If eating or drinking has become painful for you, you may not be the only one in trouble. Many people complain that their throat hurts when they swallow, which is a common condition. Painful swallowing can bring along a couple of different symptoms like burning sensation, sudden pain, or feeling a bump inside the throat. These all symptoms combine to make swallowing troublesome. In most cases, irritating swallowing is nothing severe, and over-the-counter pain relievers and home remedies work well to ease the soreness. But if you feel like something is really wrong with your throat or the condition is getting worse day by day, you should see your doctor right away.
Below is a list of common reasons why it hurts to swallow:
Viral Infection
Why does my throat hurt when I swallow? The most common culprit could be a cold or flu virus. And in some cases, sinus infections cause painful swallowing. The soreness you feel inside your throat can most likely be due to coughing, swollen tonsils, or irritated nasal passages. A person infected by sinus or viral infection may experience additional symptoms like headaches, fever, cough, or runny/stuffy nose. Resting and OTC pain medication is the best treatment course for most cases.
Bacterial Infection
Strep and tonsillitis bacterial infections can make your throat sore. The symptoms accompanying these bacterial attacks are inflamed lymph nodes, fever, or gastrointestinal disturbances.
Injury To The Throat
Swallowing up a large pill or forcing a crunchy bite down without chewing enough can injure your soft throat. Too hot food or drinks can trigger a burning sensation in your esophagus. Burns and cuts in the throat can hurt when you swallow. The pain and discomfort will get better with time. In the meantime, you can use OTC pain relievers to ease the symptoms.
Oral Candidiasis
Oral thrush is a yeast infection that infects the mouth’s lining and can grow up the throat and tonsils. It can cause a burning sensation and irritate the throat, making it painful to eat and swallow. The accompanying symptoms include a cottonish feeling inside the mouth, lesions, and minor bleeding and scrapes. Treatment for oral thrush usually includes antifungal medications.
Food Allergies
Certain food allergies can result in severe reactions called anaphylaxis, and it causes significant inflammation in the throat, making breathing and swallowing very difficult. Anaphylaxis is a serious condition, and the person should immediately go to the emergency room.
The Experts at Aqeeq Internal Medicine Can Help Find Out Why Your Throat Hurts When You Swallow
If you’re experiencing painful swallowing, there’s nothing much to worry about, but still, you should see your physician if it has been too long or the symptoms are making you really anxious. Doctors at Aqeeq Internal Medicine can help diagnose the cause of your suffering and provide a customized treatment plan that fits your specific needs. Schedule an appointment today with one of our medical experts by calling 832-786-8195.