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What Causes White Bumps Behind Tonsils?
Posted on
Sat, 20 Sep 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 20 Sep 2014
Answered on
Mon, 13 Oct 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I have one or possibly two white patches or bumps(Not sure what they are) behind my right tonsil in the back right of my throat. I'm a little paranoid. Last week I spit up blood and Instantly went to the emergency room thinking it was cancer because I am a smoker. The ER Doctor took a chest X-Ray and said my heart and lungs are clear and that he believes it was a sinus and allergy problem causing the bleeding. That was a week ago and I haven't had any bleeding or blood since. I did have a sore throat for a few days after but now the sore throat has stopped and these spots or patches are there and I have periodic slight soreness in the front right of my neck. But I was also just bumped up to 20mg of Escitalopram for my anxiety which I heard can cause neck pain. I'm only 23 and have anxiety pretty bad, is there anyway you can help me have some idea of what this white stuff might be until I make it to the ENT next week ?
Brief Answer:
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. These white spots, patches or bumps are very common and are formed by concretions, exudates or ketratosis in the lymphoid tissue (tinsil like tissue) at the back of the throat.
2. The delicate lymphoid tissue when inflamed bleeds easily while clearing the throat.
3. This is not cancer. Usually a throat swab and a medicated oral rinse is all that is required. Treatable causes such as a post nasal drip (due to sinusitis), food allergy, post viral/bacterial/fungal infections, acid reflux and dehydration should be looked for. This will be possible during your ENT check-up. A videolaryngoscopy will help. You may upload the images here.
4. I recommend that you taper off the Escitalopram under the supervision of your physician. This is also a good time to stop smoking.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any follow up queries, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. These white spots, patches or bumps are very common and are formed by concretions, exudates or ketratosis in the lymphoid tissue (tinsil like tissue) at the back of the throat.
2. The delicate lymphoid tissue when inflamed bleeds easily while clearing the throat.
3. This is not cancer. Usually a throat swab and a medicated oral rinse is all that is required. Treatable causes such as a post nasal drip (due to sinusitis), food allergy, post viral/bacterial/fungal infections, acid reflux and dehydration should be looked for. This will be possible during your ENT check-up. A videolaryngoscopy will help. You may upload the images here.
4. I recommend that you taper off the Escitalopram under the supervision of your physician. This is also a good time to stop smoking.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any follow up queries, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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