Throat irritation
Encyclopedia
Throat
irritation is a common complaint in individuals of all ages. Throat irritation means different things to different people. Some people may mean a dry cough
; others describe it as a scratchy feeling at the back of the throat and others simply mean a sensation of something stuck at the back of the throat or a lumpy feeling. There are certainly many causes of throat irritation.
, dust, mite
s, pollen
and molds that can trigger an allergic reaction which present with runny nose
, red eyes, congested nose and throat irritation. Often a dry cough may also be present.
which can occur from overuse, irritation or an infection. Laryngitis
can be a short term illness or a prolonged problem. The majority of cases of laryngitis are due to viral
infections which only last a few days. Laryngitis is often a common complaint in individuals who sing. Opera singers or those who yell at sporting events strain the throat muscles and develop a case of laryngitis. However, persistent throat irritation and hoarseness may be from a more serious disorder like cancer
.
. Less often, bacteria
may also cause pharyngitis
. Both of these organisms enter the body via the nose or mouth as aerosol
ized particles when someone sneeze
s or coughs. Because many germs are contagious, one can even acquire them from touching utensils, toys, personal care products or door knobs. The most common viruses that causes throat irritation include the common cold virus, influenza
, infectious mononucleosis
, measles
and croup
. Most bacteria and virus usually induce throat irritation during the winter or autumn.
. The most common cause of epiglottitis
is an infection by the bacteria, H influenza
. The condition may present all of a sudden with high fever, severe sore throat, difficult and painful swallowing
, drooling
saliva, hoarse voice, difficulty breathing and malaise. The condition is life threatening and needs immediate hospitalization. Epiglottitis is treated with antibiotic
s. Routine vaccination
has made epiglottis very rare but it still does present in some children. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can be life saving.
are congested and the excess fluid runs either at the back of the throat or out of the nose. Post-nasal drip
can be caused by the common cold, allergies to dust, smoking
, or pet dander. Even spicy foods can sometimes cause post-nasal drip. Runny nose is not life threatening but can be uncomfortable and socially unacceptable.
which if untreated can lead to many other problems in the body. Strep throat is most common in childhood but can affect people of all ages. It may present with throat pain, difficulty swallowing, painful tonsil
s, fever
, headache
, skin rash
and nausea
. The diagnosis of strep throat is straight forward and the treatment requires a course of penicillin
. However, if the treatment is not adequate, rheumatic fever can occur with resultant damage to the heart valve
s.
is dry especially in winter, it can create a sensation of dryness
and a scratchy feeling in the throat. This is most commonly observed in the morning. Other individuals whom also develop throat irritation are those breathing through their mouth
because of a congested nose
.
Environmental pollution
is also a common cause of throat irritation. In fact, indoor pollution because of tobacco smoke used to be a common cause of throat irritation. Other items known to induce throat irritation includes alcohol, spicy or hot foods and smokeless tobacco.
produces acid in the stomach which is neutralized in the small intestine
. To prevent acid from flowing backwards, the lower part of the swallowing tube (esophagus
) has a valve which closes after food passes through. In some individuals, this valve becomes incompetent and acid goes up into the esophagus. Reflux
episodes often occurs at night and one may develop a bitter taste in the mouth. The throat can be severely irritated when acid touches the vocal cords
and can lead to spasm
s of coughing. To prevent throat irritation from reflux, one should lose weight, stop smoking, avoid coffee beverages and sleep with the head elevated.
Home remedies for throat irritation
include gargling
with warm water twice a day, sipping honey and lemon mixture or sucking on medicated lozenge
s. If the cause is dry air, then one should humidify the home. Since smoke irritates the throat, stop smoking and avoid all fumes from chemicals, paints and volatile liquids.
Rest your voice if you have been screaming or singing. If you have pharyngitis, stop infecting others by covering your mouth when coughing and wear a mask.
Throat
In vertebrate anatomy, the throat is the anterior part of the neck, in front of the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx...
irritation is a common complaint in individuals of all ages. Throat irritation means different things to different people. Some people may mean a dry cough
Cough
A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes...
