Sore throat is pain in the pharynx and larynx, which is often aggravated by talking and swallowing. There are various causes leading to sore throat: viral and bacterial diseases of the pharynx, allergic reactions and tumor processes, hypovitaminosis. To identify the etiological factor, an instrumental examination of the respiratory tract, radiography, ultrasound, bacteriological and serological reactions are carried out. To stop the pain that has arisen in the throat, use a warm alkaline drink, rinses, physiotherapy.
Particular reasons for the appearance of a burning sensation, perspiration in the oropharynx, less often the larynx - a long stay in a room with low humidity or dry hot climates. There is dryness of the mucous membranes, lack of saliva. Pain is more strongly felt in the throat when talking, eating solid food. The discomfort after waking up is especially intense - due to the ajarness of the mouth in a dream, the mucous membranes dry out even more. In men, pain is provoked by snoring. Patients report that in the morning their throat hurts and it hurts to talk, and to alleviate the condition, you need to drink water.
The throat can be very sore when inhaling polluted air - in mines, when working in sand pits, in large cities due to exposure to exhaust gases. The symptom occurs suddenly when going outside or entering industrial premises. Soreness is accompanied by a dry, hacking cough. The periodic and short-term appearance of such signs is a variant of the norm. If discomfort bothers a person for a long time, interferes with eating or talking, you need to contact a specialist to find out the reasons why the throat hurts.
Severe sore throat is characteristic of many respiratory infections that damage the mucous membranes of the pharynx and larynx. Causes of pain - direct pathogenic effect on the epithelium, systemic action of the pathogen, damage to nerve endings. In most cases, the symptom occurs against the background of high body temperature, weakness, signs of intoxication. Most often, a sore throat is provoked by:
Sore throat
If your throat hurts and it hurts to swallow, it may be a sign of tonsillitis (tonsillitis). First, there is discomfort and soreness in the throat, which are replaced by a sharp pain. Pain radiates to the ear, neck, neck. Sometimes patients themselves notice an increase and redness of the tonsils, the formation of pinpoint pustules on them. Symptoms occur against the background of febrile fever, general weakness, arthralgia and myalgia. If the pain in the throat intensifies up to the inability to swallow even water, an intratonsillar abscess (phlegmonous tonsillitis) may form.
When a child has a sore throat, and the pain is accompanied by respiratory disorders, epiglottitis, an inflammation of the epiglottis, can be assumed. Due to the intense pain syndrome, the child refuses food and water, and dysphagia develops within a few hours. To reduce discomfort and facilitate breathing, patients take a forced position: they sit, leaning forward, strongly stretch their neck and slightly open their mouth. Sore throat, localized on one side and occurring against a background of severe fever, is a sign of a retropharyngeal abscess.
In acute laryngitis, the throat often begins to hurt at the same time as the temperature rises to subfebrile values, and weakness appears. The pain is strong, with the localization of inflammation along the back wall of the organ, the pain increases during swallowing. The symptom is combined with a sharp barking cough without sputum, when the vocal cords are involved in the process, the voice temporarily disappears. Chronic laryngitis is characterized by a slight sore throat, fatigue and a change in the timbre of the voice, constant hoarseness come to the fore.
With fungal infections of the oral cavity and pharynx, the throat constantly hurts, the intensity of pain increases significantly when trying to eat. Massive white plaques are visible on the mucous membranes, and candidiasis also causes cracks and painful seizures in the corners of the lips. Reproduction of fungal flora is observed in people with reduced immunity: after organ transplantation, with oncological diseases, secondary immunodeficiencies. In such cases, the process can spread to all airways, causing the corresponding symptoms.
With allergic pharyngitis and laryngotracheitis in the throat, pain of moderate intensity occurs, caused by exposure to a trigger factor. Suddenly, in the throat, it begins to sore and tickle. The condition is accompanied by bouts of superficial dry cough, which does not bring relief. Possible sneezing, profuse lacrimation and itching. Allergy-prone people report that their throat can hurt after inhaling the smell of flowers, contact with household chemicals or cosmetics. The symptom also occurs after eating certain foods.
If fish or meat bones are accidentally swallowed, they can get stuck in the throat and cause sharp pains. Pain sensations of a stabbing or cutting nature often have a clear localization. The manifestation is combined with a strong ineffectual cough, sometimes there is redness and swelling of the face due to painful coughing paroxysms. The person begins to choke. In children, the throat can hurt if small parts from toys get into the airways. With foreign bodies of the pharynx, emergency medical care is required.
