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Pain on one side of the throat: causes and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

A sore throat is one of the most common health problems, but what happens when it only hurts on one side? The causes that cause a common sore throat and a unilateral sore throat are usually different. On the other hand, sometimes it can be an emergency. A doctor should be consulted quickly since the situation can get worse.

If you want to know why you can have pain on only one side of the throat, in which cases it is advisable to go to the nearest health center soon and what treatment can improve this discomfort, then continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle.

Burn injury or scrape on only one side of the throat

The causes of unilateral pain can be very varied. The treatment that should be given will depend on it. The possible causes of pain on one side of the throat and the appropriate treatments are explained below.

The origin of the pain in the throat may have been from having ingested something scalding or a sharp food. This can hurt the mucosa and cause pain. The same can happen after endotracheal intubation.

In this case, the treatment will consist of consuming food at room temperature (not very cold because they can also irritate), avoiding the consumption of citrus fruits, tomato, sauces, spicy, banana, salty foods, tobacco, and alcohol, since they can increase pain by irritation.

If the discomfort does not subside after a few days, consult a doctor.

Jaw joint problems

Sometimes the malfunction of the jaw joint or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) causes contracture of the chewing and neck muscles, which can cause pain on one side of the throat and ear.

It is advisable to apply heat to the painful area, avoid foods that require a lot of chewing (gum, meat), or open your mouth a lot (such as apples). If the pain is persistent, the dentist should be consulted.

Foreign body in the throat

If the pain started after you’ve been eating (especially fish or foods with oregano), it might be that a piece of the food has been left where it hurts. This is an emergency, especially in children or people with intellectual disabilities, since the foreign body can become detached and pass into the lungs.

Treatment will consist of removing this foreign body. Discomfort usually persists for a few days after removal.

Phlegmon or peritonsillar or pharyngeal abscess

It is an infection on only one side of the throat, and it usually occurs in people who have pharyngitis frequently and who do not do a complete or adequate treatment. It is there that the infection spreads and becomes complicated. This is also an emergency, as the infection can spread quickly, preventing the person from swallowing, drinking, or eating. It is accompanied by fever and an inability to open the mouth.

To improve this condition, antibiotics are indicated for at least ten days, corticosteroids, rest, and a soft diet, and if the doctor thinks there is pus, a puncture is made in the affected area. After a while, the tonsil should be removed, as phlegmon may recur.

Angina de Paul-Vincent

It is a throat infection caused by two different microorganisms: a bacterium and a spirochete, which differs from typical angina. You usually have a sore and swollen throat on one side, bad breath, high fever, and bleeding gums.

People suffer it with a foul mouth or with impaired defenses. The doctor should also be consulted quickly because there can be severe complications if not treated in time, although it is not shared. It is treated with antibiotics, rest, and a soft diet.

Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux is caused by fluids in the stomach moving up into the esophagus and down the throat. Although it is more common for the discomfort to be bilateral, if the person always lies on the same side, the acid may irritate each night and cause a sore throat on only one side. It is usually accompanied by hoarseness, a sensation of having something in the throat, and dysphonia.

It deals with changes in eating, going to bed, a diet that avoids certain foods or beverages (sodas, coffee, chocolate, dairy, spicy, among others). Sometimes, medication may be indicated to decrease stomach acid.

Tumor of the pharynx or at the base of the tongue

Although very rare, tumor lesions (benign and malignant) can present with pain on one side of the throat. Frequently, it occurs in alcohol or tobacco users. It also gives with difficulty swallowing or speaking and unexplained weight loss.

Different studies must be done to confirm it. It will depend on whether the tumor should be removed and if a particular medication must be used to treat it.

When to see a doctor for pain on one side of the throat

As has been seen, the causes of pain on one side of the throat are numerous and quite different, probably, most of the time, it is a minor problem, but there are some instances in which a doctor should be consulted immediately. professional:

  • Difficulty swallowing solid or liquid food.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Difficulty opening your mouth.
  • High fever (greater than 38 ° C) for more than three days.
  • Glands were becoming more and more inflamed even though the sore throat got better.
  • The pain started after eating fish or other food that may have been brought into the throat.
  • Weight loss (without being on a diet).
  • Very severe sore throat that lasts more than a week.

In the same way, a professional should be consulted if there are doubts or if it does not improve with the treatment that has been started.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pain on one side of the throat: causes and treatment, we recommend entering our Ear, Nose, and Throat category.

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