; others describe it as a scratchy feeling at the back of the throat and others simply mean a sensation of something stuck at the back of the throat or a lumpy feeling. There are certainly many causes of throat irritation.
Allergies
During the summer months, allergies are a common cause of throat irritation. Many individuals have allergies to pet danderDander
Dander is an informal term for a material shed from the body of various animals, similar to dandruff. It may contain scales of dried skin and hair, or feathers. It is a cause of allergies in humans....
, dust, mite
Mite
Mites, along with ticks, are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology.-Diversity and systematics:...
s, pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
and molds that can trigger an allergic reaction which present with runny nose
Rhinorrhea
Rhinorrhea or rhinorrhoea is a condition where the nasal cavity is filled with a significant amount of mucous fluid. The condition, commonly known as "runny nose", occurs relatively frequently and is not usually considered dangerous. Rhinorrhea is a common symptom of allergies or certain diseases,...
, red eyes, congested nose and throat irritation. Often a dry cough may also be present.
Laryngitis
It is inflammation of the voice boxLarynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
which can occur from overuse, irritation or an infection. Laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
can be a short term illness or a prolonged problem. The majority of cases of laryngitis are due to viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
infections which only last a few days. Laryngitis is often a common complaint in individuals who sing. Opera singers or those who yell at sporting events strain the throat muscles and develop a case of laryngitis. However, persistent throat irritation and hoarseness may be from a more serious disorder like cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Pharyngitis
Viruses are common causes of the common coldCommon cold
The common cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever...
. Less often, bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
may also cause pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the throat or pharynx. In most cases it is quite painful, and is the most common cause of a sore throat.Like many types of inflammation, pharyngitis can be acute – characterized by a rapid onset and typically a relatively short course – or chronic....
. Both of these organisms enter the body via the nose or mouth as aerosol
Aerosol
Technically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
ized particles when someone sneeze
Sneeze
A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa...
s or coughs. Because many germs are contagious, one can even acquire them from touching utensils, toys, personal care products or door knobs. The most common viruses that causes throat irritation include the common cold virus, influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious, widespread viral...
, measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
and croup
Croup
Croup is a respiratory condition that is usually triggered by an acute viral infection of the upper airway. The infection leads to swelling inside the throat, which interferes with normal breathing and produces the classical symptoms of a "barking" cough, stridor, and hoarseness...
. Most bacteria and virus usually induce throat irritation during the winter or autumn.
Epiglottitis
It is a very serious disorder of the back of the throat near the windpipeVertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
. The most common cause of epiglottitis
Epiglottitis
Epiglottitis is an inflammation of the epiglottis - the flap that sits at the base of the tongue, which keeps food from going into the trachea . Due to its place in the airway, swelling of this structure can interfere with breathing and constitutes a medical emergency...
is an infection by the bacteria, H influenza
Haemophilus influenzae
Haemophilus influenzae, formerly called Pfeiffer's bacillus or Bacillus influenzae, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium first described in 1892 by Richard Pfeiffer during an influenza pandemic. A member of the Pasteurellaceae family, it is generally aerobic, but can grow as a facultative anaerobe. H...
. The condition may present all of a sudden with high fever, severe sore throat, difficult and painful swallowing
Swallowing
Swallowing, known scientifically as deglutition, is the process in the human or animal body that makes something pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the esophagus, while shutting the epiglottis. If this fails and the object goes through the trachea, then choking or pulmonary aspiration...
, drooling
Drooling
Drooling is when saliva flows outside the mouth...
saliva, hoarse voice, difficulty breathing and malaise. The condition is life threatening and needs immediate hospitalization. Epiglottitis is treated with antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
s. Routine vaccination
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
has made epiglottis very rare but it still does present in some children. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can be life saving.
Post-nasal drip
Also called rhinorrhea, is a very common medical disorder that occurs when the nasal tissuesTissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
are congested and the excess fluid runs either at the back of the throat or out of the nose. Post-nasal drip
Post-nasal drip
Post-nasal drip , also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome , occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the nasal mucosa. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose...
can be caused by the common cold, allergies to dust, smoking
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
, or pet dander. Even spicy foods can sometimes cause post-nasal drip. Runny nose is not life threatening but can be uncomfortable and socially unacceptable.
