The main function of the throat is to conduct the inhaled air into the lower respiratory tract. For the normal functioning of all respiratory organs, it is necessary to provide the body with clean cool moist air.
Constant sore throat may be due precisely to non-compliance with these requirements.
Throat irritation with dangerous impurities and causes systematic discomfort in the throat and a desire to cough up.
The risk group in this case includes the following categories of the population:
- employees of hazardous industries;
- smokers.
Pathological conditions
The reasons for persistent sore throat and coughing are varied and need to be clarified. Painful sensations in the throat can be a sign of various pathological conditions of the ENT organs, infectious diseases, tumors, as well as processes not associated with the pathology of the throat.
This symptom is most typical for such diseases:
- ARVI;
- childhood infections;
- inflammatory diseases of the throat;
- tuberculosis;
- allergy;
- oncopathology.
Infectious diseases
Acute respiratory infections and childhood infections are transmitted by airborne droplets from an infected patient. In this case, the entrance gate is the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Exposure to pathogens leads to damage to the mucous membrane of the nose and throat and the development of a pathological process in them. Thus, the reasons why constantly sore throat are diseases that affect the mucous membrane of the throat.
SARS, childhood infectious diseases are characterized by the fact that patients complain of a sore throat, pain when swallowing. Due to the body's resistance and the existing immunity, over time, the impact of the pathogenic microorganism decreases, this symptom and other signs of the disease regress.
Among the diseases of a viral nature, in which the throat constantly sores, infectious mononucleosis, which is characterized by a long course, occupies a special place.
Clinical symptoms can last from two weeks to several months. In this case, there are no specific signs in the throat.
With a pharyngoscopic picture, there is an increase and redness of the tonsils and arches. However, such signs can be noted in other processes that characterize the pathology of the throat. A frequent symptom that helps to clarify the diagnosis in this case is the development of lymphadenopathy. In this case, not only the regional lymph nodes located in the neck are affected, but also the inguinal, axillary.
In adult patients, persistent sore throat, coughing can be caused by sexually transmitted infections. The causative agents of syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, with appropriate contact, cause damage to the mucous membrane of the throat, which manifests itself with similar symptoms.
Inflammation of the pharynx
The most common causes of a sore throat are inflammation in the throat.
It consists of two large sections, the pharynx and the larynx. The development of an inflammatory reaction in any of these departments may be accompanied by this symptom.
Depending on the predominant lesion of the pharynx or larynx, pharyngitis or laryngitis develops.
In most cases, these diseases are characterized by the development of catarrhal inflammation in the corresponding departments.
The mucous membrane becomes bright pink, edematous. The presence of purulent foci is atypical. The pathological process in the tonsils is not expressed.
The inflammatory process can also be characterized by a hypertrophic or atrophic course, which is manifested by the corresponding pharyngoscopic picture.
With atrophic pharyngitis, the mucous membrane looks thinned and dry, covered with dried crusts. The hypertrophic form is characterized by hyperplastic foci of lymphoid tissue located along the posterior wall. Most often, a mixed form is noted, which is characterized by a variety of features. For any form of pharyngitis, it is typical that the objective data are expressed insignificantly, compared with the clinical manifestations of the disease.
A common symptom of pharyngitis is the accumulation of mucus on the back of the throat, which causes constant coughing.
Patients are also worried about dry throat, pain when swallowing, especially with an empty throat. The disease proceeds without significant deterioration in the general condition of patients. In rare cases of an acute course, the temperature rises above 37.3 degrees. Malaise, weakness, impaired appetite are of minor concern.
It is pharyngitis that is most often a pathological condition in which a sore throat is sore and you want to cough. The leading symptom is a dry, hacking, paroxysmal cough that can last for several minutes. In this regard, when coughing, pain in the chest and soreness of the diaphragmatic muscles worries.
The reasons for the development of such additional symptoms are due to strong cough shocks and the constant nature of the cough, which disturbs patients even during sleep, interfering with rest.
