CHRONIC SORE THROAT –PHARYNGITIS
Chronic Sore throat is a very common condition- medically termed as Chronic Pharyngitis, it is usually a lifestyle disease –quite often related to what we have to eat or drink.
Eating spicy or fried food or drinking very chilled fluids, including with a lot of ice can cause a sore throat. Smoking is also a major contributory factor. If the sore throat is persistent, especially if the pain is constant atone site, if there is history of smoking and alcohol consumption or if there is blood stained oral secretions you must have yourselves checked out immediately. This is also important in case you have a family history of throat cancer.
1. Allergies - First and foremost is your allergy or allergic tendencies - if you have a throat that is allergic to certain food substances then you are prone to developing chronic sore throat and you should be more careful than others. I understand that people around you are having drinks with ice or eating spicy food but as soon as you touch something like that your throat goes sore or raw- but that is the nature of things - it is possible you have a throat that has an allergic predisposition so you have to be more careful than the others regarding all that you drink and eat.
2. Specific Foods - What are the common culprits that cause chronic sore throat?
Most of these things we are aware of - having very spicy food, having iced drinks, having food that is fried, having outside food particularly restaurant or street side food, eating chutneys/achar, having things like Papad because they irritate the throat-they are dry, spicy and sharp.
3. Smoking - I get many patients who are smokers and they always act surprised when i tell them that your smoking is causing the sore throat! It is obvious! All that noxious smoke that you're taking in - the first point of contact is the throat and there is a condition called smoker's throat where overall we find the oropharynx - specially the posterior pharyngeal wall are red and granular and that is the appearance of a smoker's throat. So obviously if you're a smoker and if you have a sore throat it is mandatory for you to stop smoking. No doctor will ever recommend that you continue with your smoking habit.
4. Acidity and Reflux - Acidity and reflux are also causes of sore throat
5. Sinusitis and Post nasal drip - Sinusitis, nasal allergies - causing post nasal drip lead to a sore throat because of the constant dripping of secretions on the posterior pharyngeal wall, specially if these secretions are infected.
So as we can see the throat is in the middle - infections from above (the nose and sinuses) can affect it, as well as problems from below (Stomach- acidity and reflux). Specially when we go down to sleep at night the acid comes up into the throat because the effect of gravity is lost and causes dryness and choking sensation which are also symptoms of chronic sore throat.
So the throat not only suffers because of throat problems but it also is a secondary sufferer because of nasal issues as well as gastric issues including acidity and reflux.
Symptoms
1. Throat irritation - The symptoms of chronic sore throat are usually- a feeling of Khich-Khich or irritation in the throat -a constant desire to clear the throat
2. Chronic cough -sometimes a chronic cough -
3. Burning sensation in the throat- burning sensation-
4. Choking sensation - usually in the morning, often related to reflux
5. Pain - sometimes there is pain - usually in the presence of an acute insult
6. Fever - If the throat becomes secondarily infected there may be fever as well.
REMEDIES
What is our remedy for chronic pharyngitis or chronic sore throat? The remedies are-
1. Avoidance- number one and most importantly is avoidance - avoid the offending foods, smoking etc.
2. Anti Allergy medication - Take a simple anti-allergic tablet which will take care of your symptoms related to allergy-
3. Acidity medication - If your sore throat is being caused by acidity or reflux please take a simple antacid from over the counter or please visit your ENT specialist who will examine and tell you what is the appropriate therapy.
4. Gargles - I'm a firm believer in the value of gargling for the throat. You may gargle with simple home remedies like saline gargles or you can use Povidone iodine or you can use Disprin or other agents that are available to you which you are comfortable with and which you think make your throat comfortable.
But saline gargles or warm saline gargles have stood the test of time - they are safe and they are effective for chronic sore throat. Half a glass of warm water with half a teaspoon of salt- gargle two to three times a day and you should be fine.
WARNING SIGNS
Sometimes a chronic sore throat may be hiding some lesion inside which needs to be checked particularly if you're a smoker and you consume alcohol regularly or if there is a family history of upper aerodigestive tract or throat cancers.
1. If you have a chronic sore throat which is not settling down
2. Especially if there is pain in one localized area or
3. If discharge from the mouth or oral cavity is blood stained
you must immediately consult your ENT specialist who would like to examine you to see if there is any other sinister lesion inside.
I repeat sore throat/ chronic sore throat/pharyngitis is usually a lifestyle disease and if we are careful about what we eat or drink, if we do simple household remedies like saline gargles, we should by and large be all right