This guide is general information about healthcare in Ireland. It is not a substitute for advice from a doctor who has assessed you. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.
Why sore throats happen
A sore throat is usually part of a cold, flu or another viral infection. The lining of the throat becomes inflamed, so it feels raw, scratchy or painful to swallow. Tonsillitis is when the tonsils, the two lumps at the back of the throat, are infected and swollen.
A small number of sore throats are caused by bacteria, most often group A streptococcus. This is known as strep throat. It can be hard to tell viral and bacterial infections apart just by how they feel, which is why doctors look at the overall pattern of symptoms rather than one sign.
Common symptoms
- a dry, scratchy or painful throat, often worse when swallowing
- redness at the back of the mouth
- swollen, tender glands in the neck
- a hoarse voice, mild cough, runny or blocked nose and sneezing, if it is part of a cold
- a temperature, headache, earache and tiredness
With tonsillitis, the tonsils may look red and swollen, sometimes with white or yellow spots, and swallowing can be very painful.
Call 112 or 999, or go to an emergency department, if someone with a sore throat: has difficulty breathing or makes a high-pitched sound when breathing in, is drooling or cannot swallow their own saliva, cannot speak properly or has a muffled voice with severe pain on one side, or has symptoms that are severe and getting worse quickly.
For babies and young children, get urgent help if they are very sleepy, floppy, not responding normally or hard to wake.
What helps
About nine in ten people with a sore throat feel better in less than a week. Until then:
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain and temperature, following the instructions on the pack
- drink plenty of fluids. Cool or warm drinks are both fine, but avoid very hot ones
- eat soft, cool foods if swallowing hurts
- gargle with warm salty water, for adults and older children only
- try medicated lozenges or throat sprays from your pharmacist
- rest, and stay off work or school until you feel better
- if you smoke, try to stop while your throat recovers
Do not give aspirin to children under 16. For babies and young children, ask a pharmacist about the right pain relief and dose, and offer plenty of fluids. Ice pops can help.
Wash your hands often and use tissues to avoid passing the infection on.
Your pharmacist can help
A pharmacist is a good first stop for a sore throat. They can recommend pain relief, lozenges and sprays, and tell you whether your symptoms need a GP. Sore throat and tonsillitis are not part of the pharmacist Common Conditions Service, so pharmacists cannot prescribe antibiotics for them. If a prescription is needed, you will be referred to a GP. Read more about when pharmacists can prescribe.
When to see a GP
Contact a GP if:
- you have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
- you have white or yellow spots on your tonsils
- the pain is so bad that you are struggling to eat or drink
- tonsillitis has not improved after about 4 days
- a sore throat is still there after 2 weeks
- you get sore throats or tonsillitis very often
- you have a weakened immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or medicines that suppress the immune system
- a baby or child is not drinking enough or has fewer wet nappies than usual
- you are worried
If your surgery is closed and you need a GP urgently, contact your GP out-of-hours service.
What happens when you see a GP
The GP will ask how long you have been unwell, whether you have a temperature or cough, and about your general health. They will usually look at your throat. Doctors often use scoring tools, such as FeverPAIN or Centor, which combine signs like fever, swollen glands, pus on the tonsils and the absence of a cough to estimate how likely a bacterial infection is.
Depending on what they find, they may:
- reassure you that it is likely to be viral and advise on easing symptoms
- suggest waiting a few days and starting antibiotics only if you are not improving
- prescribe antibiotics straight away if a bacterial infection is likely and symptoms are severe
- take a throat swab, or a blood test if glandular fever is a possibility
Why antibiotics are not always the answer
Antibiotics do not work on viruses. Even when a sore throat is bacterial, they shorten symptoms by less than a day on average, and they can cause side effects such as diarrhoea and thrush. Using them only when they are likely to help also reduces antibiotic resistance, which makes infections harder to treat for everyone.
Complications to know about
Complications are uncommon, but it helps to know the signs:
- Quinsy is an abscess next to a tonsil. It causes severe pain on one side, difficulty opening the mouth or swallowing, and a muffled voice. It needs urgent assessment.
- Glandular fever can cause a severe sore throat with marked tiredness and swollen glands that lasts longer than usual.
- Invasive group A strep is rare but serious. Seek urgent help for anyone, especially a child, who becomes much more unwell, develops a high fever that will not come down, a rash, severe muscle pain or confusion.
Can a sore throat be assessed online?
Often, yes. A sore throat is one of the problems that suits a video consultation well. The doctor can see your throat with the help of a torch, ask the right questions and decide whether you need treatment, a swab or an in-person review. If you cannot swallow, are struggling to breathe or are getting worse quickly, do not wait for an online appointment. Use the emergency advice above. Read more about how online GP consultations work in Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a sore throat last?
Most sore throats get better in less than a week, and tonsillitis often settles within 3 to 4 days. See a GP if tonsillitis has not improved after about 4 days, or if a sore throat is still there after 2 weeks.
Do I need antibiotics for a sore throat?
Usually not. Almost all sore throats are caused by viruses, and antibiotics do not work against viruses. A GP may prescribe them if a bacterial infection such as strep throat is likely and your symptoms are severe, or if you are at higher risk of complications.
Can a pharmacist prescribe for a sore throat in Ireland?
Sore throat and tonsillitis are not part of the pharmacist Common Conditions Service, so a pharmacist cannot prescribe antibiotics for them. They can recommend lozenges, sprays and pain relief, and tell you if you should see a GP.
What does tonsillitis look like?
The tonsils at the back of the throat look red and swollen, sometimes with white or yellow spots. You may have a temperature, painful swallowing, swollen glands in the neck and bad breath. White spots are worth having checked by a GP, though they do not always mean a bacterial infection.
When is a sore throat an emergency?
Call 112 or 999, or go to an emergency department, if someone has difficulty breathing, is drooling or cannot swallow their own saliva, has a muffled voice with severe pain on one side, has symptoms that are severe and getting worse quickly, or, in the case of a baby, is very sleepy, floppy or hard to wake.
Can a sore throat be assessed online?
Often, yes. On a video call a doctor can look at your throat with the help of a torch, ask about your symptoms and use recognised scoring tools to judge whether a bacterial infection is likely. If you need a throat swab or an examination, they will tell you. See how online GP consultations work.
Sources and further reading
- HSE – Sore throat
- HSE – Tonsillitis
- HSE – Common Conditions Service
- HSE – When to go to a GP out of hours
From AccessGP
Checked against official Irish sources. Last checked 5 November 2026.