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Every single one of us has experienced a sore throat at some point in our lives. They often appear in the morning along with other cold symptoms such as headache, cough, nasal congestion or even sinus pain. While many sore throats can be cured with a little rest and an over the counter pain reliever there are quite a number of other illnesses that can result in much more serious symptoms. For many people though, a sore throat is just that and nothing more. Most times they go away in only a day or two and only cause what is usually considered to be "mild discomfort". For those situations that don't go away on their own, it is important to recognize when you should seek medical assistance. First of all, any time a sore throat results in a fever it is important to pay close attention to your symptoms. Sore throat pain is commonly identified by pain upon swallowing and is usually the result of inflammations of the larynx, pharynx, or tonsils. The most common sore throat illness, known as pharyngitis; is a virus that attacks the pharynx resulting in pain, discomfort, and sometimes swelling. As many of us already know, there is no cure for a virus; all you can do is control your symptoms and wait for it to pass. 9 times out of 10 it will and you'll be back to normal in a few days. Sometimes though, things get worse. In the case of a bacterial infection like strep throat or as it is officially known, the streptococcal virus, things can get quite serious. Strep throat often begins as throat pain and rapidly leads to fever, chills and severe fatigue. This bacterial infection is one of the most common of all sore throat illnesses and if let untreated can lead to kidney infection or even rheumatic fever. A trip to the doctor for a diagnosis and a good round of antibiotics can usually clear it up but strep is known to take quite a toll on pretty much anyone unlucky enough to come in contact with it. Other illnesses like tonsillitis can sometimes (although rarely) result in a need for a tonsillectomy. Mononucleosis is another dreaded infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Often characterized by a sore throat that lasts for up to a month; Mononucleosis generally results in swollen glands and sever fatigue sometimes leading to weeks of bed rest and missed work or school. While some of what we've said may sound scary, most sore throat related illnesses are easily treated and often disappear in only a few days. For cases that last longer or result in a fever, it is best to see a doctor right away as that is the only way to get an accurate diagnosis. Usually a couple days of pain medication followed by some rest and vitamin C can go a long way toward getting rid of a sore throat. Remember to pay attention to what your body tells you and if it gets worse, see a doctor.