A sore throat is one the most common reasons to visit a general practitioner’s office – either a family doctor or paediatrician. Correct interpretation of a sore throat in compliance with proper diagnostic algorithms allows for correct recognition and introduction of optimal therapeutic management. This paper presents the most frequent triggers of acute and chronic sore throat, with particular regard to its differential diagnosis. A special emphasis was placed on typical symptoms of inflammatory processes and complications around the pharynx, as well as the less typical symptoms for malignancy that are perceived by the patient as a sore throat.