Take your child to a doctor if your child’s sore throat doesn’t go away with the first drink in the morning, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Get immediate care if your child has severe signs such as:
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty swallowing
Unusual drooling, which might indicate an inability to swallow
If you’re an adult, see your doctor if you have a sore throat and any of the following associated problems occur, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology:
A sore throat that is severe or lasts longer than a week
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty opening your mouth
Joint pain
Earache
Rash
Fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
Blood in saliva or phlegm
Frequently recurring sore throats
A lump in your neck
Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks