RGD uses the Human Disease Ontology (DO, https://disease-ontology.org/) for disease curation across species. RGD automatically downloads each new release of the ontology on a monthly basis. Some additional terms which are required for RGD's curation purposes but are not currently covered in the official version of DO have been added. As corresponding terms are added to DO, these custom terms are retired and the DO terms substituted in existing annotations and subsequently used for curation.
An upper respiratory tract disease involving inflammation of the throat or pharynx resulting from bacterial, viral, fungal infections or irritants like pollutants or chemical substances and smoking. The infection is often referred to as sore throat. The symptoms include pain during swallowing, enlarged tonsils coated with a white discharge, runny nose, cough and slight fever. (DO)