Sore Throat

Severe tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils), a peritonsillar abscess (a pocket of pus and infection) around the tonsils or epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis) can cause swelling that impairs the upper airway.

Contact your doctor immediately, or seek emergency medical care.

If you are having trouble breathing or talking, or you are drooling because you cannot swallow, you should call your local emergency number for immediate attention.

If you have severe throat pain, call your doctor to be seen the same day.

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Online Medical Reviewer: Faculty of Harvard Medical School Date Last Reviewed: 5/15/2006 Date Last Modified: 5/9/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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