Start with self-care or a pharmacist.
Many sore throats improve within a week. A pharmacist can advise on pain relief and check whether a Pharmacy First assessment is suitable for adults and children aged 5 or over.
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Sore throat & tonsillitis · GP care
Sore throat? Know what to do next.
Most sore throats settle without antibiotics, but a painful or recurring throat can make you wonder when to seek help. Explore symptom relief, what a clinician may need to check and which care route fits your situation.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis or an antibiotic order. Severe symptoms or difficulty breathing need immediate help.
Choose a suitable route
What kind of help do you need?
A sore throat can be part of a cold, tonsillitis or something else. The right next step depends on how you feel, how long it has lasted and whether any warning signs are present.
When it persists or keeps returning.
Seek a GP review if the sore throat has not improved after a week, keeps coming back, or a child under 5 needs help. A persistent lump in the mouth or neck also needs checking.
Explore GP appointment optionsDo not wait if you are unwell.
Ask for an urgent GP assessment or use NHS 111 if you have a very high temperature, feel shivery, show signs of dehydration, have reduced immunity or are worried about symptoms.
Get help from NHS 111If you cannot swallow, are drooling, have difficulty breathing or speaking, or symptoms are severe and worsening quickly, call 999 or go to A&E. This page cannot assess an emergency.
What you may notice
Common sore throat symptoms.
These symptoms can occur with a cold, tonsillitis and other causes. Their pattern matters more than trying to diagnose yourself from one sign.
Pain on swallowing
Eating or drinking may feel uncomfortable, even if you can still swallow.
Dry or scratchy throat
A rough or irritated feeling, sometimes alongside a cough.
Redness or swollen tonsils
Changes at the back of the mouth can have several possible causes.
Swollen neck glands
Tender glands may appear with a throat infection.
White or pus-filled spots on the tonsils can occur with tonsillitis; NHS 111 can advise if you have this or the pain makes it difficult to eat or drink. If you are unable to swallow, seek emergency help. Read NHS tonsillitis guidance.
A considered GP review
A clear plan starts with a careful look.
A GP can ask about the symptoms, examine your throat when needed and consider whether the cause is likely to be viral, bacterial or another condition. A remote appointment may not provide enough information for every case.
Explore in-person GP care01
Understand the timeline.
When the pain began, how it has changed, whether you have fever, cough, difficulty swallowing or repeated episodes.
02
Consider what needs checking.
Looking at the throat or arranging another assessment may be appropriate. Some symptoms need urgent care rather than a routine GP visit.
03
Agree what to do next.
The plan may involve symptom relief, monitoring, treatment when indicated or referral if the concern needs further investigation.
After an assessment
Care that fits the cause.
A sore throat is not automatically a reason for antibiotics. Treatment depends on your symptoms and clinical assessment.
01
Comfort & self-care
Rest, enough fluids and suitable pain relief may help while the throat settles. A pharmacist can advise which medicines are safe for you.
02
Pharmacy First
Many pharmacies in England can assess sore throats in people aged 5 or over and offer treatment or direct you elsewhere when needed.
03
Antibiotics only if indicated
Most sore throats are caused by viruses, so antibiotics usually will not help. A clinician may consider them if a bacterial infection is suspected and treatment is appropriate.
For adults, warm salt-water gargles may provide relief. Children should not gargle with salt water, and small hard sweets or lozenges may be a choking risk for young children. Ask a pharmacist about age-appropriate options. NHS sore throat advice.
Children’s sore throats
Care that considers their age.
Children can have the same throat symptoms as adults, sometimes with a temperature or lower energy. If a child under 5 needs help for a sore throat, see a GP; a pharmacist can advise for children aged 5 and over.
If your child is unable to swallow, is drooling, has difficulty breathing or severe symptoms are worsening quickly, call 999 or go to A&E. A clinician will decide whether an in-person examination is needed.
Explore children’s health ↗Good to know
Questions about sore throats.
The answers that help you choose the next step.
Do I need antibiotics for a sore throat?
Usually not. Most sore throats improve without them. A pharmacist or GP may consider antibiotics only when a bacterial infection is possible and treatment is clinically appropriate.
Can I use Pharmacy First?
Many pharmacies in England assess sore throats in people aged 5 or over. The pharmacist checks suitability and may offer advice, treatment or referral. See NHS pharmacy guidance.
When should I see a GP?
If your sore throat has not improved after a week, keeps returning, or a child under 5 needs help, arrange a GP review. A lump in your mouth or neck, or a mouth ulcer lasting more than 3 weeks, also needs checking.
What if it hurts too much to eat or drink?
Get urgent advice from NHS 111, especially if you have pus-filled spots on your tonsils. If you cannot swallow at all or are drooling, call 999 or go to A&E now.
Can a GP assess a sore throat by video or telephone?
Sometimes, but an in-person throat examination may be needed. A clinician will consider the safest format for your symptoms. Explore remote GP formats.
How do I choose an appointment?
Explore GP appointment options to learn about video, telephone and in-person care. A clinician may recommend an in-person examination if a remote assessment is not enough. If you need urgent advice, use NHS 111 rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Clinical information: NHS sore throatNHS tonsillitisNHS pharmacy services. This information is general and does not replace individual medical advice.