It’s not the drip itself, it’s the virus messing with your nose also being in your throat.
Your antibodies like to do a scorched earth policy when killing viruses.
Since Mr virus likes to hijack cell info and cells and try to mask its presence, and the antibodies know his vicinity but now his exact location, they fire bomb the entire area.
Kill him, his factories, his family, and some innocent bystanders.
There is one type of soar throat caused from nasal drip that will go away immmediately upon clearing your throat. It is sometimes stubborn but once you cough it up the sore throat will be gone. This leads me to believe there is an irritant in the mucous itself.
Thanks…
(It’s my sister’s 31 birthday party, and we hardly every see her, and I’m huddled down here away from the noise with a headache the size of Alaska).
The virus and your immune system may be attacking your throat, but the drip and coughing makes it ten times worse. If you can reroute the drainage to go out your nose, it’s much better. Avoid laying down on your back with your nose as the highest place on your head. If you do lay down, lay on your side with your face off the side of your pillow. Try to get your nose as the lowest point on your head, so the mucus drains that way.
If we’re taking about actual sore throat caused by post nasal drip, and not sore throat caused by bacterial infection (like strep throat) or viral infection (like a cold) then the answer is physical strain and irritation caused by friction while coughing, hacking, and snorting to clear the post nasal drip.
Rather than calling it “Postnasal Drip,” change your terminology to “Postnasal Glop.” I had an upper respiratory infection with nasty sore throat and accompanying snotty nose. My throat felt like sandpaper: dry, raspy, miserable. The doctor stuck a long Q-tip down my throat for a culture, and I was surprised to see goopy nastiness on the swab!
The swab disturbed the Glop, and I was able to spit it out. INSTANT relief from the sore throat! Eureka! I concluded the “Postnasal Glop” clings and accumulates in the back of your throat, and the pressure against your throat tissues is what causes the pain. Gargling with warm water will help break up the Glop, also, giving you relief.
I’m sure there is contributory irritation from the viruses and enzymes, but the pressure of that nasty Glop is the chief culprit.
I always get a sore throat before any other symptoms from a cold. It’s actually the single best sign that I have a cold, as compared to minor allergies. The sniffling and sneezing come about a day later.