A protracted course of the disease is said if all clinical symptoms persist in the patient for about three weeks. Consequently, a chronic illness lasts more than three weeks and has periods of exacerbation and remission. Constant sore throat occurs when provoking factors are present for a long time:
- exposure to pathogenic microorganisms;
- the presence of irritating substances (dust, smoke, chemical compounds) in the inhaled air;
- trauma;
- psychogenic factor.
ARVI
The most common sore throat condition is acute respiratory viral infection. Diagnosis of the disease is not difficult, since ARVI is accompanied by severe additional symptoms, such as malaise, headache, dry cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, fever up to 38 degrees. In the cold season, the incidence increases several times, worsening the epidemiological situation.
In most cases, the disease is harmless, characterized by a mild course. Only its type, influenza, deserves close attention, which is explained by the frequency of development of severe complications.
Effective antiviral agents have not yet been developed, so the treatment is symptomatic and aimed at the fastest elimination of pathogenic microbes from the body.
For the treatment of sore throat in this case, use
- plentiful warm drink;
- topical preparations with antiseptic, anti-inflammatory effects;
- local procedures, gargling, inhalation, compresses, rubbing.
ARVI, proceeding without complications, is characterized by the fact that all symptoms regress within 5-7 days, the patient recovers. Sore throat, which is permanent in ARVI, also disappears after a given period of time.
What to do if your throat is constantly sore for 7-10 days or longer? In this case, the patient 
you need to go to an appointment with an otolaryngologist to find out the cause of this condition. In immunocompromised patients with severe concomitant pathology, who have been taking corticosteroid drugs, antibiotics for a long time, the disease may be characterized by a longer course. However, after 2-3 weeks, all symptoms will gradually regress.
In this case, all efforts should be aimed at enhancing immunity. For this, such patients are shown adherence to the daily regimen, walks in the fresh air, and full fortified food. Multivitamins can be prescribed additionally in the form of pills or injectable forms. In severe cases, immunostimulating drugs are prescribed.
Chronic tonsillitis
The causes of constant sore throat can be an inflammatory process in the tonsils, chronic tonsillitis. The doctor conducting the pharyngoscopy can easily clarify the diagnosis in this case. The involvement of the tonsils in the process is evidenced by their enlargement, hyperemic or bluish color. There may be purulent plugs covering the follicles or filling lacunae.
The disease often develops against a background of reduced immunity. Smoking, unfavorable environmental conditions contribute to the development of chronic tonsillitis. The inflammatory process in the tonsils is supported by foci of infection in the body.
All attempts to combat this pathology begin precisely with the identification and sanitation of foci of chronic infection. Procedures aimed at enhancing immunity are also effective.
Antibiotics are used only during an exacerbation, when intoxication is increasing, the body temperature rises above 38 degrees.
Quite often, otolaryngologists resort to surgical treatment of patients with chronic tonsillitis. Despite the fact that the tonsils carry a protective function, becoming in the way of infection, tonsillectomy may be the only treatment for this disease.
Injury
Surgical intervention in the throat for any reason is also accompanied by pain. Depending on the volume of the intervention performed, the individual characteristics of the patient, the pain can persist for several days or weeks, causing some concern to the patient.
A burn with hot liquid or steam, chemicals, as well as mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the throat with sharp objects, a fork or a bone, can lead to the development of long-term pain syndrome. How to cure such a pathology? Gargling, topical use of antiseptics and healing aids will help speed up the recovery process.
Occupational hazards and allergies
The development of chronic pharyngitis, laryngitis can be caused by occupational hazards, when people, by virtue of their profession, have to deal with dustiness at the enterprise or exposure to chemical compounds in the inhaled air. Providing a constant irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the pharynx and larynx, these factors lead to the development of a pathological condition. If, after the use of anti-inflammatory, local antiseptic agents, the sore throat does not go away, such patients are advised to change their activities.
The question of exposure to allergens is raised in a similar way. The development of a symptom such as a persistent sore throat may indicate a patient's contact with a hazardous substance. Due to the interaction of the body with the allergen, a pathological antigen-antibody reaction occurs. In patients, it can develop when inhaling pollen from certain plants, household dust, animal fluff, or eating hazardous foods. This results in watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, sore throat, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
The causes and treatment of allergic conditions are not fully understood. Since a pathological reaction occurs only when a dangerous substance comes into contact with the body, the most effective therapeutic 
the event is the elimination of the allergen. However, choosing the most dangerous substance from the whole variety of surrounding objects is a difficult task. Having excluded the pathology of the ENT organs in the development of pain in the throat, the patient needs to consult an allergist and conduct appropriate examinations to clarify the allergen.
It may take some time to get diagnosed. An indirect sign indicating the allergic nature of the changes occurring is the rapid effect of the use of antihistamines. These drugs block the action of inflammatory mediators and lead to a significant improvement in the situation.
Oncopathology
Constant sore throat can be discussed with the development of tumor processes in the throat cavity. In this case, the symptoms increase gradually. At the same time, the complaints are characterized by variety. Depending on the localization of the process, the patient may notice a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, perspiration and scratching from one side.
The throat begins to hurt after a while.By its nature, the pain can be dull, aching, radiate to the jaw or neck. Often the larynx is involved in the process, which is manifested by a distortion of sound reproduction. The patient's voice becomes hoarse, nasal. There is an increase in regional lymph nodes.
In addition to the pharyngoscopy carried out, laboratory tests are a diagnostic aid. In a general blood test, an increase in ESR up to 50 mm / h, a change in the blood formula can be detected. A diagnostic biopsy helps to reliably clarify the diagnosis.
Pathology of other organs
Constant pain in the throat is not always associated with the pathology of the ENT organs. This symptom can characterize the following conditions:
- reflux esophagitis;
- osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
- neuralgia.
With reflux esophagitis, food thrown from the stomach enters the esophagus, causing irritation. Gastric juice that gets on the mucous membrane of the throat contributes to the development of pain syndrome. In this case, complaints appear after dinner and accompany each meal.
The condition is aggravated by taking a horizontal position of the body after eating or bending the body.
Thus, with constant pain caused by this pathology, within 1-2 hours after eating, patients are recommended to be in an upright position or take a walk.
Osteochondrosis of the spine is an insidious disease that masks various pathologies. The process, localized in the cervical spine, can proceed under the guise of heart disorders, as well as otitis media, pharyngitis, tonsillitis. The carried out pharyngoscopy will allow to exclude diseases of the ENT organs.
At the same time, X-ray examination, computed and magnetic resonance imaging will clarify the diagnosis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets or external drugs, as well as physiotherapy procedures will help to improve the situation in the cervical spine, reduce crunch when moving. After the course of treatment, pain in the throat caused by the pathology of the musculoskeletal system will also disappear.
The otolaryngologist, finding out why the patient's throat constantly hurts, must collect all additional complaints, study their nature, the relationship with food intake and other factors.
Pharyngoscopy has an irreplaceable role in diagnostics.
