Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx (also called the voice box). The technical name for the throat is the pharynx. You can have a sore throat for many reasons. Often, colds and flu cause sore throats.

Other causes can include:

• Allergies

• Mononucleosis

• Smoking

• Strep throat

• Tonsillitis – an infection in the tonsils

Treatment depends on the cause. Sucking on lozenges, drinking lots of liquids, and gargling may ease the pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help, but children should not take aspirin.