Diagnosing Throat And Ear Pain
To diagnose the cause of your throat and ear pain, your provider might do a rapid strep test, a mono spot test, or a throat culture.
If these tests do not find the cause of your pain, you might need to have a computed tomography scan to look at your sinuses, allergy testing, or an endoscopy to look down your throat.
Your provider might also have you try medications that help with specific conditions, like acid reflux, to see if it makes your symptoms better.
What Are The Symptoms
Patients describe an attack as a burning or jabbing pain, or as an electrical shock that may last a few seconds or minutes. Swallowing, chewing, talking, coughing, yawning or laughing can trigger an attack. Some people describe the feeling of a sharp object lodged in the throat. The pain usually has the following features:
The pain usually has the following features:
Affects one side of the throat Can last several days or weeks, followed by a remission for months or years Occurs more frequently over time and may become disabling
About 10% of patients also have potentially life-threatening episodes of heart irregularities caused by involvement of the nearby vagus nerve, such as:
Tonsillitis And Tonsil Stones
Tonsillitis is when your tonsils are inflamed by a viral or bacterial infection. If only one of the tonsils is infected, only one side of your throat will hurt. Debris such as mucus, dead cells, and skin can also get stuck in the crevices of your tonsils. This buildup is called tonsil stones. While people dont always know they have them, in some cases they can grow large enough to cause a sore throat and trouble swallowing. Like with tonsillitis, they can affect just one tonsil. Smaller tonsil stones can be removed at home, but larger stones and recurrent tonsillitis can be treated with tonsil removal .
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When To See A Doctor For Ear Or Throat Pain When Swallowing
Ear and throat pain on one side when swallowing can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, some common and others that are very serious. Many times, it is a temporary symptom of a cold, flu or other type of viral infection. However, when you have continuing throat or ear pain, you may need to see a doctor. If your ear and throat pain are accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you may want to see your primary physician or an ear, nose and throat specialist :
Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
As the name implies, this viral illness usually causes sores to form on the hands, feet, and mouth. Sores can develop in the back of the mouth, near the sides of the throat, and one side may be more affected than the other.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually occurs in children under 5 years of age , but it can also spread to older children and adults.
The recommended treatment usually comprises rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medication for pain relief. However, the disease can cause dehydration, especially in young children. A person should see a doctor if they are unable to drink.
Overusing or misusing the voice can lead to lesions or sores on the vocal cords. A lesion may form on one side, causing one area of the throat to be sore.
A person with a vocal cord lesion will usually notice a change in their voice, such as hoarseness.
These types of lesions are usually treatable. Resting the voice and vocal therapy are typically used to correct vocal cord lesions. In some cases, lesions will require surgery.
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When Should I Contact My Gp
It’s not always necessary to see your GP if you or your child have earache. Your local pharmacist is always on hand to offer help and advice on how you can manage the problem. The pain will often improve in a few days and there are things you can do to help in the meantime.
You should contact your GP or local out-of-hours service if:
- you or your child also have other symptoms, such as a high temperature , vomiting, a severe sore throat, hearing loss, swelling around the ear, or discharge from the ear
- there is something stuck in your or your child’s ear
- the earache doesn’t improve within a few days
To assess your condition at home use our earache self-help guide.
Symptoms Of Sore Throat And Ear Pain
If you have a sore throat and ear pain, you unfortunately know the symptoms very well. The common symptoms that most people complain of are:
- Raw soreness in the back of your throat
- A dry or scratchy feeling in your throat sometimes extending upward to the nose
- Pain when swallowing or talking
- Swelling in the area of the wisdom teeth or swelling in the throat
- Swollen glands in your neck or jaw
- Muffled hearing
- Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
- Muscle fatigue around the jaw
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Tooth Abscess Or Infection
A tooth abscess is a contained collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection. This pocket of pus grows at the tip of the root of your tooth. It can cause severe pain that radiates to your jawbone and your ear on one side of your face. The lymph nodes around your neck and throat may also be swollen and tender.
