Sore throat when swallowing with or without fever

A sore throat when swallowing can be caused by various inflammatory processes of the larynx, pharynx or tonsils. Between a sore throat and painful swallowing, you can safely put an equal sign - these are symptoms of serious health problems.

Inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) is the most common form of sore throat, which is caused by a viral infection and causes severe pain when swallowing. What are the other causes and pain in the throat when swallowing, as well as symptoms and treatments?

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What causes a sore throat?

A sore throat can be caused by many factors, including:

• A wide range of viruses, including those that cause mononucleosis and influenza. Some viruses can cause blisters in the mouth and throat (called "canker sores").
• Infections of the tonsils or adenoids
• Smoking and alcohol. In addition to pain, they can cause a dry throat and pain when swallowing.
• Sore throat can be caused by allergies or chronic sinusitis.
• Bacterial infections. The two most common bacteria that can cause a sore throat are streptococcus, which causes strep throat, and the bacteria Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. It causes sore throats mostly in young people and is sometimes accompanied by a nasty red rash all over the body.
• Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
• Herpes simplex virus.
• Pharyngitis (tonsillitis).

Problems with swallowing can occur due to problems with the esophagus, such as:

• Achalasia of the cardia
• Esophageal spasms
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is worsened by lying down or during sleep.
• Infectious lesions of the esophagus
• Duodenal ulcer, especially in connection with taking the antibiotic doxycycline (from the tetracycline group)
• Stenosis anywhere in the esophagus can lead to painful swallowing, the first signs being discomfort when chewing and moving food into the stomach.

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Other causes of swallowing problems include

• Ulcers in the mouth or throat.
• A foreign object that is stuck in the throat (such as a fish bone or chicken bones).
• Tooth infection or abscess.

Sore throat often occurs after antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy or immune drugs. This causes Candida yeast to appear in the throat and on the tongue, commonly known as thrush.

A sore throat that lasts more than two weeks may be a sign of a serious illness, such as throat cancer or AIDS.

Sore throat when swallowing can be a result of breathing through the mouth in cold weather, as well as when running. They can be successfully treated at home, but if the pain is severe, it is better to consult a doctor.

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Learn more about possible causes of sore throat when swallowing

Tonsillitis or pharyngitis

Inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx leads to tonsillitis and pharyngitis. Tonsillitis or pharyngitis are the most common causes of sore throat when swallowing. They can be caused by bacterial or viral invasion. Bacterial pharyngitis is easier to treat than viral pharyngitis, as it responds well to throat antibiotics.

Viral pharyngitis may be associated with colds or similar infections. The mode of transmission of this virus is direct – from person to person. The virus reaches a healthy person through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be of great help in treating viral infections.

Infectious mononucleosis or glandular fever

Glandular fever or "kissing disease" is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In addition to a sore throat when swallowing, a person experiences chills and has a fever. But a person is not alone with this disease: about 95% of the world's population has suffered from the Epstein-Barr virus at one time or another in their lives. The method of transmission of this virus is simple - it is transmitted through saliva during kissing. That is why jokers call this disease the kissing disease. Teenagers who love to kiss suffer from it the most.

The disease was first described in 1889 and was called "Drüsenfieber" or glandular fever in German. The term "infectious mononucleosis" was used much later, in 1920. The disease was identified in a group of college students who had an increased number of lymphocytes in their blood. The condition was accompanied by chills and high fever, as well as a severe sore throat.

With this disease, a person recovers in 2-3 weeks; the course of treatment includes antibiotics, in particular, ampicillin.

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Swine flu

The world was so scared of swine flu that even patients with normal throats asked to take the H1N1 test - the swine flu test. People were scared because one of the main symptoms of swine flu was a severe sore throat when swallowing. There are a wide range of antiviral drugs that are used to treat swine flu. They are not much different from the drugs used for regular flu.

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Throat cancer

Oral cavity cancer and laryngeal cancer can cause severe pain in the throat, especially when swallowing. Fortunately for patients, the tumor is not always malignant. Cancerous tumors occur mainly in the glottis of the larynx, but often spread to other organs. Usually, only chemotherapy can cure this disease.

Venereal diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea are very common causes of sore throat when swallowing. Women who engage in oral sex are most often at risk. They become infected with the chlamydia virus, which causes severe sore throat. Antibiotics can help cure them.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is diagnosed by doctors when severe fatigue persists for six months. The symptoms of this condition include seven key signs: cognitive impairment, muscle and/or joint pain, headaches, increased tenderness of the lymph nodes, sore throat when swallowing, difficulty sleeping, and malaise after exercise that the person continues to do while fatigued.

This condition is usually treated with good rest and antidepressants, as well as a multivitamin complex.

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Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by bacteria known as group A streptococci (GAS). Streptococci cause many other infections, but the strain of GAS bacteria that causes scarlet fever is also different in that it produces toxins. It causes the characteristic reddened skin and rash all over the body.

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Symptoms and diagnosis

Scarlet fever is more common in children aged 4-8 years than in adults. The infection often begins in the throat and resembles a typical throat infection such as pharyngitis, but is also accompanied by a skin rash that appears within 48 hours. Less commonly, the disease manifests as skin sores.

