Table 1.

Common causes of sore throat

Class	Etiology
Infectious	Viral pharyngitis Influenza Mononucleosis Nonstreptococcal bacterial pharyngotonsillitis Streptococcal pharyngitis Peritonsillar abscess Tonsilliths Thrush Deep space neck infection (retropharyngeal/parapharyngeal space infection) Epiglottitis/supraglottitis Fungal Laryngitis Herpangina Syphilis Lemierre syndrome Fusospirochetal infection (Vincent angina)
Inflammatory	Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Allergic rhinitis with post nasal drip Chronic mouth breathing Foreign body Muscle tension dysphonia Vocal cord granuloma Mucositis Granulomatous diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, gout) Pemphigus Kawasaki disease
Neoplastic	Squamous cell carcinoma Lymphoma Sarcoma Adenocarcinoma