Other signs that your tooth is infected include:
- sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- pain while chewing
- swelling in your face or cheek
- tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
Infection is common with impacted wisdom teeth, which are four molars in the back of your mouth that dont have enough room to develop normally. Even when these teeth do emerge from the gums, theyre hard to clean, making them prone to infection. Infected wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain and swelling, making it difficult to open your mouth.
If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist will likely recommend removing them. If you have a tooth abscess, your dentist may make an incision to drain the pus. You might also need an antibiotic.
Other Causes Of A Sore Throat On One Side
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Types Of Head & Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancer usually arises in the cells that line the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat. Each type is classified by its location.
Experts at NYU Langones Perlmutter Cancer Centerincluding otolaryngologists, head and neck surgeons, reconstructive surgeons, plastic surgeons, oral-maxillofacial surgeons, endocrine surgeons, radiation and medical oncologists, and speech and swallowing therapistsmanage all types of head and neck cancer.
Treatment For The Throat And Ear Pain On One Side When Swallowing
Treatment for the throat and ear pain while swallowing will entirely depend upon the underlying cause. Treatment options for throat and pain one side can be the following:
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What Causes Sore Throat And Ear Pain
The causes of sore throat and ear pain when combined are vast. Theres actually quite a lengthy list. But thats not a very good explanation to get quick information.
The best way to look at the cause is to simplify. Most peoples sore throat and ear pain fall into five simple categories. We will talk about them all in detail below.
The importance to understand is that the nerves that provide sensation are closely linked. Therefore, in some cases, pain in one area can refer to the other. And without further ado, here we go. The top five causes of sore throat and ear pain.
Throat And Ear Pain While Swallowing
The ear and throat are connected by the auditory tube , which opens and closes when you swallow.
Since these parts of your body are linked, you might have pain in your throat and your ear when you swallow if you have tonsillitis or an infection like mono or strep throat.
These infections can also cause problems in the auditory tube, including inflammation, infection, and mucus build-up.
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What Causes Ear And Throat Pain On One Side When Swallowing
Are you experiencing ear and throat pain on one side when swallowing? There are many possible causes of one-sided pain in the throat and ear, including viral infections, nerve problems, digestive issues and other infections. Some of these conditions may cause a sharp pain in the throat when swallowing on one side, while others also cause ear pain. Here are some of the possible conditions that can result in one-sided ear and throat pain when swallowing.
When Do I See A Doctor For Head And Ear Pain On One Side
People suffering from ear-related illnesses can also experience headaches. The severity of the headaches and types of headaches differ based on the type and degree of the ear infection.
Patients experiencing head and ear pain on one side must reach out for a medical examination. You might also consider undergoing massage therapy treatment, but make sure it is under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
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Throat And Ear Pain That Doesn’t Go Away
Throat and ear pain can come and go or can be constant and slow to get better, depending on what is causing the symptoms.
For example, acid reflux is more likely to cause pain that is worse in the morning and gets better later in the day. Seasonal allergies, strep throat, and mono are more likely to come with throat and ear pain that does not go away until the conditions are treated.
Getting Rid Of The Discomfort
When youre dealing with pain in your ear or throat youll want to at least lessen the discomfort as quickly as possible. There are several ways to get a little relief.
For a sore throat, using cough drops, a numbing spray, or gargling salt water can soothe the scratchiness youre feeling. You can use that in combination with a pain reliever. If the air is dry in your home, running a humidifier can help keep your nasal passages and throat moist, too.
For those dealing with an earache, putting a few drops of warm olive oil can ease the discomfort. If you dont have olive oil, try alternating between a cold compress and a warm compress. Youll swap them out about every 10 minutes to get some relief.
When you go to sleep, try to keep the ear thats hurting facing upward. You want to make sure its not pressed against your pillow so it can drain better.
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This article is for informational use only. This does not substitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Tooth Infection Or Abscess
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus at the tip of your tooths root caused by a bacterial infection. An abscessed tooth can cause severe pain that radiates to your ear and jaw on the same side. The lymph nodes in your neck and throat may also be swollen and tender.
Other symptoms include:
- sensitivity to heat and cold
- pain when chewing and swallowing
- swelling in your cheek or face
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Sore Throat And Ear Pain On One Side
To learn more about sore throat and ear pain on one side, we have shared several conditions that can cause this discomfort. I assume that most people realize that many diseases have the same symptoms, which can be a challenge.
