East Tennessee is absolutely gorgeous in the summer! It may be hot, but it’s beautiful—and there’s a ton to do.

But sometimes, illness strikes. If a sore throat has you feeling less than your best, there are things you can do to get back to good health.

What Is Acute Pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis, also known as sore throat, occurs when the back of your throat (pharynx) and tonsils become inflamed. Depending on the cause, your sore throat may just be pesky and annoying—or it may be extremely painful.

Along with a sore throat, you may experience other symptoms:

Symptoms of Acute Pharyngitis

• Body aches
• Chills
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sneeze

How Do I Know If It Is Acute Pharyngitis or Something More?

If your sore throat persists for two or more days without relief, stop by one of our urgent care center locations for a culture and/or blood work to see if your sore throat might be strep throat, a cold or even the flu.

Depending on your diagnosis, a doctor will recommend prescription medications and other treatments, but there also steps you can take at home to ease your pain.

Treatment of Acute Pharyngitis

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Gargle with salt water.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Try OTC pain relievers or throat lozenges.
• Use a humidifier to increase moisture in your home’s air.

When you visit one of our AFC Urgent Care TN locations, you don’t have to wait for days (or even hours) to get a result for a strep test. We’ll get you a prompt diagnosis and treatment plan so you can get back to feeling your best.