The sensation of a foreign body in the throat is observed in acute infections, otolaryngological, gastroenterological, oncological diseases, allergies, thyroid lesions, vertebrogenic pathologies, traumatic injuries, mental disorders. May be accompanied by perspiration, burning, tingling, scratching. The cause of the symptom is established according to the history, general examination, pharyngoscopy, laryngoscopy, ultrasound, MRI, laboratory tests. Apply painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics.
The sensation of a foreign body is provoked by edema, inflammation, accumulation of sputum, and plaque formation. It is detected in such infectious diseases as:
In acute inflammation, the symptom does not have a clear localization, occurs suddenly, quickly reaches a significant degree of severity, disappears after a few days. Chronic inflammatory processes are accompanied by periodic moderate or slight sensation of a foreign body, which is more disturbing during periods of exacerbations.
Laryngeal tonsillitis is accompanied by the same symptoms as acute laryngitis, but is characterized by a more severe course. Sore throats are so severe that patients refuse to eat, take a forced position.
Abscesses in the throat occur with angina, less often become the result of rhinitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis. Sometimes they develop with otitis media, mastoiditis, parotitis, they are formed against the background of acute infections, carious teeth. The sensation of a foreign body has a clearer localization than in inflammatory pathologies, appears on the side or in the central part of the throat, is complemented by significant hyperthermia, severe intoxication. It appears under the following conditions:
Ludwig's angina is one of the most common purulent processes. The sensation of a foreign body appears when the pharynx is involved, supplemented by severe fever, swelling of the neck, respiratory failure, loss of voice, salivation.
Sensation of a foreign body in the throat
The sensation of a foreign body in the throat may indicate the presence of a foreign object or injury caused by this object while passing through the throat. The cause of the symptom is fish bones, crackers, bones of fruits and berries. Children sometimes swallow inedible objects with sharp edges, such as building blocks. With thermal and chemical burns, discomfort in the throat occurs due to edema, damage to the mucosa.
The symptom is included in a typical clinical picture observed with benign neoplasms of the pharynx, combined with a sore throat, nasal voice, and difficulty in nasal breathing. Slowly builds up over a long period of time. It is detected with papillomas, fibromas, hairy polyps of the pharynx. It is noted with angiomas, neurinomas, pharyngeal cysts. With benign neoplasia of the larynx, complaints about the sensation of a foreign object are less common, voice changes prevail.
In patients with pharyngeal cancer, foreign body sensation is the first symptom of the disease. Later, pain, choking, swallowing disorders, sensitivity disorders join. Manifestations progress rapidly, supplemented by common signs of the oncological process - weight loss, weakness, intoxication. The symptom is also characteristic of cancer of the larynx, which affects the upper parts of the organ.
The symptom is observed in allergic reactions, accompanied by swelling of the throat. Occurs suddenly. The patient is concerned about sneezing, nasal congestion, lacrimation, sore throat, itchy skin. In the spring and summer, allergies are provoked by contact with plant pollen, throughout the year - with wool, dandruff, animal and bird feathers, house dust, food products. The most striking picture is observed with Quincke's edema.
The thyroid gland is located near the upper part of the trachea, its enlargement causes irritation of the receptors, causing a sensation of a foreign body. The symptom is found in the following pathologies:
Foreign body sensation is sometimes accompanied by GERD. Patients complain that they want to drink water or cough to get rid of a foreign object. The symptom is provoked by constant irritation of the receptors by acidic contents thrown into the upper sections of the digestive tract during reflux. A distinctive feature is the increased discomfort in the prone position. With esophageal dyskinesia, a sign appears due to a violation of the passage of the food bolus due to a disorder of the organ's motility.
Complaints about the feeling of a foreign body in the throat are presented by patients with some pathologies of the tongue: black hairy tongue, papillomatous form of rhomboid glossitis. In the first case, there is a significant increase in taste buds in the posterior and middle thirds of the tongue, staining of the affected area in black and dark brown shades. With diamond-shaped glossitis, pale pink growths appear on the tongue.
The symptom accompanies benign and exophytic malignant tumors of the oral cavity if they are located on the root of the tongue or in the palate. In addition, foreign body sensation occurs in the styloid-pharyngeal variant of the stylohyoid syndrome.
Initially, the feeling of a coma (foreign body) in the throat was described as a typical symptom of hysteria. Currently, along with hysteria, the causes of neurosis of the pharynx include astheno-neurotic syndrome, severe stress. Pathology can also be observed with cervical osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, spondylolisthesis, some diseases of the nervous system (neoplasms, stroke, multiple sclerosis).
Throat examination
Otolaryngologists are most often involved in establishing the causes of the development of a symptom. According to indications, patients are referred to dentists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and other specialists. During the conversation, the doctor finds out how long ago the sensation of a foreign body appeared, what manifestations accompanied it, how the symptom changed over time. Conducts a general inspection. According to the preliminary examination, the following diagnostic procedures can be prescribed:
Patients with signs of acute infections and inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs should refrain from consuming mucosal irritants, too cold and hot foods and drinks. It is recommended to take a large amount of warm liquid, gargle, use topical preparations. If signs of allergy appear, you should immediately take an antiallergic agent.
Treatment of infections, inflammatory, allergic pathologies is carried out using the following methods:
With a rapid increase in swelling of the throat and larynx with the development of asphyxia, emergency tracheal intubation is necessary. Patients with GERD are shown a special diet, antacids, proton pump inhibitors, H2-histamine blockers. Patients with esophageal dyskinesia are recommended fractional nutrition, nitrates, anticholinergics, calcium channel blockers. Thyreostatics are effective in hyperthyroidism. With neurosis of the pharynx, combined methods are used, including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
In diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body in the larynx and pharynx, the following surgical methods are used: