# Two weeks of sore throat--at what point should I worry, if ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157 "2015-03-16T23:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/1 "2015-03-16T23:30:17Z")
I’ve been in “It’ll hurt if I swallow” mode for two weeks now. During the first week, I had a pretty severe cough. But through the last eight or nine days or so, it’s just been a soreness in my throat, which varies highly in severity from minor annoyance to “oh god don’t swallow don’t swallow.” I say “throat” but it’s actually two very specific spots that seem to be immediately to the left and right of the base of my tongue. If I press against certain points under my chin, near my neck, I don’t feel swelling but I do feel an ache that courses from the aforementioned points up through to my ears. Ear plus throat, that’s something sinus right? The reason I haven’t gone to a doctor yet is, well, it’s just a sore throat, right? And also, no fever, which to my folk understanding means it’s viral and hence not really treatable. Is any of that correct? This ever happen to you? How’d it turn out? ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/2 "2015-03-16T23:46:28Z")
Get to a doctor. You may have strep throat, if so, you may need antibiotics to get rid of it. It’s also contagious, so you could be infecting others. If it’s strep, you’ve been suffering needlessly, since with antibiotics it should be gone in just a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/3 "2015-03-16T23:47:26Z")
Sometimes after a cold I get tonsil stones which prolong the sensation of a sore throat until they pop out. Then it goes away instantaneously. Maybe shine a flashlight back there and look for them? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/4 "2015-03-17T00:19:01Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > Get to a doctor. You may have strep throat, if so, you may need antibiotics to get rid of it. It’s also contagious, so you could be infecting others. If it’s strep, you’ve been suffering needlessly, since with antibiotics it should be gone in just a couple of days. I probably will go, but this doesn’t really match strep does it? No fever, no headache, no chills, no swelling, no loss of appetite. The only thing I see that would match is trouble swallowing. (Also, there’s no red throat with white patches, though of course I didn’t mention that in the OP.) Anyway I’ll probably go just to see if something can be done but I don’t think it’s strep. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/5 "2015-03-17T00:20:42Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Sometimes after a cold I get tonsil stones which prolong the sensation of a sore throat until they pop out. Then it goes away instantaneously. Maybe shine a flashlight back there and look for them? Yep I was looking for something like that (in fact I used to get these things all the time, cold or no cold) but found nothing. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/6 "2015-03-17T00:24:29Z")
Gargle with warm salt water for a full day, every few hours. If your throat is still sore, go see the doctor! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/7 "2015-03-17T00:27:31Z")
At what point? Two or three days ago. Get thee to at least a Wally World Med-first type place if not a real doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/8 "2015-03-17T16:17:59Z")
I doubt it’s anything super-dangerous but I’d concur, go see a doctor. In the meantime, the salt-water gargle that **elbows** suggested won’t hurt. A nasal rinse (neti pot, or saline spray) might help also. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/9 "2015-03-18T15:30:39Z")
There is one type of sore throat that is simply caused by a sticky nasal drip substance laying on your throat. A hard clearing of the throat will usually dislodge it and give you instant relief. If this is the case over the counters will usually control the nasal drip. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-weeks-of-sore-throat-at-what-point-should-i-worry-if-ever/715157/10 "2015-03-18T15:45:52Z")
Reflux (especially when lying down) can cause both sore throats and coughs. You can try taking an over-the-counter PPI like Prilosec (generic: omeprazole) for a few days. If the sore throat clears up, but comes back after you stop taking the meds, that could be it. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, but I have reflux.