If you dont know what to look for, this could mislead you to think one condition is something else.
To help you overcome not falling victim to such a predicament, we will share some information in a simple form. We make it easy to understand so you can make wise decisions.
You must understand the process and figure out what condition may apply to you if any.
Here are a few things to know before considering the conditions listed below. You must be clear about what could be wrong with you based on the information given.
To do that, check all the symptoms to see what best suits your case. No guessing, be sure about what you are reading.
The final thing to know relates to treatment. You will find the best treatments for the condition you think you have. Every disease will share the causes, symptoms, and medicine that should help.
As a disclaimer, we encourage anyone who reads the information to check with their doctor first, as this information serves as a last resort for health advice.
Contents
A Tooth Abscess Or Infection
A tooth abscess is an accumulation of pus due to a bacterial infection. This pus collection grows at the tip of the tooths root. The most common symptoms are excruciating pain that travels to the jawbone and to the ear on the side of the face. The lymph nodes close to the neck and throat can also become inflamed and sore.
Other signs that your tooth is infected include:
- sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- pain while chewing
- swelling in your face or cheek
- tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
If your wisdom teeth erupt abnormally, there are high chances that infection may develop. Even with a normal eruption, its difficult to clean the third molars thoroughly, and an infection can develop due to poor hygiene. Infection in the wisdom teeth can result in jaw pain and inflammation, and you may find it hard to open the mouth.
If your wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist will likely recommend removing them. If you have a tooth abscess, your dentist may make an incision to drain the pus. You might also need an antibiotic.
The best course of treatment would be to schedule an appointment with your dentist, who might recommend a root canal to get rid of the pus or extract the impacted wisdom teeth.
In the meantime, you can try the following home remedies to ease the pain due to tooth infection.
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Sore Throat And Ear Pain: Whats Causing The Discomfort
Sore throat and ear pain can bring your day to a grinding halt. The discomfort can become unbearable quickly. Because of that, figuring out whats causing those conditions and getting them treated fast is a must.
Some of the underlying causes of sore throat and ear pain can be very serious, but others can be treated from home. Thats why its important to be able to realize when you can deal with it and when you need to get to the doctors office.
Sore Throat And Ear Pain & Why Do I Have A Sore Throat On One Side
Sore throat and ear pain sometimes go hand in hand. How does that happen? And what about when you have a sore throat on one side but not the other. You may wonder how could that be?
Well like most things in life, the connections between two items can often surprise us. A sore throat and ear pain can be caused by several conditions. These conditions obviously affect both. Some of them are not concerning and will pass in a few days. But other causes may warrant follow-up with a healthcare provider for treatment.
In this article, we will discuss the most common causes of sore throat and ear pain. Well explain why you might have a sore throat on one side but not the other, the hidden causes that may surprise you, and well give the top 5 home remedies for a sore throat.
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Throat Pain Right Side Only Sore Right Ear Nose Sores 4 Months
Hi, has anyone else had these symptoms? In September i had the sensation of a lump at the very bottom right side of my throat, just between my collar bones. Over the past 4 months the sensation has turned to somewhat severe pain that steadily progressed up my throat. The pain now extends up the entire right side of my windpipe and into my right ear canal. It burns to breathe in, but my ENT consult scope showed nothing abnormal. I can swallow but there is some pain as the food passes the sore area. Also, My right side carotid artery area gets tender and swollen for about a week then improves. But keeps coming back. My ear pain includes inner ear pain and cartilage pain near the ear canal entrance. My right side sinus has been burning and feeling very dry. My nose has sores in the tip that crack, crust and dont heal. I have also had severe fatigue and hip pain while having the throat symptoms. I have had corneal inflammation over the past 5 years but am otherwise in great health. I’ve had numerous blood tests, an ent consult scope, and a thyroid ultrasound to try find the cause of this sore throat and nothing has shown up besides slightly elevated c reactive protein. NSAIDs do not help with the pain. Right now I suffer from chronic throat ear, and sinus pain. I am getting so fatigued lately i can barely function. My GP is unsure where to refer me. Just wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms and what specialists they may have seen. Thanks!