Throat pain can make it hard to talk and eat, so if it's severe or doesn't clear up, it's important to find the cause. If you have persistent throat pain, Ramie A. Tritt, MD, of Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. can help. He's a board-certified otolaryngologist who has extensive experience in treating the causes of throat pain. Call one of his two offices in Atlanta, Georgia, today, or schedule a consultation using the online booking form.
Throat pain is a common problem that most people experience to some degree in their lives.
Throat pain isn't quite the same as a sore throat. While it’s unpleasant, the sensation you experience with a sore throat is one of rawness on the rear surface of your throat, whereas throat pain is a deeper feeling that can affect any area of your throat.
Viral infections like colds, flu, and croup commonly cause sore throats. Throat pain can develop in severe cases or when a bacterial infection sets in like strep throat or tonsillitis. Other potential causes of throat pain include:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic form of acid reflux, where stomach acid flows up your esophagus. This acid is a powerful corrosive, so severe GERD can cause intense throat pain from the repeated acid attacks.
If you overuse your voice from talking, singing, or shouting, your larynx (voice box) can become inflamed. As well as throat pain, laryngitis causes hoarseness and may result in temporary voice loss.
If you've had a procedure like an endoscopy or you've had to have a breathing tube down your throat, you might develop throat pain. Most often, this type of throat pain wears off within a day or two.
Surgery on your throat, such as thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid gland in your neck), can cause throat pain.
Throat and esophageal cancers or other growths can cause throat pain but aren't common.
The Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. team needs to find the cause of your throat pain to determine the right treatment. You might need to have a throat swab or diagnostic tests such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to look at the structures inside your neck.
Treating the underlying cause of your throat pain should resolve your symptoms. If there's an infection, you might need the right antibiotics. Using medications to stop acid reflux can help with conditions like GERD. You also need to rest your throat and larynx.
If your throat pain is severe and you're having problems swallowing and talking, glucocorticoids such as prednisone and dexamethasone can reduce the inflammation.
If throat pain is affecting your life, call Atlanta ENT, Sinus & Allergy Associates, P.C. today or book an appointment online.
