Throat pain is a symptom of an underlying condition. It can occur due to common causes like a sore throat or more complex infections like whooping cough etc.

Symptoms accompanying throat pain may include:
•Headache or body ache
•Fever
•Runny nose, or cough or sneezing
•Sensation of being scratched
•Nausea or vomiting
•Swallowing difficulty or pain worsening with it or talking
•Swollen tonsils or glands (neck, jaws)
•Tonsils with pus or white patches
•A hoarse voice

The causes of throat pain include:
•Infections which could be viral (common cold, flu), bacterial (group A streptococcus)
•Muscle spasm (yelling, talking continuously or loudly)
•Allergens or irritants
•Excessive dryness
•Acid reflux

We can prevent throat pain as follows:
•Personal cleanliness which includes: washing hands regularly (alcohol-based sanitizers preferred), cover your mouth while sneezing, and keep your belongings such as cellphones, etc. clean.
•Avoid sharing of used utensils including glasses, food, public phones.
•Avoid drinking fountains using your mouth or close contact with infected individuals

Yes, following severe conditions have throat pain as an initial sign:
•HIV infection cal lead to oral thrush-a fungal infection
•In immuno-compromised individuals (due to an infection by cytomegalovirus)
•Tumours which could be cancerous involving the throat, voice box (larynx) or the tongue