I have had a slight itch in my throat that has made me cough often the past couple of months. When I took mucus relief the itch and cough seemed to subside. However, the past couple of days my throat has been sore and I have a severe headache. My neck is sore/stiff and glands slightly swollen. My joints are painful too---originally I thought because of my arthritis and lack of activity lately. I have no tonsils but my soft palate is swollen and painful and it seems phlegm gets stuck behind it and is bloody if I spit it out.