Everybody gets a sore throat occasionally, but when it accompanies the patient for a longer period of time, it is definitely necessary to take a closer look at the condition and to search for its causes. A chronic sore throat may be caused by various problems, such as infections, but also allergies or even gonorrhoea and tumours of the throat. What other causes of a long-term sore throat might there be and when should this symptom be of particular concern?