Throat pain

Inflamed tonsils Tonsils are fleshy pads located at each side of the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat — one tonsil on each side. Signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by infection with a common virus, but bacterial infections also may cause tonsillitis. Because appropriate treatment for tonsillitis depends on the cause, it's important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis. Surgery to remove tonsils, once a common procedure to treat tonsillitis, is usually performed only when tonsillitis occurs frequently, doesn't respond to other treatments or causes serious complications. Symptoms Tonsillitis most commonly affects children between preschool ages and the midteenage years. Common signs and symptoms of tonsillitis include: • Red, swollen tonsils • White or yellow coating or patches on the tonsils • Sore throat • Difficult or painful swallowing • Fever • Enlarged, tender glands (lymph nodes) in the neck • A scratchy, muffled or throaty voice • Bad breath • Stomachache • Neck pain or stiff neck • Headache In young children who are unable to describe how they feel, signs of tonsillitis may include: • Drooling due to difficult or painful swallowing • Refusal to eat • Unusual fussiness When to see a doctor It's important to get an accurate diagnosis if ...

Overview Esophagitis (uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis) is inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is the muscular tube that delivers food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis can cause painful, difficult swallowing and chest pain. Many different things can cause esophagitis. Some common causes include stomach acids backing up into the esophagus, infection, oral medicines and allergies. Treatment for esophagitis depends on the underlying cause and how badly the tissue lining the esophagus is damaged. If left untreated, esophagitis can damage this lining and interfere with its function, which is to move food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagitis also can lead to complications such as scarring or narrowing of the esophagus, unintended weight loss and dehydration. Symptoms Common symptoms of esophagitis include: • Difficulty swallowing. • Painful swallowing. • Swallowed food becoming stuck in the esophagus, also known as food impaction. • Chest pain, particularly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating. • Heartburn. • Acid regurgitation. In infants and young children, particularly those too young to explain their discomfort or pain, symptoms of esophagitis may include: • Feeding difficulties, such as irritability, arching of the back and not wanting to eat. • Failure to thrive. • Chest or belly pain in older children. When to see a doctor Most symptoms of esophagitis can be caused by a few different conditions affecting the digestive system. See your he...

Throat pain may be general or specific to a structure within the throat, such as your tonsils or voice box (larynx). Sometimes soreness or irritation at the back of the tongue can also register as throat pain. The types of disorders that can cause throat pain include Your throat can also be irritated or become sore as a result of Throat pain, in itself, is not life threatening and may resolve on its own. However, if your pain lasts more than several days, and if it is accompanied by other symptoms, you should contact a medical professional to identify the cause. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms such as Seek prompt medical care if you have a persistent or mucus-producing cough with Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition In some cases, throat pain may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms: • Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness • Choking • • • • • Severe difficulty breathing, which may be combined with pale or blue lips, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and • Severe pain • Sudden swelling of the tongue or throat structures Injury-related causes of throat pain In some cases, throat pain may be a symptom of an injury to the throat. Injuries to the throat may be due to multiple causes including:...

If you have throat pain that lasts more than two weeks or you have a history of alcohol or tobacco use or exposure, talk to your provider. Pain that's not getting better could be a Diagnosing Throat and Ear Pain To diagnose the cause of your throat and ear pain, your provider might do a rapid strep test, a mono spot test, or a throat culture. Infections like the common cold, strep throat, mono, sinus infections, tooth infections, allergies, TMJ, and acid reflux can all cause pain in the throat and ear. Usually, you'll have throat and ear pain on both sides. However, some causes are more likely than others to lead to one-sided ear and throat pain. For example, if one of your tonsils is more irritated than the other, you might feel discomfort mostly on that side. It's also possible to get an ear infection in one ear but not the other. Conditions like TMJ can cause pain on both sides or just one side. OTC pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) can help relieve your symptoms. Cough drops can soothe the back of the throat, as can cold foods and fluids. You can also apply heating pads or ice packs on your neck or near your affected ear. Keeping your upper body elevated if you have acid reflux can help prevent acid from coming up the esophagus into the back of your throat. This position can also encourage the auditory tube to drain if it is clogged with mucus or debris. • Johns Hopkins Medicine. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. What’s even more frustrating is that sore throats can be caused by a “The best way to get to the bottom of what’s causing your sore throat is to visit your doctor,” says family medicine specialist 6 home remedies to get rid of a sore throat In the meantime, try some of Dr. Allan’s tried-and-true ways to alleviate your sore throat. 1. Warm and cold fluids Sip on warm drinks, like tea or chicken soup. (It’s not just good for the soul, you know!) Or try cold liquids, such as ice water or popsicles. It depends on your preference and what soothes your throat best. “Liquids help clear mucous membranes, keep things flowing and prevent 2. Gargling Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt — or a similar amount of baking soda — in a glass of warm water. Gargle (but don’t swallow) the concoction every three hours for an all-natural sore throat remedy. Salt water can help reduce swelling and irritation in your throat. Baking soda also soothes the throat, breaks up mucus and can help with throat-irritating acid reflux. 3. Over-the-counter antihistamines and pain relievers An antihistamine may dull or relieve throat pain. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen also help with pain that’s located a little deeper in your glands and other parts of your neck. “Histamines are chemicals that help your immune system fight foreign substance...

You can experience pain or discomfort when swallowing due to a viral or bacterial infection or another health condition. Treatment can depend on the cause but may include drinking lots of fluids. Painful swallowing is relatively common. People of all ages may experience it. This symptom has many possible causes. Difficulty swallowing along with pain is generally a symptom of an infection or an allergic reaction. See your doctor if the pain is severe or if it interferes with eating, drinking, or breathing. The most common causes of painful swallowing are: • the • the • • throat infection, such as • • Other possible causes of painful swallowing include: • • a throat injury • an • swallowing large pills • improperly swallowing jagged food, such as chips or crackers In rare cases, painful swallowing can indicate certain types of cancer, such as Call your child’s pediatrician if they experience the following symptoms along with painful swallowing: • • • an unusual or significant amount of • a visibly swollen throat Go to the hospital right away if you’re an adult and experience the following symptoms: • difficulty opening your mouth • problems swallowing • extreme throat pain that gets worse • trouble breathing Schedule an appointment with your doctor if your painful swallowing occurs along with any of the following: • • symptoms that last one week or longer • a • joint pain • a • a Always call your doctor if you’re experiencing any other symptoms that concern you. When visitin...

Diagnosis Your or your child's doctor may review the symptoms and medical history. He or she may conduct a physical exam that includes: • Using a lighted instrument to look at the throat, and likely the ears and nasal passages • Gently feeling the neck to check for swollen glands (lymph nodes) • Listening to your or your child's breathing with a stethoscope Throat swab In many cases, doctors use a simple test to detect streptococcal bacteria, the cause of strep throat. The doctor rubs a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions and sends the sample to a lab for testing. Many clinics are equipped with a lab that can get a test result for a rapid antigen test within a few minutes. However, a second, often more reliable test, called a throat culture, is sometimes sent to a lab that returns results within 24 to 48 hours. Rapid antigen tests aren't as sensitive, although they can detect strep bacteria quickly. Because of this, the doctor may send a throat culture to a lab to test for strep throat if the antigen test comes back negative. In some cases, doctors may use a molecular test to detect streptococcal bacteria. In this test, a doctor swipes a sterile swab over the back of the throat to get a sample of secretions. The sample is tested in a lab. Your or your child's doctor may have accurate results within a few minutes. Treatment A sore throat caused by a viral infection usually lasts five to seven days and doesn't usually require medical treatm...