Sore Throat: Red Flags

When is a sore throat a sign of severe disease, and when is it something benign, like viral pharyngitis or strep throat? What signs and symptoms besides throat pain help us figure this out?
When to suspect a peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, thyroiditis, deep neck space infections, and other serious or even potentially life-threatening causes of a sore throat? The danger signs or red flags discussed in this video will help you identify serious causes of throat pain as early as possible. In most cases, a sore throat is no cause for concern.
And here lies the danger. It's easy to underestimate a sore throat and brush it off as something insignificant. The red flags covered here will help you avoid such mistakes.

Free online course: A Clinical Approach to Serious Infections in Adults - What Every Physician Should Know

Notes from this lecture in pdf:

DISCLAIMER: Please, always keep in mind that my videos are intended for educational purposes only. The content of my videos is NOT medical advice. I do not practice medicine over the internet. If you are a patient and have any questions about your health, please talk to your doctor.

SOURCES & RECOMMENDED READING:
1. Tanz RR. Sore Throat. Nelson Pediatric Symptom-Based Diagnosis. 2018;1-14.e2.
2. Srirompotong S, Art-Smart T. Ludwig’s angina: a clinical review. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2003 Aug;260(7):401–3.
3. Karkos PD, Asrani S, Karkos CD, Leong SC, Theochari EG, Alexopoulou TD, et al. Lemierre’s syndrome: A systematic review. Laryngoscope. 2009 Aug;119(8):1552–9.
4. Karkos PD, Karkanevatos A, Panagea S, Dingle A, Davies JE. Lemierre’s syndrome: how a sore throat can end in disaster. Eur J Emerg Med. 2004 Aug;11(4):228–30.

[clinicaltips]

I want to remind everyone that my videos are for educational purposes only. Of course, everyone is welcome to watch, but the information I present is most useful for junior doctors, nurses, and students. As I stated in the description of every video and on my channel homepage, none of this is medical advice for patients. I don't practice medicine over the internet. If you are a patient and have any questions about your health, please get in touch with your doctor.

[laurarak]

Can you please do a video on red flags in back pain?

[andiralosh]

This is so helpful and practical, thank you!

[Suraj]

Hello sir, I am having chronic tonsillitis for the last 5 months
Symptoms included-tonsil stones, lumps behind tonsils, lymph nodes under the jaw but no pain  and when ever I drink something cold another appears in that area
   And recently another appears near the old one which is located just under the jaw
      Is it all ok? Please reply!! 🙏🙏🙏

[NFLife]

I lost my 25 year old son to lemierre's syndrome two years ago its a horrible disease 😢

[davecozzie]

I have throat pain and also when I swallow. Side neck ache next to my jugular and earache at night mostly. Tried penicillin didn't work tried amoxicillin didn't work I'm absolutely fed up with it now it's been months of this. Based in uk

[Catloverplayer]

What about Esophagus issues that cause sore throat eg acid reflux? I Sadly have severe acid reflux that causes a sore throat.

[akshayakmurthy]

I have fever, head neck and ear pain, weakness and tiredness...😢

[ademolaolatun]

Why do I have sore throat that doesn’t go away for over three months

[melody]

No dr will take me seriously I have been chronic sore throat 2 years fevers body aches severe cough so bad I pass out regularly for few seconds, I have broken all my eye vessels and face vessels I turn purple when I cough . I also have to get in those positions in number 5 to breath can't take a deep breath in have to have pain killers and throat lozenges every day to get by noone understands me or cares enough to find out what's going on and its causing soo much depression I sometimes can not go any where my body is soo weak from this then there are times where I just don't go anywhere because everyone staring at me in angry way from coughing soo bad 😔 I have kids on my own raising them and I feel like I can't put in 100 percent and it's soo very isolating

[beaulieuc]

Thanks. I inhave acute tonsilltis and I have a swollen neck (well inside is swollen), my voice is hoarse and different. I have had it for 4 days and just have scared to take penicillan. I find it very hard to swallow because of the pain and I have experienced thick drooling. When I lie down I find it hard to breathe 'as it feels like there is a swollen obstruction' but when I sit up I am ok. It is a bit scary as I wonder if my neck will just swell more inside

[Catloverplayer]

You should do a video on chest pain red flags.

[Oscillator]

Those pesky spammers messing with such good content :)

[Saltandsnow]

If doctors " like boring " they would be out of a job.