The good news is that it’s fairly straightforward for a healthcare provider to tease out the cause.
This article explains some common reasons for a burning throat.
It also describes how each condition is treated to relieve sore throat pain, burning, and other symptoms.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Approximately half of all people experience acid reflux at some point in life.
Sometimes the acid rises all the way up to the throat and voice box.
Other symptoms of LPR include:
Lifestyle changes may help with both GERD and LPR.
These changes include quitting smoking and limiting or cutting out alcohol use.
Some foods, like chocolate, spicy foods, and citrus fruits, may also trigger reflux.
If you’re overweight or have obesity, losing weight can help you manage and prevent LPR.
Sometimes medication like a proton pump inhibitor is needed in addition to lifestyle changes.
Esophagitis
Esophagitisis another condition that may cause burning in your throat.
It is an inflammation of the esophagus, and GERD is a common cause.
When stomach acid is refluxed into the throat, it can cause irritation and inflammation.
This usually leads to a burning sensation in the throat.
It may also cause trouble or pain with swallowing.
Besides GERD, othercauses of esophagitismay include infections or taking certain pills.
When triggered by a food allergy, it is calledeosinophilic esophagitis(EoE).
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
For example, if a fungal infection is involved, then an antifungal medication is needed.
If GERD is the cause, then lifestyle changes and a proton pump inhibitor may be needed.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords, which are located in the larynx.
Constant throat pain along with pain when talking and swallowing are typical characteristics of laryngitis.
you’ve got the option to also develop laryngitis due to smoking or abusing your voice.
It has no clear health-related cause.
Someone with burning mouth syndrome may also have adry mouthand/or a salty or metallic taste in the mouth.
Burning mouth syndrome is a complex problem and requires what’s known as a diagnosis of exclusion.
Treatment may be challenging if the symptoms have no clear cause.
If that’s the case, the focus is on helping to control symptoms.
Common Cold
Asore throatis often a symptom of the common cold.
Antibiotics don’t work against viruses.
Flu
The flu is a respiratory illness primarily brought on by influenza viruses A and B.
Flu symptoms usually start within two days of exposure to the influenza virus.
If you do come down with the flu, take care to rest and drink plenty of water.
Sometimes, the tonsils themselves get infected and inflamed.
Inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis.
Both bacteria and viruses can cause tonsillitis, but the most common cause is the bacteriaStreptococcus,or step.
Tonsillitis causes the throat to become painful and sore.
Sore throat with tonsillitis usually starts suddenly.
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal dripis sometimes called upper airway cough syndrome.
It triggers when mucus and fluid from the sinuses and nose drain into your throat.
A cough is also common as you constantly attempt to clear your throat.
Treating the root causefor example, taking an antibiotic for a bacterial sinus infectionis also essential.
Sometimes the symptoms of GERD seem the same as postnasal drip, or both happen at the same time.
This makes the diagnosis and treatment a bit more complex.
Problems with gastric reflux, whether GERD or LPR, are among the most common.
Other issues include an inflamed esophagus or an infection.
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