Most sore throats are caused by colds, the flu, coxsackie virus or mono (mononucleosis). Bacteria that can cause pharyngitis in some cases: 1  Strep throat is caused by group A streptococcus.  Less commonly, bacterial diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause sore throat.
Do you need a doctor's referral for an appointment? Some specialty areas at Mayo require a doctor's referral, and some do not. Most insurance plans require a referral from a plan doctor in order to get access to Mayo Clinic. You should check with your insurance company or your doctor prior to seeking care at Mayo.
Mayo Clinic doesn't have a public directory of staff phone numbers or email addresses. To contact someone, call the general telephone number at a Mayo Clinic location, and the operator will connect you. You may find biographical information about Mayo Clinic staff doctors in the Doctors and Medical Staff pages. You may view research profiles of Mayo Clinic faculty in the research staff directory.