Pain in throat

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...

Esophagus The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects your mouth and your stomach. Rings of muscle contract and relax to allow food and liquids to pass through the upper and lower portions. Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing — taking more time and effort to move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach. Dysphagia can be painful. In some cases, swallowing is impossible. Occasional difficulty swallowing, such as when you eat too fast or don't chew your food well enough, usually isn't cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia can be a serious medical condition requiring treatment. Symptoms Signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia can include: • Pain while swallowing • Inability to swallow • A sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest or behind the breastbone (sternum) • Drooling • Hoarseness • Food coming back up (regurgitation) • Frequent heartburn • Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat • Weight loss • Coughing or gagging when swallowing When to see a doctor See your health care provider if you regularly have difficulty swallowing or if weight loss, regurgitation or vomiting accompanies your dysphagia. If an obstruction interferes with breathing, call for emergency help immediately. If you're unable to swallow because you feel that food is stuck in your throat or chest, go to the nearest emergency department. Causes Swallowing is complex, involving many muscles and nerves. Any condition that weakens or damages the muscles and nerves use...

Odynophagia is when it is painful to swallow. This pain may occur in the throat, mouth, or food pipe and has a variety of potential causes. Over time, painful swallowing can lead to damage to the throat, unintended weight loss, and other complications. In this article, we look at the common causes of odynophagia and their symptoms, as well as what treatments are available. Share on Pinterest Odynophagia refers to pain while swallowing. Odynophagia is a disorder in which swallowing feels painful. A person may feel pain in the throat, mouth, or food pipe (esophagus) when swallowing food, liquid, or saliva. Painful swallowing is a symptom of many medical conditions. The location and intensity of pain depend on the cause. In some cases, odynophagia resolves very quickly, but it can also persist long-term and can be an indication of a more serious health condition. When they occur together, this means that swallowing is both difficult and painful. Dysphagia is often more serious than odynophagia. Dysphagia can cause coughing or choking. In extreme cases, this can result in irritations or bacteria in the lungs, which can lead to Both dysphagia and odynophagia can be caused by infections or inflammations. However, dysphagia can also be a symptom of A person might also find it difficult to swallow due to a fear of swallowing, a condition known as phagophobia. Odynophagia and dysphagia are sometimes confused with globus sensation, where it feels as if there is a lump in the throat....

Vocal cords open and closed Vocal cords open when you breathe and then close to produce sound when vibrating together. Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection. Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage. Normally, your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration. But with laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. This makes the vocal cords swell, which distorts the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become almost undetectable. Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). Most cases of laryngitis are triggered by a temporary viral infection and aren't serious. Persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious underlying medical condition. Symptoms In most cases laryngitis symptoms last less than a couple of weeks and are caused by something minor, such as a virus. Less often, laryngitis symptoms are caused by something more serious or long lasting. Laryngitis signs and symptoms can include: • Hoarseness • Weak voice or voice loss • Tickling sensation and rawness in your throat • Sore throat • Dry throat • Dry cough When to see a doctor You can manage most acute cases of laryngitis with self-care steps, such as resting your voice and drinking plenty of fluids. Strenuous use of your voice ...

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 • 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: • Acid reflux from • Chemical exposure • Cough • Excessive • Foreign body in throat • Pollution • Radiation treatment for head and neck cancer • Tobacco use • Voice • Vomiting Questions for diagnosing the cause of throat pain To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your throat pain including: • How...

A persistent sore throat can occur with common conditions like allergies and postnasal drip. But you may also experience it if you have an infection or a serious health condition. Sore throats can result in pain, a scratchy sensation, hoarseness, and burning when you swallow. A persistent sore throat can recur multiple times, or it can be long term (chronic). A persistent sore throat can result from a variety of conditions, including a handful of potentially dangerous infections, so it’s important to pinpoint its cause as quickly as possible. A number of conditions can trigger a persistent sore throat, including: Allergies When you have an Common allergens include foods, certain plants, pet dander, dust, and pollen. You’re particularly susceptible to a persistent sore throat if you have allergies associated with things you breathe in (pollen, dust, synthetic fragrances, mold, and so forth). The most frequent symptoms associated with these types of airborne allergies include: • runny nose • coughing • sneezing • itchy eyes • watery eyes The postnasal drip from a runny nose and inflamed sinuses is the most likely cause of a Postnasal drip When you have Besides sore throat, some of the symptoms of postnasal drip include: • no fever • • a sensation of needing to swallow or clear your throat all the time • coughing that worsens at night • nausea from the excess mucus in your stomach Mouth breathing If you The symptoms of nighttime mouth breathing include: • dry mouth • scratchy...

What's the Difference Between a Cold, Strep Throat, and Tonsillitis? A Strep throat, which is an infection due to streptococcus bacteria, is another cause of sore throats and tonsillitis. With strep throat, the sore throat is often more severe and persists. Tonsillitis is a painful Is a Sore Throat With a Cold Caused by Viruses or Bacteria? Sore throats can be caused by viruses or bacteria . The most common causes of sore throats are viruses. Viral sore throats are often accompanied by other Along With a Sore Throat, What are Other Cold Symptoms? In addition to a sore throat, other common • Runny nose • • • Mild • Mild body aches • Fever How Are Sore Throats With Colds Treated? Although there is no cure for a sore throat caused by a cold virus, there are ways to help you feel more comfortable. Drinking warm liquids, gargling with warm salt water, sucking on ice chips, or taking an over-the-counter medicine may relieve symptoms of pain or fever. When you are sick with a cold, it is also important to get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of fluids. Can Medications Relieve Symptoms of a Sore Throat With a Cold? Over-the-counter cold • Pain relievers, such as • Sore throat sprays and lozenges to soothe your throat and numb the throat pain temporarily. (Lozenges should not be given to young children.) • How Is Strep Throat Different From a Sore Throat With a Cold? Stre p throat is caused by an infection of streptococcus bacteria. Strep throat spreads by having c...