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Medical Author:

Pallavi Suyog Uttekar, MD

Medical Reviewer:

Shaziya Allarakha, MD

Other Causes

What else can cause sore throat?

COVID-19 vs. Strep Throat

Do I have COVID-19 or strep throat?

Vaccines

Can COVID-19 vaccines cause a sore throat?

Home Remedies

12 home remedies for a sore throat

Medications

What can I give my child for a sore throat?

When to See a Doctor

When to see a doctor for sore throat

Treatment

How is sore throat treated?

Related Resources

Related Resources - Can a Sore Throat Be the Only Symptom of COVID-19? 12 Home Remedies

Do I have COVID-19 or strep throat?
Can COVID-19 vaccines cause a sore throat?
What can I give my child for a sore throat?
When to see a doctor for sore throat

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coronavirus (covid-19) health center / coronavirus a-z list / related resources / can a sore throat be the only symptom of covid-19 article

Although rare, COVID-19 may present with only sore throat in about 5%-10% of cases. COVID-19 -related sore throat is relatively mild and lasts no more than 4-5 days.
Other symptoms that may occur at some point during the infection include extreme fatigue , fever , body ache, shortness of breath , chest pain , cough , loss of sense of smell , brain fog , and memory impairment.
Since sore throat has many causes, it is important to consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
In order to confirm whether your sore throat is caused by COVID-19 or strep , your doctor may order tests:
While it may be difficult to differentiate between COVID-19 sore throat and strep throat , there are a few symptoms that point to strep A infection:
Although fever , body ache, and stuffy nose are seen in both COVID-19 and strep A infection, the following symptoms are more common in COVID-19:
COVID-19 vaccines can cause flu-like symptoms such as scratchy throat, headache , fever, and body ache. These side effects indicate that your body is developing an immune response that can offer protection from the COVID-19 virus.
Vaccine side effects should go away within 1-2 days, although swollen lymph nodes may persist for up to 10 days. Such symptoms should not deter you from getting the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shots. If you are worried about vaccine-related events, you should consult with your physician.
Unless your child’s sore throat is due to strep throat or bacterial infection, antibiotics are not required. Rest, hydration, antihistamines , and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are likely enough to relieve symptoms in most cases.
Here is what you should keep in mind when giving your child medications for a sore throat:
If you test positive for COVID-19, self-isolation will be advised along with symptomatic treatment. Your doctor may initiate antiviral medications (favipiravir, ritonavir and lopinavir) on a case-to-case basis, although most people recover on their own. In the case of severe infection with poor tissue oxygenation and severe lung involvement, your doctor may advise hospitalization and intravenous antivirals and supportive oxygen.
If you test positive for strep throat, your doctor will start you on a course of antibiotics along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
If the sore throat is due to tonsillar abscess or tonsillar stone, your doctor may recommend a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils).
©1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information .

Sore Throat Is the Most Common COVID Symptom Right Now

Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Ⓒ 2022 Dotdash Media, Inc. — All rights reserved

Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more .

Data from the ZOE COVID Symptom Study suggests that a sore throat is now the most common symptom reported by people infected with the Omicron subvariant BA.5. While reports of sore throats are on the rise, experts say Omicron BA.5 is not to blame for all of them. A sore throat is a symptom of COVID, no matter which variant. If you have a sore throat and other COVID symptoms or you’ve possibly been exposed, get tested.

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Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines.
Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content.

The ZOE COVID Symptom Study in the United Kingdom has been tracking reports of COVID-19 cases and symptoms for scientific research. A few months ago , the data from the study suggested that the most common symptom of COVID was either a runny nose or a headache.

Based on reports from 17,500 people who tested positive for COVID last week, the most common symptom now is having a sore throat, followed by a headache and nasal congestion, according to a BBC report .

With the Omicron subvariant BA.5 being one of the dominant COVID strains in the U.K. , it’s easy to assume that the spread of the variant is causing the increasing reports of sore throats. However, experts say that is not necessarily the case.

Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH , dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, told Verywell that rising reports of sore throats do not really have to do with the BA.5 subvariant . Sore throat and headaches are common symptoms of COVID regardless of the variant, and this was true earlier in the pandemic with the Alpha variant .

David Dowdy, MD, PhD , an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Verywell that the prevalence of sore throat as a COVID symptom might not be caused by BA.5, either.

It’s true that Omicron and its subvariants are more associated with upper respiratory symptoms compared to Delta and previous variants, but Dowdy is hesitant to attribute the increase in sore throat reports to the spread of BA.5.

“More likely, this reflects our own immune systems’ adaptation to the virus, as most people have been exposed to the virus multiple times by now,” said Dowdy. “But I would not read this as a major shift in the type of symptoms people have been experiencing over the past few months.”

While it can also be caused by allergies, a cold, or the flu, a sore throat can certainly be a sign that it’s time to take a COVID test—especially if you think you’ve been exposed .

Whether it turns out to be from COVID or another illness , there are some ways to ease a sore throat at home.

According to Halkitis, the key to sore throat relief is making sure your throat is lubricated, cool, and refreshed—for example, by drinking electrolyte solutions or having an electrolyte popsicle.

Dowdy recommends drinking plenty of fluids and considering over-the-counter (OTC) lozenges or sprays with local anesthetics to help numb the pain.

Halkitis said it’s important to monitor your symptoms and keep an eye on their trajectory. If they’re not getting better—or getting worse—it’s a sign the illness is progressing. At that point, it’s time to call your healthcare provider to make sure you get treatment to prevent complications.

Dowdy agreed but added that some people may not want to wait that long. “If you are older—70 or above—or have a compromised immune system, you should have a low threshold for going to see a doctor if you get COVID-19.”

For everyone else? Dowdy said you “should treat this as with any other illness. If you are having prolonged fever or chills or ever experience a change in your mental status, chest pain, or difficulty breathing, this would be a reason to seek medical care.”

A sore throat can be a symptom of COVID-19, regardless of which variant you have. If you have a sore throat and other COVID symptoms, get tested. If you haven’t already, get vaccinated and make sure you’re up to date on your boosters .

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page .

By Carla Delgado

Carla M. Delgado is a health and culture writer based in the Philippines.

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