Sore throat for three weeks

My throat has been sore for about 3 weeks. Oddly the pain disappears a few hours after waking and returns in the evening, making sleep difficult without use of over the counter medication.

Assuming it would go away on its own, it has not after about 3 weeks. The pain at one point moved from a centralized area in the throat to the left side, affecting the ear and gum. It has now returned to a centralized area.

I do not have a runny or stuffed sinus, or other symtoms generally associated with a cold or flu.

I have had several sore throat incidences over the past 9 months, which linger for a couple of weeks.

I had some smoke inhalation while I slept through a near fire incident in my home last fall. Smoke or soot covered everything in my home, even myself as my nostrils were black. My lungs seem fine, and I am not coughing now, other than an occasional dry cough.