Burning in the throat can be caused by a variety of health conditions, such as acid reflux and the common cold. Some causes of burning in the throat may be more serious than others, but all of them can cause pain and discomfort.
The good news is that it's fairly straightforward for a healthcare provider to tease out the cause. They will find it based on your other symptoms, a physical examination, and in some cases, diagnostic testing.
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.
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more severe form of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which you likely know as acid reflux. Approximately half of all people experience acid reflux at some point in life.
Acid reflux is considered to have progressed to GERD when reflux happens repeatedly or does not respond to OTC treatments, such as antacids. The term "reflux" refers to the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus—the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
Sometimes theacid rises all the way up to the throat and voice box. When that happens, it's calledlaryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Interestingly, half of the people with LPR have "silent reflux," which means they don't experience heartburn or an upset stomach.
Other symptoms of LPR include:
- A constant feeling that something is in the throat
- Phlegm in the throat
- Throat clearing
- Throat irritation
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
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 medicationlike aproton pump inhibitoris needed in addition to lifestyle changes.
Esophagitis
Esophagitis is 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, other causes of esophagitis may include infections or taking certain pills. It may also be caused by radiation therapy to the neck area, accidental chemical ingestion, or food allergies as well. When caused by a food allergy, it is called eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE).
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. For example, if a fungal infection is involved, then anantifungal medication is needed. If GERD is the cause, then lifestyle changes and a proton pump inhibitor may be needed. If EoE is the issue, a medication called Dupixent (dupilumab) may be prescribed.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Symptoms and Diagnosis
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.
Most cases of laryngitis are caused by a virus, while bacterial and fungal infections of the vocal cords are rare. You can also develop laryngitis due to smoking or abusing your voice.
Other symptoms of laryngitis include hoarseness or a feeling that you need to clear your throat.
Laryngitis caused by a virus usually does not require treatment, as the sore throat should go away once the viral infection resolves. In the meantime, gargling with salt water, sucking on a throat lozenge, and using your voice as little as possible should help.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning mouth syndrome is the medical term for a long-lasting—and sometimes very severe—burning sensationin the tongue, lips, gums, palate, or all over the mouth and throat. It has no clear health-related cause. Someone with burning mouth syndrome may also have a dry mouth and/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. This means that other potential causes of the symptoms must be ruled out first through a physical exam and blood tests.
Treatment may be challenging if the symptoms have no clear cause. If that's the case, the focus is on helping to control symptoms.
Burning Mouth Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment
Common Cold
A sore throat is often a symptom of the common cold. This painful inflammation of the back part of the throat is usually caused by a virus, though there may be other reasons.
In addition to a burning, itchy, or raw throat, especially when swallowing, someone with a viral infection of the throat may also experience a cough, runny nose, hoarseness, and/or diarrhea (in children).
Antibiotics don't work against viruses. Thus, the goal of treatment is to manage the symptoms with rest, over-the-counter pain meds, saltwater gargles, and throat lozenges or sprays while the infection runs its course.
Flu
The flu is a respiratory illness primarily caused by influenza viruses A and B. Influenza viruses can infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, resulting in mild to serious illness.
Flu symptoms usually start within two days of exposure to the influenza virus. In addition to sore throat, the flu is known to cause:
- Cough
- Fever and chills
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting or diarrhea
In addition to avoiding people who are sick and washing your hands with soap and water frequently, the best way to avoid the flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine.
If you do come down with the flu, take care to rest and drink plenty of water. For cases that are particularly severe, healthcare providers may prescribe an antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir or baloxavir, both of which are taken orally (by mouth).
Tonsillitis
The tonsils are large glands on either side of the back of the throat that make antibodies to help your body fight infection.
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 bacteria Streptococcus, or step.
Tonsillitis causes the throat to become painful and sore. Sore throat with tonsillitis usually starts suddenly. Other symptoms of tonsillitis include:
- Swollen tonsils that may appear red, yellow, gray, or white
- Blisters or painful sores in the throat
- Pain when swallowing
- Snoring
- Foul breath
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever and chills
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck or jaw area
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Strep Throat
Strep throat is an infection of the throat caused by the bacteria Streptococcus. The infection is known to cause a painful, burning throat.
Other signs and symptoms of strep throat often include:
- Fever
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes in the neck
- White patches on the tonsils
- Body aches
"Strep" requires a trip to your healthcare provider for an antibiotic. Ifleft untreated, the infection can spread and lead to serious issues like rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and kidney inflammation.
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal drip is sometimes called upper airway cough syndrome. Itoccurs when mucus and fluid from the sinuses and nose drain into your throat.
Postnasal drip is often described as a dripping sensation in the throat, which can be irritating and lead to a burning feeling. A cough is also common as you constantly attempt to clear your throat.
There are many different causes of postnasal drip including:
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
- Viral infections like the common cold
- Irritants in the air, such as fumes or dust
- Overuse of certain over-the-counter decongestants (calledrhinitis medicamentosa)
An antihistamine/decongestant medication, like Claritin-D, is often used to treat postnasal drip. Treating the root cause—for example, taking an antibiotic for a bacterial sinus infection—is also essential.
Sometimesthe 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.
Find Relief for Postnasal Drip
Cancer
Cancer of the vocal cords, larynx (voice box), pharynx, or other throat tissues is collectively referred to as throat cancer. A sore throat that doesn't go away, even after taking antibiotics, is a common sign of throat cancer.
Other symptoms of throat cancer can vary depending on the location of the tumor, but in general may include:
- Abnormally high-pitched breathing sounds
- Cough
- Coughing up blood
- Nosebleeds
- Pain or difficulty when swallowing
- Persistent hoarse voice
- White patches on the tongue or in the mouth that don't go away
- Trouble moving your tongue
- Trouble opening your mouth
- Neck or ear pain
- Swelling or lumps in the neck that slowly get bigger
- Unexplained weight loss
Throat cancer is treatable when caught early. Treatment typically starts with surgery to remove the tumor from your throat. Following surgery, treatment may entail radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells.
Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer
Summary
There are a few possible reasons why you feel a burning in your throat. Problems with gastric reflux, whether GERD or LPR, are among the most common. Other issues include an inflamed esophagus or an infection.
While there may be less serious reasons, like postnasal drip, some of these conditions are serious or can become so. It's important to let your healthcare provider know about your symptoms so you can get the right diagnosis and treatment.
