What are the symptoms of a sore throat?

If the sore throat is the result of a common cold or flu virus, you will probably experience pain when swallowing, a dry or scratchy feeling in the throat, and you may notice that the back of your throat is red. Your ears may also feel painful because of the nerve connection with your throat. If it is a symptom of an infection like tonsillitis, you may also have swollen tonsils and white dots that cover your throat and tonsils.