Diseases of the Throat

Sore throat is most often due to inflammatory processes and is extremely common in all age groups. Inflammation is most often caused by viral infections. This is most often seen in young children and is particularly common in daycare settings. These are most often self-limiting and rarely exceed 5-7 days. These can be managed most often with rest, electrolyte containing fluids and vitamin C.

Sore throats lasting longer than this are frequently due to bacterial infections which often follow viral infections. Bacterial infections cause severe pain, difficulty swallowing, sometimes drooling in the most severe cases and high fevers(>101 F). These require immediate medical attention and usually antibiotics. Persistent and/or frequent sore throat in children is most often due to chronically infected tonsils and/or adenoids. This is frequently associated with difficulty feeding, loud snoring and/or difficulty breathing particularly at night, nasal obstruction and nasal discharge.

Chronically enlarged and infected tonsils may be responsible for behavior problems in children as well as poor school performance. Mononucleosis ( the kissing disease) is more common in teenagers, lasts several weeks and is usually associated with malaise. Gastroesophageal reflux and laryngopharyngeal reflux disease occur at all ages . This soreness is often worse in the morning and is most often accompanied with heartburn. This may also be a cause of frequent throat clearing and dryness.

Allergy problems may also cause throat discomfort and are often seasonal.

Hoarseness is caused by many medical disorders, most of which are harmless and resolve in a few days. Hoarseness that lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, is associated with pain, spitting up blood or results in a profound voice alteration requires immediate medical attention.

Throat malignancies do not always cause pain. A persistent sore throat associated with difficulty swallowing and weight loss is usually caused by throat malignancies in adults. Pediatric malignancies of the throat are rather rare. Cancer of the throat is most often seen in smokers and drinkers. Contrary to popular thought, users of smokeless tobacco ( tobacco chewing, snuff etc.) are at least as likely as smokers to contract mouth and throat cancers. An overwhelming percentage of mouth and throat cancers are entirely preventable by avoiding alcohol and tobacco.

Nasal airway obstruction may cause a sore and dry throat from constant mouth breathing. Humans normally breathe exclusively through the nose during sleep. Palatal vibration from loud snoring may also be the cause of a persistent sore throat. This may be a symptom of sleep disordered breathing.