About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have a sore throat, you'll likely start by seeing your family doctor or your child's pediatrician. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist in ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders (otolaryngologist) or an allergy specialist (allergist).
List of drugs
Before your appointment, make a list of any medications you or your child takes, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements, and the dosage of each medication.
Questions to expect
Be prepared to answer the following questions about your condition — or on your child's behalf.
- What symptoms have you had besides a sore throat?
- When did the symptoms begin?
- Did the symptoms begin relatively quickly or gradually?
- Have you had a fever? If so, how high?
- Have you had any trouble breathing?
- What have you done to lessen symptoms? Has this helped?
- Does anything worsen your sore throat, such as swallowing?
- Is a sore throat a recurring problem?
- Have you noticed any other symptoms that may seem unrelated to your sore throat?
- Do you smoke? Are you regularly exposed to secondhand smoke?
- Do you have allergies? Do you take allergy medication?
- Do you have any drug allergies?
- Sore throats. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/soreThroats.cfm. Accessed July 23, 2010.
- Pharyngitits. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch089/ch089e.html. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Tonsillopharyngitits. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch090/ch090i.html?qt=tonsillopharyngitis&alt=sh. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Information from your family doctor. Sore throat. American Family Physician. 2006;74:1185.
- The difference between a sore throat, strep throat and tonsillitis. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/The-Difference-Between-a-Sore-Throat-Strep-and-Tonsillitis.aspx. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Seller RH. Differential Diagnosis of Common Complaints. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.
- Hoarsesness. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/hoarseness.cfm. Accessed July 23, 2010.
- HIV/AIDS and oral health. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/HIV/. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Information from your family doctor: Cytomegalovirus. American Family Physician. 2003;67:526.
- Drutz JE. Symptomatic relief of sore throat in children and adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 23, 2010.
- Andrographis. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Serrapeptase. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Licorice. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Slippery elm. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Sage. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Reye syndrome. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/Reye-Syndrome.aspx. Accessed Aug. 12, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on