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Suffering From Cough, Headache, Feeling Tired. Having Lump Between Tonsil And Uvula. Is It Due To Allergy?

Posted on Sat, 18 Aug 2012

Question: I am a non-smoker with a XXXXXXX cough, cold, strong headache and feel tired and weak. I also have a small purple lump between my left tonsil and uvula that has been there over two months and clear lumps that almost look like ulcers in and around my tonsil on the left hand side. Five teeth back from the middle and at the base of my gums I have two what feel like calcified lumps under my gum and lower abdominal pain that may be unrelated. I was told by nurses the throat lumps may be an allergy and given antihistamines that have done nothing.

Answered by Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty (2 hours later)

Hi

Thanks for the query

According to the description, you seem to be suffering from acute sinusitis. Sinuses are the empty cavities in the skull to protect the brain. The acute infection and the inflammation of the sinuses are termed as acute sinusitis.

Following an attack of common cold, there will be nasal congestion, because of which there is blockage of the sinus opening leading to stagnation of the secretions inside the sinuses and increased viscosity of the sinus secretions. Stagnation of these secretions gives rise to headache and nasal infection. Once the infection sets in, the secretions which drain into the throat from behind the nose will induce cough and throat pain.

Secondly, the lump you are noticing is the upper lobe of the tonsil. In a normal individual, the there are multiple crypts in the tonsil with the first crypt being the deepest. In your situation, the crypt is very wide giving the impression of a separate lump between the tonsil and the uvula. But, it is completely normal.

The calcified lumps below the gums could be the harmless lymph nodes which erupt during an attack of infection in the oral cavity. Most of the times, it will clear off once the antibiotics are started.

I would suggest you the following for the treatment of sinusitis:

1. Drink plenty of warm water to keep the nose and the throat hydrated.
2. Use saline nasal spray followed by steam inhalation 2-3 times a day, which helps in reducing the nasal congestion, clearing of the mucus and reducing the cough.
3. Avoid coffee and chilled beverages.
4. A course of good antibiotic (such as a combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid or cefuroxime).
5. A mucolytic (such as ambroxol or bromhexine) to reduce the viscosity of the mucus and control cough.
6. An anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen or diclofenac for headache, throat pain and body ache.

If your condition does not improve with the above measures, please consult your doctor for a thorough evaluation and management.

Hope I have answered your query; I will be available for the follow-up queries.

Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar