Sudden intense sore throat

[Sorethroatwoes]

I had a cold/flu the first week of January - sore throat, chesty cough etc.

That resolved about 5 days ago. Since then, i had a one sided sore throat every other day (changed sides) but pain was minimal and it also felt as though my tongue hurt at the back, close to where my tonsils are.

this evening I’ve gone from basically no sore throat up to this really intense pain on the right side - my tongue or tonsil feels swollen (although isn’t) but i don’t have any raised lymph nodes/spots on tonsils. Only redness which has been there since the beginning of my cold.

The pain is so awful i’m struggling to swallow (but i can do it) and struggled to chew my food, not related to the swallowing.

Why would i be getting this awful sore throat now, a week after my symptoms improved? It’s come on quite suddenly and hasn’t improved after gargling salt water, taking paracetamol etc.

any suggestions?

I had this when I had Covid - a sudden, intense sore throat just as other symptoms started to subside. Sorry, probably
no help as I can’t explain it, but hope you feel better soon.

A sudden onset very sore throat is a sign of strep throat and needs antibiotics or it can get very serious very quickly. I have had strep quite a few times and the doctor said the sudden onset and huge amount of pain is what makes it different to a viral throat infection.

Sounds like either quinsy or strep throat, both of which will need antibiotics.

You should probably get it checked. Epiglottitis can come on quickly and is pretty dangerous.

Thanks everyone. Can a pharmacist prescribe Antibiotics? I imagine it will be a battle to get hold of a GP tomorrow!

Some will, i "think" I read they've been told to prescribe for strep. If you can't get into a GP then phone 111.

I'm on antibiotics at the moment for strep throat. I had sudden onset sore throat too.

What if you just can’t get a doctors appointment? A relative of mine had this recently. She can’t get anyone to answer at her doctors surgery . She was on the phone an hour and a half to speak to a receptionist and then gave up.