Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment Of A Sore Throat

9. Causes

A sore throat is most commonly due to a viral infection, such as the common cold or flu. Illnesses associated with a viral infection include measles, chickenpox, croup, mononucleosis or mono, a common cold, and influenza. Bacterial infections are less common and are most likely caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, which is the same infection that causes strep throat. Other less common causes of a sore throat may include allergies, irritants, dryness, tumors, HIV infection, and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.