“Razor Blade” Sore Throat: A Common Symptom of COVID-19 You Shouldn’t Ignore

Waking up with a sore throat that feels like razor blades slicing your throat? That could be more than just a bad cold — it might be a sign of a COVID-19 infection.

As new variants of the coronavirus emerge, symptoms have shifted. One of the most reported early signs of COVID lately is the intense sore throat, often described as "razor blade throat pain" or "burning sore throat". If your throat feels raw, dry, and painful, here’s what you need to know.

Towfiqu Barbhuiya / Unsplash

What Is a Razor Blade Sore Throat?

A razor blade sore throat is a term people use to describe:

• Sharp throat pain when swallowing

• A feeling of cutting, burning, or tearing in the throat

• A dry throat with no mucus

• Often worse at night or early morning

  
  

This extreme sore throat can be a primary symptom of COVID-19 sore throat, especially with the Omicron variant and newer COVID subvariants.

What Causes Severe Throat Pain in COVID-19?

Infections with upper respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 often inflame the throat lining. The pain can feel more severe than with the flu or common cold.

COVID-19 sore throats are caused by:

• Viral replication in the throat tissues

• Inflammation and dryness

• Irritation of nerve endings, causing burning throat pain or a raw, itchy throat

  
  

Newer COVID variants, such as XBB or FLiRT subvariants, tend to produce more cold-like symptoms — including a scratchy throat, tight throat, or even throat pain without cough.

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Sore Throat from COVID vs Other Causes

Symptom	COVID-19 Throat Pain	Strep Throat	Cold Virus	Flu Throat Pain
Pain level	Severe, burning, raw	Sharp and sudden	Mild scratchy	Moderate aching
White patches	Rare	Common	Rare	Sometimes
Dry throat	Very common	Less common	Mild	Common
Cough	Common	Rare	Common	Common
Loss of smell	Sometimes	No	No	No

When Should You Get Tested?

If you experience:

• Sudden, severe throat pain

• A dry, sore throat with no mucus

• Painful swallowing

• Throat tightness or irritated throat

• Along with fatigue, cough, or mild fever

  
  

take a COVID-19 test. Even if your sore throat feels like strep throat but you don’t have swollen tonsils or white spots, COVID could be the cause.

How to Treat COVID-Related Sore Throat

There is no specific medicine to cure COVID sore throat, but symptoms can be managed at home:

Effective Remedies for COVID Sore Throat Relief:

• Warm saltwater gargle (soothes irritated throat)

• Throat lozenges with menthol or benzocaine

• Honey lemon tea for sore throat comfort

• Pain relievers (paracetamol, ibuprofen)

• Use a cool mist humidifier

• Stay hydrated and rest your voice

  
  

Avoid smoking or dry air, as it can worsen your COVID sore throat symptoms.

How Long Does a COVID Sore Throat Last?

• Most COVID sore throats last 3–5 days

• Pain may peak on day 2 or 3

• Other symptoms (cough, fatigue) may linger longer

  
  

If throat pain worsens after day 5 or you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, see a doctor.

Final Thoughts

Today’s COVID sore throat doesn’t always come with classic symptoms like loss of smell. Instead, you may just feel like you're swallowing glass or have an unbearable sore throat at night or in the morning.

If you're dealing with an extreme sore throat that feels dry, raw, and painful, it could be COVID-19 — especially if you've recently been exposed or are in a high-risk area.

Get tested early, take care of your symptoms, and help protect others.