Sore throat

A chronic sore throat is a commonly reported symptom in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). It forms part of a range of flu-like symptoms that are very common in ME/CFS patients.

Presentation

Sore throats can be particularly common during the initial onset of the illness, which often presents with flu-like symptoms. A sore throat usually appears most commonly in the morning upon waking, or during PEM. Some patients see a sore throat as a warning sign to reduce their activity.

A bacterial or viral infection is rarely found.

Prevalence

• Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 50-90% for chronic sore throat.
• 74.1% - 84.1% of the 2073 patients in a Belgian study of 2001 reported sore throat.

Symptom recognition

• Features in the Fukuda criteria, Canadian Consensus Criteria, International Consensus Criteria
• In the Canadian Consensus Criteria, recurrent sore throat is an optional criteria for diagnosis, under the section Immune Manifestations.
• In the Fukuda criteria, the symptom of sore throat can be used to help form a diagnosis.
• In the Holmes criteria, a sore throat is an optional criteria for diagnosis, under the section Minor Symptom Criteria.

Possible causes

• Sore throat can be a symptom of sick building syndrome, often caused by mould.

Potential treatments

• Zinc
• Herbal teas
• Hot lemon and honey