In adults, possible causes that also cause a sore throat are periodic reflux into the throat and airways of acidic contents from the stomach with GERD. The intensity of pain is not the same during the day: a strong pain syndrome is observed in the morning after sleep, because the horizontal position contributes to the flow of acid into the throat. A sore throat is combined with a hacking dry cough, a constant feeling of tickling and discomfort. Patients also report that they are worried about sour belching and heartburn attacks. These symptoms are typical for hyperacid gastritis, gastrointestinal ulcers, esophagitis.
For the normal regeneration of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the presence of many biologically active substances and vitamins is necessary. With an unbalanced diet or damage to the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by malabsorption of food components, vitamin deficiencies may develop, one of the manifestations of which is a sore throat. Probable causes of pain are deficient conditions such as:
Damage to internal organs is accompanied by the accumulation of toxic metabolites and nitrogenous metabolic products in the blood. Pain, perceived as discomfort in the throat, is due to chronic inflammation and atrophic processes in the pharynx. Pain can be provoked by an increase in blood glucose levels, which is combined with dry mouth and catarrhal processes. The throat can often hurt with the following somatic diseases:
Prolonged sore throat with swallowing disorders that are not amenable to standard conservative therapy may be a sign of the growth of neoplasms in the laryngopharynx. With benign tumors, patients complain of a constant feeling of pressure and fullness, there is choking while eating. A sharp pain in the neck and throat, accompanied by hemoptysis, may indicate the development of cancer of the pharynx or larynx as the main cause of pain. Also, the patient notices a gradual loss of voice, hoarseness, there is a periodic dry cough.
Common causes of sore throat are long-term use of certain drugs. When instilled with vasoconstrictor nasal drops, the medicine flows down the back of the throat, causing chronic irritation and inflammation in the mucous membrane. Patients note a constant feeling of perspiration and burning, there is a dry cough. The throat can also hurt after long-term use of glucocorticosteroids or antibacterial drugs, which provoke a decrease in local immunity. A person complains of dry mouth, increased pain when talking.
An otolaryngologist is engaged in finding out the cause that provoked a sore throat. Diagnostic search involves a comprehensive examination of the oral cavity and respiratory tract using instrumental and laboratory methods, in the presence of concomitant symptoms, visualization of the organs of the chest and abdominal cavities is performed. The following methods are considered the most informative for the diagnosis of acute pain in the throat:
To identify endocrine pathology as the leading cause of pain, a blood test for thyroid and adrenal hormones is necessary. Serological reactions (RIF, ELISA, PCR) are needed to identify pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, they can do x-rays and CT scans of the cervical spine. In the presence of dyspeptic disorders, FGDS and intraesophageal pH-metry are used. Patients who have a sore throat should be examined by a dentist for the presence of inflammatory processes in the teeth and periodontium.
Throat examination
To reduce sore throat, a plentiful warm drink (teas, herbal decoctions) is recommended, while it is desirable to exclude drinks with milk. You can rinse the oropharynx with tincture of calendula, take lozenges. Doctors advise avoiding strong odors, limiting the use of household chemicals that can irritate the mucous membranes. With intense pain, you need to take warm, chemically and mechanically sparing food - soups, cereals. If the throat is very sore or the pain is accompanied by fever, weakness, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Medical tactics depend on the cause of the appearance of pain in the throat. The most effective etiotropic therapy. A combination of drug treatment with physiotherapy methods that are aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the disorder and individual painful manifestations helps to quickly reduce sore throat. In addition to rinsing, inhalations with essential oils and medicinal solutions are often used. UHF is performed on the pharynx, magnetic and laser therapy. Treatment regimens include:
A sore throat that has developed as a result of purulent processes (retropharyngeal or paratonsillar abscess, suppuration of a cyst) requires surgical intervention to eliminate the leading cause. An incision and drainage of the abscess is made, it is washed with antibacterial and antiseptic solutions. With benign neoplasia, an economical resection of the pharynx is done. Malignant tumors, in which complaints of sore throat are made, require hemilaryngectomy with the formation of a tracheostomy. In the remote period, if possible, laryngoplasty is performed.