Ouch....sore throats

A sore throat - known medically as pharyngitis - is most often caused by a viral infection such as a cold or the flu (influenza). In many cases, a sore throat is the first sign that you're getting sick. In most cases, a sore throat is caused by a virus that soon goes away on its own. A sore throat is rarely caused by a bacterial infection that requires medical care or treatment with antibiotics.

sore throat Causes:

Common viruses.
Breathing through the mouth can produce throat dryness and soreness.
Post nasal drip may cause a sore throat.
A sore throat can also be caused by bacteria.

Any sore throat that causes you to have difficulty swallowing (not just pain with swallowing) or breathing should be seen by a health care professional.

Complications: Strep throat, a bacterial infection, can trigger other conditions that include:

Tonsillitis
Sinus infection (sinusitis)
Ear infection
Scarlet fever, an illness characterized by a rash
Inflammation of the kidney.
Rheumatic fever, which can damage organs such as the heart

Symptoms of strep throat include:

Painful swallowing
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
Tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate - the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
Fever
Headache
Rash
Stomachache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children

Homemade remedies:

Gargle raspberry tea: Raspberry leaf tea can make a great gargle. (To make, pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons dried leaves. Steep for ten minutes then strain. Allow to cool.)
If you also have a fever, the gargle can be used as a fever-reducing drink, too. Do not drink any liquid you have used as a gargle. Make a horseradish cocktail: Combine 1 tablespoon pure horseradish or horseradish root with 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon ground cloves. Mix in a glass of warm water and drink slowly.
Drink lime juice: Combine 1 spoonful with a spoonful of honey and take as often as needed for a sore throat.
Gargle with warm salt water: If you can gargle without gagging, make a saline solution by adding 1/2 teaspoon salt to a cup of very warm water.
Drink hot liquids: Especially if you're not good at gargling, drink hot fluids, such as coffee, tea, or hot lemonade.
Suck on garlic: Peel a fresh clove, slice it in half, and place 1 piece in each cheek. Suck on the garlic like a cough drop. Occasionally, crush your teeth against the garlic, not to bite it in half, but to release its allicin, a chemical that can kill the bacteria that causes strep. Gargle turmeric: Try this gargle to calm a cranky throat. Mix together 1 cup hot water, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gargle with the mixture twice a day.
Lemon, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne, and Honey Tea: An old home remedy for sore throats is a tea made with lemon, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and honey. It is made by adding one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper, the juice of 1/4 lemon, and one teaspoon of honey to a cup of hot water. Stir. Typically, up to four cups a day is suggested.

Although most sore throats are a symptom that a cold or flu is coming and resolve on their own within a week, it's not always the case. A doctor's visit is necessary to rule out a more serious condition, especially if any of the following are present:

Sore throat or hoarseness lasts for more than several days.
Sore throat causes severe pain or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Blood in saliva, sputum, or phlegm.
Rash
Enlarged or tender lymph nodes in the neck.
White or yellow patches or pus at the back of the throat.
Fever of 103°F (39.4) in infants under 12 months or 101°F (36.3 C) or higher in babies under 6 months.
Excessive drooling in children.