All of us have experienced a sore throat or ear pain at some point in our lives. If you currently find yourself dealing with both at the same time, you may be confused as to what is causing your symptoms.
Let’s take a look at a few conditions that can cause discomfort in both the throat and ears, as well as when to seek treatment.
Symptoms of a Sore Throat
The type of pain and severity of your sore throat can vary depending on the cause. You may experience:
- Mild to severe pain in the back of your throat
- A scratchy feeling in your throat
- Hoarseness
- Pain while talking or swallowing
- Redness in the back of your throat
- Swollen glands in the neck and jaw
- Tonsils that are swollen and/or have white patches
Symptoms of Ear Pain
Similarly, ear pain can be different and have other accompanying symptoms depending on the cause and can include:
- Pain that is dull, sharp or burning in one or both ears
- Muffled hearing or temporary hearing loss
- Fullness in the ear
- Fluid draining from the ear.
You may also experience symptoms like fever, headache and fatigue depending on what is causing your throat and ear pain.
Five Conditions That Cause Ear and Throat Pain
- Allergies. Allergies can cause a host of symptoms, including a sore throat from postnasal drip or irritation and ear pain due to inflammation and blockage in the ears.
- Strep throat. While a sore throat is the hallmark sign of strep throat, bacteria from the infection can also travel up into the ear, causing pain.
- Chronic sinusitis. A common condition, 28.9 million adults are diagnosed with sinusitis. This occurs when your sinus cavities are inflamed and becomes chronic when it lasts over 12 weeks. The inflammation causes pain and swelling of the face and can also affect your throat, and ears in addition to nasal congestion, a cough and thick, discolored mucus.
- Tonsilitis. This is an inflammation of the tonsils which can be caused by viruses or bacteria. It’s more common in children but can happen at any age.
- Acid reflux. Reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into your esophagus. If it happens frequently, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Home Remedies
Several home remedies can help you manage your throat and ear pain including:
- Popsicles or ice chips
- Gargling salt water
- Using a humidifier, especially during sleep
- OTC antihistamines, lozenges, throat spray or pain medication that you can find at The Medicine Chest Pharmacy or other Fort Wayne drugstores
When To Seek Treatment
Make an appointment with your medical provider if you have persistent throat and ear pain that doesn’t improve with at-home treatments. Also, seek medical attention if you experience:
- High fever
- Severe throat or ear pain
- Blood or pus draining from your ear
- Dizziness
- Stiff neck
- Frequent heartburn
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today.