I've recently got a sore throat.its painful and hurts to swallow etc.ive found red lumps on my tonsils and have a bad cough.any ideas what it might be?

Sore throat: This needs to be seen and diagnosed by a physician. Either viral or bacterial, and only an appropriate exam can differentiate. Without being able to examine you there is no way we can help.

Medical eval: If you have a significantly sore throat w swollen tonsils / lymph nodes – see your medical provider ; get a strep throat test ; culture. Saltwater gargles are helpful. Mix a tsp of salt in 8 oz of warm water – gargle w this several times/day. You can gargle w aloe vera juice a couple of times per day. A mix of chamomile tea w honey ; a small amount of lemon juice is good.