Sore Throat: Urgent Care or ER?

A sore throat is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, especially during cold and flu season. While it can be very uncomfortable, the good news is that most sore throats are not emergencies. Knowing where to go—urgent care vs. the ER—can save you time and unnecessary stress.

When Urgent Care Is the Right Choice

Most sore throats are caused by viral infections (like the common cold) or bacterial infections (like strep throat). These are well-managed at urgent care.

Go to urgent care if you have:

• Painful sore throat lasting more than 2–3 days

• White patches on tonsils (possible strep throat)

• Fever that improves with over-the-counter medicine

• Swollen lymph nodes

• Cough, runny nose, or other upper respiratory symptoms

• Concerns about needing antibiotics or a strep test

Urgent care providers can perform a rapid strep test, prescribe antibiotics if necessary, and suggest treatments for pain relief.

When the Emergency Room Is Needed

The ER should only be considered for a sore throat if it’s accompanied by serious red-flag symptoms that may signal a more dangerous condition.

Seek emergency care if you have:

• Notable change in your voice (muffled or hoarse in a concerning way)

• Difficulty swallowing or inability to handle saliva

• Trouble breathing or noisy breathing

• Uncontrolled or very high fevers that don’t come down with medication

• Severe throat pain with neck swelling or stiffness

These symptoms could indicate emergencies like a peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, or other airway-compromising infections that require immediate hospital care.

Quick Rule of Thumb

• Urgent Care: Most sore throats. Strep testing, symptom relief, and reassurance.

• ER: Only if breathing, swallowing, or voice is severely affected—or if fevers are dangerously high and uncontrolled.

Bottom Line

The majority of sore throats can be safely evaluated in urgent care, where you can get quick testing and treatment. Save the ER for rare but serious symptoms that threaten breathing or swallowing.