(HealthDay News) -- A sore throat has a litany of possible causes, including an allergy, air pollution, dry air or exposure to tobacco smoke.
The culprit also may be a virus, notably the common cold.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says signs that a virus may be behind your sore throat include:
Experimental Nasal Spray Might Ward Off Multiple Viruses
Saltwater Drops in Nose Could Shorten Kids' Colds
Sleepy Nurses Vulnerable To Common Cold, Other Infectious Diseases