The rash runs down the torso and spreads to the arms and legs. It looks like a sunburn, but the skin of scarlet fever becomes rough, like sandpaper. The rash may be redder in the folds of the skin than on the flat surface. As the rash begins to clear, the skin may peel.

The tongue changes greatly during this disease (the so-called "strawberry tongue"). At first it may be white with red bumps, and then it becomes an intense bright red color.

The diagnosis of scarlet fever is made by examining the rash and the condition of the throat, as well as checking the condition of the eyes. A blood test may be done only in some cases when the doctor doubts the diagnosis.

Treatment

This severe illness was more common before the discovery of antibiotics. Today, scarlet fever is usually treated well with antibiotics. However, a small proportion of people experience the disease very severely, especially when bacterial invasion occurs in the bloodstream (sepsis or blood poisoning), and the bacteria can also infect muscle tissue or bones. The disease is also treated with throat sprays.

People with scarlet fever should cover their mouths when coughing, wash their hands frequently, and stay away from school, daycare, or the office until at least 24 hours have passed since stopping treatment.

What are the symptoms of a sore throat when swallowing?

Swallowing is a complex act that involves the jaws, throat, and esophagus (the thin tube through which food moves to the stomach). Many nerves and muscles control the digestive system. In particular, they control the swallowing process. If swallowing becomes involuntary and painful, it is worth considering the causes of this problem and consulting a doctor.

A sore throat is very difficult to bear – it is accompanied by symptoms such as a burning sensation in the throat or a feeling that something is scratching the back of the throat. All this is supplemented by a strong sensitivity of the neck. At the same time, a sore throat can be accompanied by coughing, sneezing, chills and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. But these are general symptoms, and a more specific cause of a sore throat when swallowing can only be determined by consulting a doctor.

Sore throat when swallowing may also be accompanied by chest pain, as well as a feeling that food is stuck in the throat and the neck area is compressed.

When should you contact your doctor?

Call your doctor if you have painful swallowing and:

• Blood in the stool or black and hard stools, as well as constipation.
• Difficulty breathing or dizziness.
• Weight loss.

Tell your doctor about any other symptoms that accompany painful swallowing, including:

• Abdominal pain.
• Chills.
• Cough.
• Fever.
• Heartburn.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Sour taste in the mouth.
• Hoarse voice.

A sore throat when swallowing that comes on quickly, is accompanied by fever or pain in the front of the neck, and requires immediate medical attention.

A sore throat that causes a person to have difficulty swallowing or breathing is a reason to seek professional medical attention.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience a sore throat and also have a rapid heartbeat or dizziness, or your tongue or lips become swollen.

A sore throat when swallowing that lasts more than a week is a reason to definitely see a doctor.

If you are pregnant and your throat hurts when you swallow, your symptoms are serious. If the pain does not go away within three days, see a doctor.

What questions should the doctor answer?

The doctor or nurse will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Be prepared to answer the following questions.

1. What sensations do you experience?
2. Do you have a sore throat with no apparent cause?
3. Do you have a sore throat when swallowing solids, liquids or anything?
4. Is your sore throat constant or does it come and go?
5. Is your sore throat getting worse every day?
6. Do you have difficulty swallowing?
7. Do you sometimes feel like there is a lump in your throat?
8. Have you ever inhaled or swallowed any irritating substances?
9. What other health problems do you have?
10. What medications do you take?

Diagnosis of sore throat

If you have a sore throat when swallowing, you can try the following tests:

1. Listening to the upper respiratory tract.
2. Chest X-ray.
3. Monitoring esophageal pH (how much acid is in the esophagus).
4. Esophageal manometry (measuring pressure in the esophagus).
5. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
6. HIV testing.
7. X-ray of the neck.
8. Throat swab.

What to do if your throat hurts when swallowing?

Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.

You may find it easier to drink warm liquids or eat pureed foods and save the solid ones for later.

Avoid very cold or very hot foods if you notice that they make your sore throat worse.

Try using humidifiers - they reduce dry mouth and sore throat.

Home Remedies for Sore Throat

• Gargling with warm water and salt is the best home remedy for sore throat. You can add a pinch of turmeric to the water as turmeric is a natural disinfectant. This procedure should be repeated at least 2 to 3 times a day.
• A little warm milk with a pinch of salt before bed is great for soothing a sore throat.
• Drink warm liquids such as soups, tea, coffee – this also relieves sore throat.
• Boil 1 g of cinnamon in 1 glass of water and add 1 spoon of honey to it. Drink this mixture 3-4 times a day.
• Chew a couple of cloves of garlic – this helps reduce the sharp pain in the throat when swallowing, as garlic has natural antibacterial properties. This method is excellent for relieving a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection.

Useful advice for the patient

A sore throat caused by a bacterial or viral infection that causes a cold may subside on its own within 7-8 days. But if after a week of illness you still feel a severe sore throat when swallowing, you may need hospital treatment. Therefore, always pay attention to redness of the pharynx, discharge from the throat and discomfort when swallowing - they can be a serious signal requiring long-term treatment.