Strep throat
It is caused by bacteriaBacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
which if untreated can lead to many other problems in the body. Strep throat is most common in childhood but can affect people of all ages. It may present with throat pain, difficulty swallowing, painful tonsil
Tonsil
Palatine tonsils, occasionally called the faucial tonsils, are the tonsils that can be seen on the left and right sides at the back of the throat....
s, fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
, headache
Headache
A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
, skin rash
Rash
A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and...
and nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
. The diagnosis of strep throat is straight forward and the treatment requires a course of penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
. However, if the treatment is not adequate, rheumatic fever can occur with resultant damage to the heart valve
Heart valve
A heart valve normally allows blood flow in only one direction through the heart. The four valves commonly represented in a mammalian heart determine the pathway of blood flow through the heart...
s.
Environment
When the environmentNatural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
is dry especially in winter, it can create a sensation of dryness
Dryness
Dryness is a property of alcoholic beverages that describes the lack of a sweet taste. This may be due to a lack of sugars, the presence of some other taste that masks sweetness, or an underabundance of simple carbohydrates that can be converted to sugar by enzymes in the mouth...
and a scratchy feeling in the throat. This is most commonly observed in the morning. Other individuals whom also develop throat irritation are those breathing through their mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
because of a congested nose
Nasal congestion
Nasal congestion is the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels. It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, stuffy nose, or stuffed up nose.Nasal congestion has many causes and can range from a...
.
Environmental pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
is also a common cause of throat irritation. In fact, indoor pollution because of tobacco smoke used to be a common cause of throat irritation. Other items known to induce throat irritation includes alcohol, spicy or hot foods and smokeless tobacco.
Acid reflux
This affliction is a common cause of throat irritation. Normally the stomachStomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
produces acid in the stomach which is neutralized in the small intestine
Small intestine
The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract following the stomach and followed by the large intestine, and is where much of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. In invertebrates such as worms, the terms "gastrointestinal tract" and "large intestine" are often used to...
. To prevent acid from flowing backwards, the lower part of the swallowing tube (esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
) has a valve which closes after food passes through. In some individuals, this valve becomes incompetent and acid goes up into the esophagus. Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease , gastro-oesophageal reflux disease , gastric reflux disease, or acid reflux disease is chronic symptoms or mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus...
episodes often occurs at night and one may develop a bitter taste in the mouth. The throat can be severely irritated when acid touches the vocal cords
Vocal folds
The vocal folds, also known commonly as vocal cords, are composed of twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally across the larynx...
and can lead to spasm
Spasm
In medicine a spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes...
s of coughing. To prevent throat irritation from reflux, one should lose weight, stop smoking, avoid coffee beverages and sleep with the head elevated.
Treatment
The majority of cases of throat irritation usually go away without any treatment. There is no real treatment for throat irritation from a virus. If you have difficulty swallowing then one should drink liquids, suck on lozenges or on ice chips. Bacterial infections generally require antibiotics.Home remedies for throat irritation
Irritation
Irritation or exacerbation, in biology and physiology, is a state of inflammation or painful reaction to allergy or cell-lining damage. A stimulus or agent which induces the state of irritation is an irritant...
include gargling
Gargling
Gargling is the act in which one bubbles a liquid in one's mouth. It usually requires that the head be tilted back, allowing a mouthful of liquid to sit in the upper throat. The head can be tilted by extending either the neck or the back, depending on what is comfortable for the gargler...
with warm water twice a day, sipping honey and lemon mixture or sucking on medicated lozenge
Lozenge
A lozenge , often referred to as a diamond, is a form of rhombus. The definition of lozenge is not strictly fixed, and it is sometimes used simply as a synonym for rhombus. Most often, though, lozenge refers to a thin rhombus—a rhombus with acute angles of 45°...
s. If the cause is dry air, then one should humidify the home. Since smoke irritates the throat, stop smoking and avoid all fumes from chemicals, paints and volatile liquids.
Rest your voice if you have been screaming or singing. If you have pharyngitis, stop infecting others by covering your mouth when coughing and wear a mask.