There are numerous causes of sore throat and fatigue, and many of them are very common. A lot of garden-variety illnesses begin with these two symptoms, or they can be a signal of more serious illnesses that require medical attention. It isn’t just viruses or bacterial infections that result in sore throat and fatigue. Sometimes either intentional or accidental chemical exposure can cause these symptoms.

Those who have had a cold or the flu may recall starting out by noticing a sore or scratchy throat and a sense of feeling run down. This isn’t always the first symptom of the many rhinoviruses or flus, and sometimes a scratchy throat is so minor it isn’t noticed at first, or it is present without fatigue. Other symptoms of sore throat and fatigue may be present with colds or flus. Some people feel achy, a fever might develop, and nasal congestion or coughing could occur as well.

A few more serious illnesses can begin with sore throat and fatigue. These two symptoms, with possibly aching in the stomach near the spleen could be a symptom of mononucleosis or chronic fatigue syndrome. The throat is usually extremely sore, and not just scratchy or a little uncomfortable with mono. Infections like strep throat might also be associated with sore throat and tiredness, and other symptoms like fever, swollen glands, rash, and/or stomachache could be present, too. Other conditions that may have these two symptoms include mumps, HIV, swine flu, typhoid, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), dengue fever, Ebola virus, anthrax and avian flu, but these are not as common and some are preventable with vaccine.

Certain forms of cancer are also associated with the symptoms of sore throat and fatigue. Lymphoma falls into this group, with the sore throat often being caused by swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes treatments for cancer result in a depressed immune system. People with cancer should immediately report cold or flu symptoms to a physician.

There are many medications that can cause dry or sore throat and fatigue. Among these are a number of antidepressants, tranquilizers, decongestants and antihistamines. People who use medication daily may feel fatigued. For example, taking daily Zyrtec® for allergies may cause low-level tiredness and a scratchy throat.

People can also develop these symptoms if they have significant or low level repeated exposure to certain chemicals. These include some pesticides, and commonly used products like isopropyl alcohol, nail polish remover, window cleaners, pool cleaners or formaldehyde. Those who seem to have these symptoms chronically and who work around chemicals may want to consult their doctors about whether chemical exposure could be creating the problem.