How can I tell if my sore throat is a symptom of COVID-19?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

A sore throat is a possible symptom of COVID-19, but it's also common with colds, flu, strep throat, and allergies. COVID-related sore throats often appear alongside other symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, or loss of taste or smell. If you're experiencing these signs, consider getting tested for COVID-19.

Because sore throat causes overlap significantly, self-diagnosis can be misleading and delay proper care. The fastest way to clarify what may be behind your symptoms—and what to do next—is to use a free, instant, online symptom check. It takes just a few minutes, is backed by medical experts, and gives you personalized insight so you can make informed decisions about testing, home care, or seeing a doctor.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if sore throat needs urgent care Discover possible causes of your sore throat Find out if COVID could cause it See OTC options for sore throat relief Find a doctor for throat symptoms Understand home remedies for sore throat Check symptoms for a likely diagnosis

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Explanation

A sore throat is one of the symptoms that can occur with COVID-19, but it is also common in other illnesses like the common cold or flu. Sore throats appear often in the early stages of COVID-19, but they are not the only symptom you may have.

Other Symptoms to Watch For:

Fever - Feeling hot or having a high temperature.
Cough - A dry or productive cough.
Loss of Taste or Smell - This is a unique symptom more specific to COVID-19.

If you have a sore throat along with other symptoms such as fever, cough, or loss of taste and smell, you can use our free AI symptom checker to help determine what might be causing your symptoms. Remember, it is important to stay informed and take precautions like wearing masks and keeping social distance to protect yourself and others.

(References)

Takegoshi Y, Nagaoka K, Kido T, Kawasuji H, Murai Y, Kaneda M, et al. (2024). Association between sore throat and early immune .... Annals of translational medicine, 39507451.
El-Anwar MW, Eesa M, Mansour W, Zake LG, & Hendawy E. (2021). Analysis of Ear, Nose and Throat Manifestations in COVID- .... International archives of otorhinolaryngology, 34377166.
Akaishi T, Kushimoto S, Katori Y, Sugawara N, Egusa H, Igarashi K, et al. (2022). COVID-19-Related Symptoms during the SARS-CoV-2 .... The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine, 36002251.

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