Introduction
Burning in the throat can have various triggers. The absorption of hot and acidic food as well as infections and other diseases can play a role. In many cases it is a harmless and easily treatable cause, but in other cases it may be caused by a serious illness.
Causes
A very common cause of burning in the throat can be classic heartburn. This is a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus for various reasons. This problem is also known as reflux disease.
The acidic belching of stomach contents causes a burning sensation in the throat. The symptoms occur very often after hard-to-digest food and also acidic foods and foodstuffs. What exactly leads to these symptoms, can be very different among those affected.
The complaints are intensified when the patient lies down after eating. In this position, the stomach acid can return to the oesophagus even more easily and leads to the burning pain. Stress, restlessness and psychological strain can also trigger or aggravate the disease.
There can be various reasons why the so-called reflux of the stomach contents occurs. Often, an overproduction of gastric acid and a weakness of the sphincter between the outlet of the oesophagus and the entrance to the stomach plays an important role. If this muscle no longer seals the stomach entrance properly, reflux may occur.
Furthermore, an unbalanced diet, i.e. foods that are too high in fat and too large quantities, as well as the frequent consumption of alcohol and cigarettes can be responsible for heartburn. The intake of certain medications, such as various painkillers, can also be a trigger. Being overweight and pregnancy also promote the occurrence of heartburn.
Diseases of the stomach itself, such as irritable stomach, gastritis, a stomach ulcer or various food intolerances can also cause the symptoms mentioned. If heartburn occurs sporadically and rather rarely, it is not serious and does not necessarily require treatment. On the other hand, regular and permanent acid regurgitation carries some risks.
The aggressive stomach acid constantly irritates the mucous membrane of the esophagus. As a result, severe inflammation of the oesophagus can occur. This is called esophagitis.
The recurring inflammations cause the mucous membrane to change and scars to form. From these scars, the individual cells can change in the further course of the disease in such a way that they form precursors of cancer cells. There is therefore an increased risk of cancer developing on the basis of these cell changes.
Therefore, timely treatment with drugs that suppress the production of stomach acid but also the inflammations is necessary. The thyroid gland can be impaired in its function by acute or chronic inflammation. An acute inflammation of the thyroid gland is known in medical terminology as thyroiditis.
In many cases it is caused by a bacterial infection. Inflammation of the thyroid gland can cause various symptoms. A typical symptom is a swelling of the thyroid gland, which can also cause the neck to thicken visibly from the outside.
As the gland is located in front of the windpipe and close to the oesophagus, severe swelling can also cause shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing, as well as a temporary burning sensation in the throat if the thyroid tissue is very badly affected by the inflammation. Chronic thyroid inflammation often develops on the basis of an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Here, the body’s own immune system attacks and damages the thyroid gland tissue for unknown reasons.
The inflammation can be diagnosed by a physical examination, an ultrasound and a tissue examination. With a thyroid scinitigraphy the tissue is displayed in colour and its function can be checked. In case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, antibodies directed against the tissue, so-called autoantibodies, can be detected in the blood.
The treatment of an inflammation of the thyroid gland depends on the cause. Some inflammations are typically accompanied by a loss of hormone production by the thyroid gland. In these cases, the hormones must be replaced by medication, as they are important for the metabolism and influence many functions in the body.
Furthermore, the thyroid gland can be removed by surgery. Even then, the hormones have to be supplied to the body by a permanent medication intake. Allergic reactions to certain foods also manifest themselves by a burning or itching throat.
The burning is usually accompanied by swelling around the mouth and palate and a feeling of fur on the tongue. In principle, food allergies can be triggered by any food, but common allergens are mainly nuts, fish, seafood and stone fruit. If you are unsure whether the burning in your throat is caused by an allergy or is a sign of a cold, an ENT specialist can examine the mucous membranes and clarify the cause. An allergy test can define the cause and those affected should then avoid the food that causes the allergy.
