Why does it hurt to swallow with a sore throat

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - What it is

Odynophagia refers to pain on swallowing.

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Symptoms

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - How to prevent?

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Causes and Risk Factors

Some of the common causes of odynophagia include:

1. Infections

Infections involving the tonsils, throat, epiglottis and oesophagus may cause pain on swallowing.

Some of these infections include:

1. Acute viral/bacterial pharyngitis
2. Acute tonsillitis
3. Oral and oesophageal candidiasis
4. HIV infections
5. Herpes simplex infections

2. Tumours

Cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box (larynx), tongue and oesophagus can also sometimes cause pain when swallowing.

3. Inflammation

Inflammation of the mouth, pharynx and oesophagus can sometimes occur when they are exposed to caustic substances.

These can sometimes be ingested substances (e.g. hot fluids, acidic substances). Medical conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also cause inflammation when these organs are are constantly exposed to acid reflux from the stomach.

4. Foreign Body

Foreign bodies (e.g. fish-bones) sometimes can get stuck when they are swallowed. They can lodge in the tonsils, throat or oesophagus and cause pain on swallowing.

5. Oesophageal Disorders

Sometimes, pain on swallowing can be due to a disorder in the motility of the oesophagus. These include:

1. Oesophageal spasm
2. Achalasia
3. Nutcracker Oesophagus

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Diagnosis

What tests can be done to investigate odynophagia?

Depending on your doctor’s findings, he or she may ask you to undergo one or more of the following investigations:

1. Nasoendoscopy

A flexible camera with light is passed through one of your nostrils to look at the back of your nose, larynx and throat. This test can be done in the clinic and is useful to look for conditions affecting the throat, larynx and back of the tongue (e.g. ulcers and tumours).

2. Oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy (OGD)

In an OGD, the doctor will pass a flexible tube with a camera and light through your mouth into your oesophagus, stomach and the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). An OGD is useful for looking for mechanical causes of dysphagia (e.g. tumours, strictures). It is usually a day procedure.

3. Manometry

A tube with pressure sensors is passed down your oesophagus to measure the strength and co-ordination of the contractions of your oesophagus. This test is useful to investigate motility disorders affecting swallowing.

4. Imaging Studies

Your doctor may order some X-rays or scans. One of these X-rays is a barium swallow. In a barium swallow, an X-ray of your oesophagus and stomach is taken after swallowing some dilute barium to outline the stomach. This test is good for looking for tumours and strictures.

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Treatments

The type of treatment you will need to undergo will depend on the underlying cause of the odynophagia. Your doctor will usually discuss this with you.

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Preparing for surgery

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Post-surgery care

Odynophagia (Pain on Swallowing) - Other Information

What To Do When Your Throat Hurts

We’ve all had sore throats around this time of year. Your throat feels scratchy and may hurt when you swallow. What can you do to soothe a sore throat? And when is it a sign of a more serious infection?

Most sore throats are caused by viral infections such as the common cold or the flu. These throat problems are generally minor and go away on their own.

To soothe your irritated throat, keep it moist. “Ever notice that a sore throat seems worse in the morning? It’s because your throat gets so dry overnight,” says Dr. Valerie Riddle, an infectious disease expert at NIH. “Having lozenges or hard candies—or anything that stimulates saliva production—will keep your throat moist. It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids.”

For young children who might choke on hard candies or lozenges, try cold liquids and popsicles. Throat pain might also be soothed by throat sprays and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, but don’t give aspirin to young children.

Contact a doctor if your sore throat is severe, doesn’t feel better after a few days, or is accompanied by a high fever or swollen glands. These symptoms could be signs of a bacterial infection, such as strep throat. Taking antibioticsPrescription medications used to treat bacterial infections such as strep throat. won’t help at all if your sore throat is caused by viruses, but they’re essential for fighting bacterial infections like strep.

Strep is the most common bacterial throat infection. Although it can occur in adults, strep throat is more common in children between ages 5 and 15. Riddle says strep can be harder to detect in younger children, because it can cause a runny nose and other symptoms that make it seem like a cold. “If your child has severe throat pain, a fever above 100.4 degrees, or swollen glands, you should get medical attention right away,” advises Riddle. Children with strep also may experience nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

To see whether you have strep throat, the doctor will take a throat swab. If test results confirm strep, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. After 24 hours of taking them, you should no longer be contagious. You’ll likely begin feeling better within a couple of days, but to fully recover it’s important to finish all of the medicine.

Strep is highly contagious. Treat it quickly to prevent it from spreading to others. Riddle says, “Not only can the infection be transmitted, but there are potential complications from untreated strep throat.” These include ear infections, rheumatic fever and kidney problems.

Another fairly common throat infection is tonsillitis, which occurs when you have sore, swollen tonsilsStructures in the back of your throat that help prevent infection by trapping germs that come in through your nose and mouth.. It’s caused by many of the same viruses and bacteria that cause sore throats. If you have frequent bouts of tonsillitis or strep throat, you may need surgery (called a tonsillectomy) to have your tonsils removed. 

The best way to protect yourself from the germs that cause these infections is to wash your hands often. Try to steer clear of people who have colds or other contagious infections. And avoid smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke, which can irritate your throat.

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