If you are experiencing throat pain and discomfort when swallowing, it is recommended to consult a doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a week or worsen. You can try using throat lozenges for local relief or consider taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you have no contraindications. Additionally, you may want to consider self-assessing for COVID-19 symptoms using the provided link. It's always best to seek medical advice if you have any concerns about your health.