The causes of pharyngitis are different:
- exposure to pathogens;
- hypothermia;
- the presence of dangerous impurities in the inhaled air;
- difficulty breathing through the nose;
- exposure to allergens;
- the presence of concomitant pathology.
Among pathogenic microorganisms, various viruses have the greatest effect on the development of pharyngitis. However, bacterial and fungal nature is not excluded.
Among the environmental factors in the onset of the disease, the presence of harmful impurities, smoke, chemical compounds, dust plays an essential role. It is not surprising that smokers are at risk for this disease. An important role in the development of pharyngitis is played by such a characteristic of the inhaled air as its humidity.
Dry hot air irritates the pharyngeal mucosa, leading to the development of an inflammatory process in it.
In case of non-observance of sanitary standards in production, workers of hot and chemical workshops, brick factories can get sick.
Postnasal syndrome
Another provoking factor in the development of inflammation of the pharynx are other diseases of the upper respiratory tract and upper respiratory tract, which are accompanied by abundant discharge from the nose.
Postnasal syndrome is characterized by the fact that discharge from the nose with sinusitis, acute respiratory viral infections, allergies, and other pathological conditions flows down the late wall of the pharynx, irritates the throat mucosa and leads to sore throat and coughing.
The most typical development of this symptom is in the horizontal position of the patient, during sleep. Treatment aimed at improving the situation in the throat has no effect. At the same time, measures that can affect the causes of this condition help to reduce tickling and coughing.
Laryngitis
Sore throat and dry cough are signs of laryngitis, an inflammatory process of the larynx. It can be diffuse, affecting the entire larynx, or isolated, when only certain areas, the vocal cords, and the epiglottis are involved in the process. Depending on the prevalence of the process, certain symptoms prevail.
Since the larynx is involved not only in conducting air, but also in sound reproduction, a change in voice is an obligatory symptom. He becomes rough, hoarse. May become silent.The tension of the vocal cords when speaking is accompanied by increased pain. Laryngitis cough is dry at first, strong enough. After a few days, due to the production of sputum, the mucous membrane of the larynx becomes moist.
Allergy
Harsh and coughing are common manifestations of an allergic reaction. Factors in favor of the allergic nature of the lesion are the presence of additional symptoms:
the relationship of clinical manifestations with exposure to certain hazardous substances;- the appearance of additional signs such as rhinitis, skin rashes, difficulty breathing;
- laboratory diagnostic data to detect an increased level of eosinophils in the blood.
the relationship of clinical manifestations with exposure to certain hazardous substances;In order to provide effective assistance to a patient who constantly presents with these symptoms, it is necessary to exclude the allergen. In this case, it is necessary to contact an allergist and identify a dangerous substance that causes the development of such symptoms.
Pathology of other organs
A sore throat can also characterize some diseases that are not related to ENT pathology. Most often, this symptom develops with endocrine diseases, diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism. The reasons for the development of the symptom lie in the dryness of the mucous membranes, due to the violation of metabolic processes. The study of additional symptoms will make it possible to clarify the existing pathology and carry out the appropriate correction of treatment.
One of the first symptoms of diabetes is a constant feeling of thirst. Indicators of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood sugar will reliably find out the cause of the development of symptoms. With hypothyroidism, patients complain not only of a sore throat. They are worried about the feeling of a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing. An important diagnostic method is an objective examination of the patient, palpation of the thyroid gland. Clarification of the diagnosis is also facilitated by the determination of the level of hormones of the gland, its ultrasound examination.
This symptomatology is also typical for tuberculous and tumor processes. Initial signs may be nonspecific, depending on the location of the lesion, the presence of concomitant pathology and other factors. Excessive sweating, weakness, decreased appetite are indirect signs that indicate difficult processes in the body. Prolonged sore throat and coughing is a reason to see a specialist, and then go through all the recommended examinations.
