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What Causes Throat Pain While Swallowing?

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Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015
Question: my throat hurts when i swallow and on the side where theres those little holes in the back of your mouth theres like a ball with puss it looks like and its red
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You may have tonsillitis.

Detailed Answer:
It's hard to make out what it is entirely from the picture, but if you have a sore throat, a fever and feel ill, and inflamed tonsils, you may have tonsillitis. If it looks like a bag of pus on one side, you may have a peritonsillar access.

So now what to do about this:

If you are having problems breathing, speaking, swallowing, or are drooling, you should go to the Emergency Room now.

Otherwise you can go to your doctor or an urgent care clinic and have your throat examined and swabbed for strep. There are 2 kinds of strep tests - a Rapid Strep test that can be done immediately in the office. If this is positive the doctor will start you on an antibiotic to treat the strep. If it is negative, the doctor will likely send the swab for culture which is even more accurate, but takes a day or two. In the meantime he/she may give you an antibiotic to either start or wait until the culture comes back.

That sack may be a peritonsillar access. That means the tissue near the tonsils is infected and producing pus. The doctor will possibly incise it which will allow it to drain, and swab it for culture. And give you an antibiotic.

Not all sore throats are bacterial in cause. Most are viral - which do not require an antibiotic. But given the appearance and description of your throat, I think you will need an antibiotic.

So... either go to the ER if you are having the symptoms described, or go to a dr. or clinic as soon as possible. In the meantime you can gargle with a little warm salt water, but do go in for treatment ASAP.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (7 hours later)
Thank you so much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Your welcome!

Detailed Answer:
I hope you are doing better soon!
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3133 Questions

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What Causes Throat Pain While Swallowing?

Brief Answer: You may have tonsillitis. Detailed Answer: It's hard to make out what it is entirely from the picture, but if you have a sore throat, a fever and feel ill, and inflamed tonsils, you may have tonsillitis. If it looks like a bag of pus on one side, you may have a peritonsillar access. So now what to do about this: If you are having problems breathing, speaking, swallowing, or are drooling, you should go to the Emergency Room now. Otherwise you can go to your doctor or an urgent care clinic and have your throat examined and swabbed for strep. There are 2 kinds of strep tests - a Rapid Strep test that can be done immediately in the office. If this is positive the doctor will start you on an antibiotic to treat the strep. If it is negative, the doctor will likely send the swab for culture which is even more accurate, but takes a day or two. In the meantime he/she may give you an antibiotic to either start or wait until the culture comes back. That sack may be a peritonsillar access. That means the tissue near the tonsils is infected and producing pus. The doctor will possibly incise it which will allow it to drain, and swab it for culture. And give you an antibiotic. Not all sore throats are bacterial in cause. Most are viral - which do not require an antibiotic. But given the appearance and description of your throat, I think you will need an antibiotic. So... either go to the ER if you are having the symptoms described, or go to a dr. or clinic as soon as possible. In the meantime you can gargle with a little warm salt water, but do go in for treatment ASAP.