Sore throat can be very serious – ask Taylor Momsen

Actress Taylor Momsen, from Gossip Girls, has been hospitalized with a sore throat that turned out to be a life-threatening infection. The reports don’t say what that infection is.

While it may seem extreme to be hospitalized for something like a sore throat, obviously there are times when this is necessary. For example, a sore throat can be a symptom of mononucleosis, tonsillitis, and even diseases like gonorrhea, to name a few. Some infections, like strep throat, can lead to more severe illnesses that can affect other parts of the body, like the heart.

So, when should you be concerned about a sore throat? Here are some situations that should be followed up by a doctor or in an emergency room:

- if pain in the throat is so severe that you are having trouble swallowing

- difficulty breathing

- swollen glands in the neck, along with the throat pain

- pus in the back of the throat

- a rash on your skin

- blood in the phlegm you cough up

- signs of dehydration because drinking is too painful (less urination, no tears, sunken eyes)

In children, if they have a sore throat and excessive drooling, fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit for babies under 6 months or over 103 in children over 6 months, or if their sore throats keep coming back.

A sore throat can be a nuisance, but it can be something much more serious too.

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Tags: taylor momsen, gossip girl talor momsen, sore throat, chronic pain blog, pain blog, mononucleosis, gonorrhea, strep throat, phlegm