Aphthae in the throat of the child
Aphthae are by no means only problems of adults – on the contrary: especially small children are often affected by the painful depressions of the oral mucosa. The formation of aphthae in the mouth and throat area is accompanied by fever and increased temperature in small children. Researchers explain this by the fact that the immune system is not yet fully mature in small children aged 1 to 3 years and the body therefore fights against it. However, there is no scientific confirmation of this as yet.
Aphtae in the throat during pregnancy
It is discussed that hormonal changes of the body can provoke aphthae, especially in women. Even during pregnancy, when the hormonal balance is completely rearranged, aphthae can form in the pharynx, producing unpleasant pain symptoms. However, these subside after one to two weeks.
Some pregnant women report that they have only been prone to aphthae during pregnancy, but not before and not afterwards. Others complain about having recurring aphthae since the pregnancy. However, the reason for this is not clear.
Shortly after their development, aphtae in the throat usually go unnoticed by the affected people, they do not feel any pain or other restrictions. However, inflammatory processes develop relatively quickly, leading to redness and slight swelling. Very large aphtae increasingly interfere with food intake and speech, and are often perceived as painful by those affected.
Symptoms of aphthae or a group of aphthae are therefore primarily pain. The body’s immune response in aphthae is similar to an inflammation, which also speaks for the burning quality of the pain. In the case of aphthae in the throat, dryness and scratching in the throat area is also noticeable.
The area around the aphtae is sensitive and sometimes feels warmer than the rest of the oral mucosa. It is true that the more aphthae are formed, the more intense and unpleasant the pain. A group of aphtae, but also a giant aphtha, causes more severe pain than a single small aphtha in the throat.
When eating, it is true that acidic foods in particular, but also hot and dry foods cause an unpleasant burning sensation on contact. Furthermore, the ingestion of food, primarily the swallowing process, is extremely painful, as it causes friction on the aphtae, which is sensitive to touch. Merely touching the aphthae with the tongue can already cause the pain.
This problem also produces pain when speaking. The symptoms are comparable to those of sore throats caused by infections. Also in the case of Aphte, cold food and drinks are analgesic and therefore recommended.
Complaints in the case of an aphthae can not only express themselves as pain in the oral cavity. Researchers suspect that the pain of burning quality may radiate to other regions. This applies primarily to earache.
There are several cases in which sufferers complain of stabbing earache, which always occurs in parallel with the occurrence of aphthae in the mouth and throat. Therefore, experts suspect a connection between the regular formation of aphthae and the recurrent earache. It is suspected that the anatomical proximity of the regions and the nerve tracts that innervate both the ear and the oral cavity trigger a painful stimulus to the ears through the stimulus of aphthae.
As a rule, the ear is affected that is located on the side of the aphtae, which would support this thesis. Especially in small children, the formation of aphthae is accompanied by an increased body temperature, as the body tries to fight against the aphthae. Adults usually do not have a fever. In case of doubt, the family doctor or pediatrician should be consulted.
