Accompanying symptoms of sore throat and difficulty swallowing
Pain in the ear is not uncommon with sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Like sore throat, ear pain can be permanent and/or occur when swallowing. If the pain is permanent, this usually indicates the presence of so-called tubal catarrh: Then the so-called Eustachian tube is closed by swelling – there is a negative pressure in the middle ear and thus a pull on the eardrum.
If the pain occurs when swallowing, it can only be a radiation of the pain into the ear without affecting the ear itself. This occurs particularly when the so-called nasopharynx, i.e. the nasopharynx is inflamed. In the worst case, ear pain in the case of a sore throat with difficulty swallowing can indicate an inflammation of the middle ear.
It is rare, but possible that an existing pharyngitis develops into an inflammation of the middle ear. Such an inflammation of the middle ear occurs more frequently, especially in a weakened immune system, for example in children or if the immune system is not sufficiently protected. What is the so-called tubal catarrh?
Inflammation of the middle ear can occur when there is sore throat with difficulty swallowing. Often the sore throat and difficulty swallowing are the first symptoms, which are caused by an infection with viruses or bacteria. If the immune system is weakened – for example in children or if there is a lack of physical protection – the pathogens can rise through the so-called Eustachian tube, which connects the nasopharynx with the middle ear, and cause an inflammation there.
A sore throat with difficulty swallowing can also be the cause of middle ear inflammation. Since the pain of an inflammation of the middle ear also radiates into the throat and neck area and can cause pain when swallowing, this can be misinterpreted by the patient as a sore throat. This is one of the reasons why the doctor always examines the ear as well when there is a sore throat.
During this so-called otoscopy (examination of the auditory canal), it can usually be determined whether it is an inflammation of the middle ear. The reason for sore throat and difficulty in swallowing can also be the radiation of the pain in the context of a middle ear infection. It is therefore important at this point that you also deal with the middle ear infection:
- The most important facts about middle ear inflammation
- How contagious is a middle ear infection?
Headaches are probably the most common side effect of sore throats with difficulty swallowing.
The headaches do not have to be directly related to the sore throat or the difficulty in swallowing. Since the sore throat is usually caused by viruses or bacteria, an inflammatory reaction occurs. This mostly takes place directly in the throat, but there is also a so-called systemic inflammatory reaction in the entire body.
This makes all parts of the body more sensitive to pain and therefore leads to headaches occurring more quickly than usual. If fever occurs with sore throat and difficulty swallowing, it is usually a more serious infection. This usually leads to other symptoms such as muscle and limb pain.
The body raises its own temperature when there is a fever, so that it can fight the infection better. The following applies: Up to 38.5°C one speaks of a so-called sub-febrile, i.e. slightly elevated temperature. Temperatures above 38.5°C are called sub-febrile, i.e. slightly elevated temperature.
If the body temperature continues to rise, a doctor should definitely be consulted. The main page on this topic could also be of importance for you:
- Fever and sore throat
When coughing and also when blowing, smaller or larger amounts of mucus can be released when you have a cold, which is often accompanied by sore throat and swallowing. The color of the mucus can be helpful to get information about the cause of the infection.
The following rule of thumb can be consulted: If the mucus is transparent, white or light in color, the cause is a viral infection or an allergic secretion. If the mucus is yellow to dark green, bacteria have additionally settled as a so-called secondary infection or superinfection. However, this is only a rule of thumb that does not always apply.If the cause has to be clarified in case of doubt, a microbiological examination can be ordered by the physician in order to reliably determine the pathogen.
The color of any coating on the tongue can also be consulted for diagnosis. White coating may indicate serious diseases such as diphtheria or fungal colonization of the tongue, but there is usually no need to worry. A white coating on the tongue is common when a cold occurs and usually does not need further clarification.
It is usually caused by mucus that settles on the tongue, especially at night. The mucus consists of secretion from the glands of the oral mucosa, in which dead cells and also foreign bodies – such as pathogens – are trapped. What other causes could a coating on the tongue have?
Find out this and much more about the coating on the tongue under:
- What is the significance of the coating of the tongue?
In addition to distinguishing whether the sputum is yellow, white or greenish, bloody sputum can also occur. Here it must be strongly distinguished whether it is nasal secretion or coughed up mucus. If there are small amounts of blood in the nasal secretion, it is usually blood from damaged small vessels that burst when the nose is blown.
These small bleedings usually stop on their own and do not require further clarification. If blood appears in the coughed up secretion, a doctor should be consulted. Here too, coughing can damage small vessels and cause them to bleed – although other causes, such as tumor diseases, can be much more common.
- Nosebleeds
- Causes of nosebleeds
