Complaints from the throat and larynx appear with functional disorders and septic inflammation of any of the anatomical structures mentioned. Discomfort in the ENT organs may indicate the development of systemic diseases.
In about 45% of cases, patients with characteristic complaints are diagnosed with pathologies of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. Mental disorders are also accompanied by complaints of shortness of breath, swallowing and a feeling of constriction in the throat. Only a specialist can accurately determine the cause of the problem after the patient undergoes an apparatus examination and passing the necessary tests.
Etiological factors
What are the main causes of discomfort in the airways? A lump in the throat, rawness, burning, tickling and pain are signs of malfunctioning in the body. It is possible to eliminate discomfort only after identifying and eliminating the etiological factors that provoked the development of pathology, which are conventionally divided into several groups:
- endocrine;
- gastroenterological;
- oncological;
- infectious;
- psychogenic.
Typical symptoms occur in the case of the development of at least 30 diseases of various etiologies. Ignoring the problem or symptomatic treatment of the larynx is fraught with the development of formidable complications. In particular, the sensation of a coma in the pharynx may be a consequence of edema of the mucous membranes. Airway obstruction prevents normal ventilation of the lungs, which leads to the development of acute hypoxia.
Infectious causes
Why is there discomfort in the larynx and pharynx? An infectious lesion of the ENT organs is one of the most likely causes of the appearance of an unpleasant symptom. Sore throat, pain and lump in the throat result from acute or chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the airways. The causative agents of infection are often adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, herpes viruses, influenza virus, diphtheria bacillus, staphylococci, meningococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, streptococci, yeast-like fungi, etc.
A sharp decrease in the reactivity of the body, which occurs when:
- hypovitaminosis;
- iron deficiency anemia;
- dysbiosis;
- secondary immunodeficiency;
- allergic reactions;
- autoimmune disruptions.
Discomfort in the airways is most often due to the development of the following pathologies:
| Name of the disease | Definition | Clinical manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| pharyngitis | inflammation of the lymphoid and epithelial tissues of the pharynx |
|
| phlegmon of the neck | diffuse inflammation of the neck tissues due to the development of a bacterial infection |
|
| Infectious mononucleosis | viral damage to the mucous membranes of the pharynx and regional lymph nodes, accompanied by a change in the composition of the blood |
|
| scarlet fever | damage to the mucous membranes of the oropharynx by hemolytic streptococcus |
|
| diphtheria croup (laryngeal diphtheria) | infectious lesion of the bronchi and larynx by Leffler's bacillus |
|
| laryngitis | inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes of the larynx, caused by the multiplication of pathogenic microbes and viruses |
|
Delayed treatment of airway discomfort caused by the development of infection leads to pathologies of the heart and detoxification organs.
The causes of discomfort in the respiratory tract may lie in the development of postnasal syndrome. Chronic rhinitis leads to a degenerative change in the structure of the ciliated epithelium, as a result of which the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx begins to produce an excess amount of mucus. Flowing down the back of the pharynx, the pathological secret irritates the nociceptors, resulting in burning, perspiration and moderate pain.
Endocrinological causes
One of the possible causes of pain and discomfort in the larynx region is endocrine diseases. Hormonal disruptions, iodine deficiency in the body and autoimmune disorders lead to thyroid dysfunction and the development of diseases. In most cases, hypertrophy of glandular tissues leads to the appearance of pathological symptoms.
The feeling of squeezing the throat, tickling and painful swallowing can be associated with the development of diseases such as:
| Name of the disease | Definition | Clinical manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| Perry's disease (diffuse toxic goiter) | autoimmune pathology resulting from excessive secretion of thyroid hormones |
|
| endemic goiter | hypertrophy of the thyroid gland due to a lack of iodine in the body |
|
| thyroiditis | inflammatory processes in the tissues of the thyroid gland associated with the development of pathogenic flora |
|
| hyperthyroidism | increased production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, which leads to an increase in the volume of glandular tissues |
|
If discomfort in the pharynx is associated with dysfunction of the thyroid gland, untimely passage of hormone replacement therapy can lead to malignant degeneration of glandular tissues.
Gastroenterological causes
Diseases of the digestive system often cause discomfort in the throat, which is associated with the penetration of gastric juice into the respiratory tract. Aggressive acids destroy the tissues of the ciliated epithelium, resulting in perspiration, pain, itching, burning, etc. Decreased tone of the lower esophageal sphincter leads to the throwing of stomach contents into the upper digestive tract. In this case, discomfort in the throat may be associated with the development of the following diseases:
| Name of the disease | Definition | Clinical manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| gastritis | dystrophic changes in the tissues of the stomach caused by inflammation of the mucous membranes |
|
| hernia of the esophagus | bulging of the esophageal opening into the chest cavity |
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| gastroduodenitis | inflammation of the mucous membranes of the duodenum and stomach |
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| gastroesophageal reflux | decreased tone of the lower esophageal sphincter, leading to the reflux of gastric juice into the airways |
|
The stomach is located relatively far from the larynx, however, disturbances in the work of the gastrointestinal tract lead to the evacuation of duodenal contents into the respiratory tract. Gastric juice is highly acidic, its penetration into the mucous membrane of the throat causes burns, resulting in discomfort. In case of heaviness in the stomach and the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the mouth, you should seek help from a gastroenterologist.
Cancer causes
Benign and malignant tumors of closely located organs can cause discomfort in the larynx. Oncological pathologies are practically asymptomatic, therefore, it is extremely problematic to diagnose the disease. A dry cough, thickening of the throat, impaired swallowing, and bouts of suffocation may indicate neoplasms in the neck.
Frequent oncological diseases accompanied by a feeling of squeezing of the pharynx include:
| Name of the disease | Definition | Clinical manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| angiomas | benign tumors that form from the lymphatic and blood vessels |
|
| laryngeal papillomas | benign growths on the mucous membranes of the airways resulting from the development of the papilloma virus |
|
| fibroids | nodular neoplasms arising in the area of the vocal cords |
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| carcinoma | malignant tumor resulting from uncontrolled cell division of epithelial tissue |
|
Failure to undergo surgical and radiation therapy leads to blockage of the airways and death.
If the unpleasant sensation in the throat is not associated with the development of endocrine and infectious diseases, the therapist can refer the patient to an oncologist. During the examination, the doctor conducts a histological analysis of tissues taken during an endoscopic biopsy. After determining the type of pathology, the patient is prescribed medication or surgical treatment.
Other reasons
Constant discomfort in the airways can be associated with the development of somatic and psychogenic pathologies. It is almost impossible to independently determine the type of disease due to the non-specificity of most clinical manifestations. When a burning sensation, pain, rawness, sensation of squeezing of the pharynx occurs, the following types of diseases are often diagnosed:
| Name of the disease | Definition | Clinical manifestations |
|---|---|---|
| allergy | sensitization of the body, provoked by the effects of exogenous and endogenous irritating factors (medicines, food, toothpaste, polluted air, intoxication) |
|
| vegetative-vascular dystonia | dysfunction of the cardiovascular system due to disorders in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system |
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| cervical osteochondrosis | dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage of the cervical spine, causing pinching of the nerves that innervate the pharynx |
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| thoracic aortic aneurysm | pathological vasodilation, leading to squeezing of the throat tissue |
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The clinical manifestations of allergy and cervical osteochondrosis are similar to the symptoms of ARVI development, therefore, if pathological changes in the larynx and pharynx are detected, you should seek the help of a specialist.
The principles of treatment of oncological, allergic, endocrinological, infectious and gastroenterological pathologies have significant differences. Illiterate and untimely passage of therapy can cause pharyngeal stenosis and death.
