I have had a sore throat on & off for the best part of a year it often starts with itchiness in the back of the throat. Because it only lasts a couple of days I was never too concerned & put it down to being tired or stressed or maybe allergic to something. I have just had what I think was the the flu with symptoms still present after a month. With this I have a had a very sore throat, especially around my tonsils & lower throat around my ears at times for a whole month. The pain has been severe enough to take painkillers every day & I don t usually take pain killers. My step test came back negative. My blood results also came back fine apart from an alleviated level of infection which I was told was to be expected What else could it be?