hoarseness and dryness in the throat. It is recommended to reduce voice use, allow the throat to rest, and drink an appropriate amount of warm water or warm saline solution to soothe the throat.

3. Acute Pharyngitis

After viral or bacterial infection of the pharyngeal mucosa, acute pharyngitis may develop, leading to mucosal congestion, edema, and inflammatory reactions. These irritations can cause throat pain and may also be accompanied by sensations of a foreign body in the throat, coughing, fever, and other symptoms. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as ribavirin granules, antiviral oral liquid, and amoxicillin capsules for treatment.

4. Tonsillitis

During a cold, viruses or bacteria may also invade the tonsils, causing tonsillitis, which leads to swelling and congestion of the tonsils. These irritations can cause throat pain, especially during swallowing, and may also be accompanied by difficulty swallowing, fever, headache, and other symptoms. It is recommended to follow medical instructions and use medications such as penicillin V potassium tablets, azithromycin tablets, and Pudi Lan Xiao Yan tablets to alleviate symptoms.

5. Laryngitis

Viruses or bacteria may invade the laryngeal mucosa during a cold, causing mucosal congestion, edema, and inflammatory reactions that lead to laryngitis, resulting in throat pain, possibly accompanied by hoarseness, coughing, and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as prednisolone tablets, dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, and ambroxol hydrochloride solution for inhalation for treatment.

In daily life, it is advisable to avoid spicy and greasy foods and consume soft, easy-to-swallow foods such as porridge and steamed eggs, which can help reduce the burden of swallowing.