When should I see a doctor with a sore throat?

introduction

A sore throat can be relieved with various home remedies and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, there are accompanying symptoms and situations in which one should see a doctor.
Sore throats that are dismissed as "harmless" can allow the pathogen to spread in the body. Dangerous complications like myocarditis can be avoided with early, targeted therapy.

With these symptoms I should definitely see a doctor

There are symptoms for which every patient should see a doctor. If the sore throat is extremely severe and home remedies are not enough, a doctor should be consulted to find out the cause of the discomfort. If the symptoms set in very violently and suddenly, this is also a reason to see a doctor. The sore throat is often a disease that requires treatment.

Another reason for a visit to the doctor is a one-sided very severe sore throat with severe difficulty swallowing, a lumpy language and a jaw clamp. A peritonsillar abscess in the oral cavity could be responsible and, without therapy, lead to sepsis (blood poisoning).
If the tonsils are red, swollen and possibly covered with pus, a doctor's visit is also necessary. A (bacterial) tonsillitis requires medical treatment and supervision.

Another serious symptom is clearly swollen lymph nodes in the neck. If you have a fever in addition to a sore throat, you should definitely see a doctor. Fever requires treatment and can be dangerous. The underlying cause of the fever should be investigated and specifically treated. In addition, one should see a doctor if the sore throat (gastrointestinal) symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea are added.

Find out about the following topics: When should I see a doctor with a fever?

What are the possible complications if I don't see a doctor?

If tonsillitis is the cause of the sore throat, the bacteria can form an almond abscess. If the abscess is not treated, the bacteria can get into the blood and cause dangerous blood poisoning (sepsis).

As part of secondary diseases of a sore throat or tonsillitis caused by A-streptococci and scarlet fever, diseases such as kidney infections and rheumatic fever can develop.
Rheumatic fever includes symptoms such as joint pain, fever, headache, and sweating.
Kidney infection in children can occur about two to three weeks after a sore throat and is manifested by swelling of the tissue around the eyelids or blood in the urine.

Dangerous complications can usually be effectively avoided if you go to the doctor early and treat the disease underlying the sore throat in a targeted manner.

Where do I go: family doctor or ENT?

If you have a sore throat, you can first see your doctor. The ear, nose and throat doctor is a specialist. An ENT doctor has other ways to examine you and is more specialized in conditions that cause sore throats.
Getting an appointment with an ENT specialist at short notice is not always easy. If you cannot get an appointment with the ear, nose and throat doctor at short notice, you should visit your family doctor and describe the symptoms.

Read more on this topic: Sore throat - what to do?

When should I go to the pediatrician with my child / toddler?

A sore throat can be caused by a harmless cold or more serious childhood illnesses such as scarlet fever or mumps. There are symptoms for which you should definitely go to the pediatrician with the sick child.

These include fever, a lumpy voice, headache and body aches, earache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. If there are white specks on the tonsils, tonsillitis is suspected. Swollen lymph nodes on the neck, skin rashes and the typical red raspberry tongue are characteristic symptoms of serious childhood diseases.

Length of sick leave

In the case of a sore throat, the length of the sick leave depends on the accompanying symptoms and the underlying diseases.
For example, if you have the flu, the sick leave usually lasts for one to two weeks. The duration of illness is very variable for the various diseases that cause sore throats. A doctor often writes sick for a few days and extends the sick leave with a new visit to the doctor if the symptoms do not improve.

Our next article provides further information on this topic: Sick leave with a cold