This article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor I Le Van Quang - General Surgery Department - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital
Sore throat, sore throat on one side is often a sign of common diseases such as flu, pharyngitis, tonsillitis,... but can also be a warning symptom of many other serious diseases.
1. What are the causes of unilateral pharyngitis?
Swollen throat on one side, sore throat can be caused by the following reasons:
1.1 Tonsillitis
The tonsils are located behind the throat, their main function is to prevent the attack of viruses and bacteria on the body. At the same time, the tonsils also have the function of secreting natural antibodies to fight infections. In some cases, the tonsils cannot resist the attack of bacteria and viruses, so they will swell, causing tonsillitis. Sometimes, only one side of the tonsils is inflamed, causing unilateral pharyngitis, swelling and pain on one side. Treatment of tonsillitis is usually with antibiotics.
1.2 Peritonsillar abscess
Abscesses often form after the tonsils are infected by bacteria. A peritonsillar abscess forms in the tissues near the tonsils, usually when tonsillitis becomes severe or is not treated. This condition can cause severe pain on one side of the throat, pain in the right or left half of the throat. In addition, tonsil abscesses also cause fever, swollen lymph nodes and difficulty swallowing, even difficulty breathing. Therefore, patients with peritonsillar abscesses need urgent medical attention.
1.3 Tonsil stones
Due to the chronic tonsillitis process, the tonsils contain many stones formed from food, dead bacteria and secretions of tonsil tissue. When having tonsil stones, patients often have symptoms of difficulty swallowing on one side, bad breath, sometimes coughing up stones the size of 1/2 grain of rice, pale yellow in color and very smelly.
1.4 Swollen lymph nodes due to inflammation
Inflammation, swelling and pain in the throat on one side can also be caused by swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes (lymph nodes) play an important role in the functioning of the immune system. They function as filters, trapping foreign particles and are susceptible to inflammation and swelling when performing this task.
The lymph nodes closest to the throat are located on both sides of the neck, and when swollen or inflamed, can cause a sore throat. Sometimes the lymph nodes are only swollen and painful on one side. Causes of swollen lymph nodes include: colds or flu, group A streptococcal pharyngitis, ear infections, infectious mononucleosis caused by the EBV virus, tooth abscess or tooth abscess, cancer, HIV, infectious lesions of the skin in the area, etc.
2. Other causes of sore throat on one side
In addition to pharyngitis, the symptom of sore throat on one side can also come from other causes such as:
2.1 Postnasal drip syndrome
Postnasal drip syndrome is a condition in which fluid flows from the sinus system through the back of the nose down the back of the throat, causing a sore throat, itching, sore throat, and cough. The disease is often caused by bacterial sinusitis, viral infection, or cold. Associated causes include: gastroesophageal reflux syndrome, endocrine disorders, and immunodeficiency. Postnasal drip syndrome often lasts because of continuous secretions, causing discomfort and sore throat on one side in some cases.
2.2 Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux disease includes increased stomach acid, refluxing into the esophagus and pharynx. The disease is more severe at night or when the patient lies down. When the patient lies on one side, refluxed stomach acid can cause pain on one side of the throat. Other symptoms of the disease include sore throat, burning sensation in the chest, hoarseness, dry cough, burning sensation in the mouth, feeling of choking in the throat, etc. If this condition is not treated early, it can lead to damage to the esophagus and throat.
2.3 Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus, causing ulcers on the hands, feet and mouth. Ulcers can develop in the back of the mouth, the throat wall and one side of the throat may be affected more, causing a sore throat on one side. The disease usually occurs in children under 5 years old but can also occur in older children and adults.
2.4 Vocal cord damage
Overactive of the larynx in activities such as speaking, singing, shouting, etc… can cause damage to the vocal cords unilateral, causing pain in one side of the throat. In addition to a sore throat, the patient also has symptoms of hoarseness.
2.5 Cancer
Rarer causes of sore throat on one side are nasopharyngeal cancer, lateral pharyngeal cancer, hypopharyngeal laryngeal cancer, etc. In the early stages of the disease, the patient has symptoms of vague pain on one side of the throat, and may not have swollen lymph nodes. In the advanced stages, the symptoms of the disease will be clearer, including nosebleeds, headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus, blood in the saliva, prolonged hoarseness, etc. Depending on the location of the tumor, there will be specific symptoms of the disease.
There are many causes of sore throat, pharyngitis on one side. To diagnose the disease accurately, the patient should go to a reputable medical facility for examination, from which there will be appropriate treatment methods.
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