Scratchy and sore throats are always an impediment to ice cream and pickles. For some, sore throat is a yearly visitor during the winters, while for others, every season’s transitional phase brings sore throat for company. And there’s still another kind of sore throat that occurs on one side and is a symptom of lymphatic tissue problems.
Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms and remedial measures for sore throat on one side.
Why does it occur?
Sore throat is a symptom that is almost always related to the common cold or the flu, but it can also be due to other reasons. Read on to know what causes sore throat on one side.
Tooth abscess or tooth infection
Everyone has suffered from the pain of wisdom teeth( Do you know what to eat after wisdom teeth removal? ) and that too well into maturity. A tooth abscess is a pus-filled growth near the root canal that causes pain and sore throat on one side. In fact, if your wisdom teeth get infected, you’re likely to have one-sided throat pain.
Canker sores
Have you felt those little sores under your tongue or on the side of the cheek? Small and very painful, causing difficulties while chewing and eating, these canker sores can also be the reason why one side of your throat hurts, especially if they form near the back corner of your throat.
Laryngitis
Infection of the “voice box” or larynx is called laryngitis. When the vocal cords become swollen and inflamed, your voice starts sounding different. If one vocal cord is more irritated than the other, you will have a
Peritonsillar Abscess
When painful abscesses occur near your tonsils, the right side of your throat hurts more than the left or vice versa. It usually depends on the tonsil the abscess has affected.
Swollen lymph nodes
Our body’s lymph nodes fight off infections and diseases. You can find them under your arms, on your neck and under your chin. It’s easier to find them when there’s an infection because they get swollen. That’s why the right side of the throat hurts, depending on which node has inflamed.
Tonsillitis
Tonsils are two balls of lymphatic tissue located at the back of the throat. In the event of an infection, these tonsils swell up and cause pain to your throat and your ear too. When only one tonsil s affected, you suffer from a
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia or Trigeminal neuralgia
These are rare nerve disorders that cause excruciating and sudden pains in your jaw, tonsils, tongue, jaw and one side of the face. Since this affects the nerves located on the neck and head, one side of the throat hurts.
Effectively take care of sore throats and infections
Sore throats are painful and irritating as it causes restrictions on several kinds of food until the infections subside. While most sore throat infections and pains can be cured with home remedies and over the counter medicines, it’s always wise to visit a doctor if your symptoms persist longer.
Read on to know about how you can take care of your sore throat:
Gargling
This is always the most trusted and go-to solution for all things related to sore throat and ear pains. Put some salt in warm water and gargle it. Try this twice or thrice a day. If salt doesn’t work, try using some over the counter liquid medicine for better results. Do not swallow the water.
Honey
Drinking warm liquids such as honey yea or just a spoonful of honey will work wonders for your aching throat.
Cough drops or cough syrup
Probably the most used after gargling, cough syrups or cough drops provide relief from a dry cough or dry cold, thereby alleviating the sore throat on one side. These are usually available over the counter.
Warm Compress
Cold and warm compresses provide relief in case of any pain. When you’re suffering from a sore throat on one side, a warm compress beneath the air and on the throat right below the chin provides relief and soothes the pain.
Humidifier
Prolonged exposure to air-conditioners or such rooms increases the chances of ENT infections and inflammation. Humidifiers in a room may even prevent an ENT infection from starting.
Essential Oils
Essential oils like eucalyptus, lavender, and lemongrass are effective treatments against sore throat and pain in the ears. By adding a few drops of these essential oils in warm water and performing steam inhalation, you can get relief from your pains.
Warm bath
Warm baths or sponging are effective against throat pains and ENT problems. But be careful not to spend too long in the water as you might catch a fever.
Prevention of sore threat and maintenance of good health
Usually, when ENT problems arise, some markers accompany it, such as sore throat on one side or both, enlarged tonsils, feeling feverish, dry cough and cold, flu, pains in the throat and ear, pain in the head along with sneezing, dry and itchy throat and so on.
These symptoms can be effectively treated in the earlier stages themselves to prevent an aggravated condition.
It’s always necessary to take care of ENT health because these parts are daily exposed to various kinds of foreign matter, bacteria and viruses that can cause long-term damage.
The nose, ear and throat areas are mainly affected by immunity problems, so it’s important to have a consistent vitamin intake, especially Vitamin D and C. Vitamin C is found in foods containing citric acid, like lemon, oranges, and lime, vinegar and so on. Vitamin D, on the other hand, comes from sun exposure and certain Vitamin D supplements.
These problems begin with the right side of the throat hurts and spread immediately to the adjoining organs. That’s why consulting your doctor about supplements is always recommended.
Apart from medications and food, breathing exercises and avoiding loud music over earphones go a long way in ensuring good ENT health.
