Dryness in throat

The most varied causes can provoke dryness in the throat. Often this is one of the signs of infectious inflammatory diseases, but in some cases, the causes can be banal and have no relation to pathology. Only having understood with why there was an unpleasant feeling of dryness, it is possible to draw conclusions about how to fight it.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

Causes of dryness in the throat

Drying the mucosa is capable of provoking several reasons:

• infectious diseases of the respiratory system (viruses, bacteria, fungi, including colds);
• acute pharyngitis;
• allergies, hypersensitivity of the body to all kinds of irritants (food, smells, polluted air, etc.)
• features of physiology in children and the elderly (thinning of mucous tissues);
• excessively dry air in the room, smoking;
• the habit of breathing through the mouth, as well as the difficulty of nasal breathing due to a runny nose, sinusitis, deformities of the nasal septum;
• inadequate production of saliva, hypofunction of the salivary glands.

Depending on the underlying cause, which caused the mucous membrane to overdry, this condition can be permanent or temporary. Most often, a temporary condition is observed, which in most cases is a consequence of external factors, but not diseases.

[6], [7]

Symptoms of dryness in the throat

Most often the feeling of dryness appears simultaneously with other diseases or due to allergic manifestations. Therefore, this symptom may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• coughing attacks, more often dry, scratching, nasal;
• rhinitis, sinusitis and associated congestion and discharge from the nose, headache, difficulty breathing through the nose, sneezing;
• conjunctivitis, tear, reddening of the eyes;
• muscle pains, body aches;
• hoarseness, hoarseness of voice;
• high fever, discomfort, drowsiness, apathy;
• increase and reddening of the tonsils, pain during swallowing.

Upon examination, the mucous membranes in the throat area may appear dull, stuck together, with mucus elements. The throat is dry, irritated, there is a sensation of perspiration and itching.

As for the symptoms of the disease, patients often ask the following questions:

• There was dryness in the mouth and throat. What could it be?

Often, constant dryness in the throat and in the oral cavity is associated with destruction of mucous membranes. Such a condition is not uncommon in old age, and it means the development of a pathological process with a violation of the structure of tissues. When destruction is required mandatory consultation of an ENT doctor. Locally, it is possible to soften the mucus by rinsing the solutions with the addition of vegetable oils.

• Sharply felt dryness and pershenie in the throat. I got sick?

Such symptoms can mean the development of pharyngitis - an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, which is accompanied by pain, perspiration, or discomfort in the throat. The most common viral pharyngitis, however, the exact diagnosis can be established only by the doctor during the examination.

• Periodically I feel dryness in a mouth and a lump in a throat is it is dangerous?

Feeling of discomfort, pressure in the throat, a feeling when it is difficult to swallow saliva - such complaints often sound from many patients. Patients may point to the feeling of a foreign body in the throat, to squeezing and pershing, itching, an unpleasant sensation of sore throat. Such signs in most cases develop as a consequence of the transferred stress situations, and from function of breath or a swallowing they in any way do not depend. Depressive states, psychoemotional stresses, stresses, experiences provoke muscular spasm in the throat and drying of the mucous membrane. Usually this is considered a temporary phenomenon and disappears on its own for several hours.

• What are the symptoms like dryness in the throat and cough?

Persecution and dry cough in most cases mean a catarrhal disease or ARI, but not always. The same symptoms can occur with an allergic reaction (eg, dust, wool or pollen). A doctor can distinguish one morbid state from another. Depending on the reason, he will prescribe the reception of antihistamines, or antibacterial treatment.

• There was dryness and a sore throat, what to do?

If you have a sore throat, there is a feeling of drying the mucosa, and talking became more difficult, then, in the first place, you can suspect that you have symptoms of laryngitis. Laryngitis is an inflammatory process in the larynx, which can occur in acute or chronic form. The most common laryngitis develops on the background of pathology of the respiratory system: acute respiratory viral infection, influenza, pertussis, etc. Including the disease can trigger such factors as smoking, eating ice cream in the cold season, etc. Pain usually occurs when swallowing, and dry cough with time passes into the wet.

• I felt dryness in the nose and throat at the same time. What could it be?

Dehydration of the nasopharyngeal mucosa can be observed under the influence of certain drugs, for example, with long-term administration of nasal drops and sprays, or during treatment with antihistamines. If this condition is accompanied by nasal congestion or discharge from it, you can suspect the initial period of development of the common cold. Also, an important role in drying the nasopharyngeal mucosa is played by the humidity in the room: a low level of humidity can trigger not only the drying of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, but also cause nasal bleeding.

• Recently noticed dryness and burning sensation in the throat, and until now these symptoms do not pass. It does not look like a cold. What happened with me?

Severe dryness in the throat can be a consequence of thyroid disease. This organ is located in the neck and is responsible for the production of hormonal substances that affect the functions of the brain, the condition of mucous membranes and skin. Discomfort in the neck or throat area may indicate an abnormal thyroid function, for example, on the development of hyperthyroidism. However, an accurate diagnosis can be established only on the basis of special studies.

• What can mean such symptoms as dryness in the throat and white coating on the tonsils?

Indirectly such signs can speak about the development of tonsillitis, or, more simply, tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is accompanied by redness, swelling of the tonsils, the appearance of plaque and soreness in swallowing. Treatment is prescribed depending on the nature of the disease: viral or bacterial.

• What can speak suddenly the hoarseness of the voice and dryness in the throat?

Loss of voice is a sign of laryngitis. The initial symptoms of the disease may be hoarseness, which in the absence of treatment goes into a complete loss of voice. Accompanying the disease with a sore throat, dry barking cough, besides, dry throat, shortness of breath and bluish skin tone are often observed.

• What kind of disease can there be if the dryness in the throat at night appears, and in the afternoon disappears?

The predominant withered mucus at night is due to the fact that the patient at night can not fully control his breathing, and breathes through the mouth. This is especially true of people prone to snoring: the constant circulation of air through the mouth contributes to the drying of the throat. The same situation is observed in the common cold, in the presence of deformation of the nasal septum, with adenoids. Thoroughly to understand the situation will help the otolaryngologist.

• There was dryness in the throat in the morning, disappearing throughout the day. Can this be a symptom of the disease?

The feeling of drying out of the mucosa is due to a lack of saliva, which should moisturize and clean the oral cavity. The reasons can be many - this is a banal lack of fluid in the body, dehydration, overeating at night, or diseases such as anemia, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

• Can dryness appear in the throat after removal of the tonsils?

Removal of palatine tonsils, like any other operation, can lead to the development of complications. For example, there may be complications of an infectious-inflammatory nature, when the infection penetrates into the surrounding tissues. The result of such a complication can be acute pharyngitis, laryngitis and other inflammatory diseases, which can be accompanied by drying of mucous membranes.

Is dryness in the throat possible after antibiotics? For example, did I have dryness in my throat after Bioparox?

Indeed, antibiotics can cause all sorts of side effects, and dryness of mucous membranes is one such effect. Drying of mucous membranes can be noticed 2-3 days after the start of the course of antibiotic therapy: the condition is normalized only a week after the end of treatment. The severity of such an adverse event depends on the properties of the particular preparation, the dose taken, and the state of the organism as a whole. The mentioned preparation Bioparox is a polypeptide antibiotic, which is used in the form of an aerosol. That is, the active component of Bioparox - fusafungin - gets and acts directly on the mucous membrane. This side effect of this drug, such as drying of mucous tissues, is explained by the strong anti-inflammatory and bactericidal action of the drug. The feeling of discomfort is considered transient and completely disappears after the end of therapy.

• Than to explain dryness in a throat after meal?

This condition can be the result of diseases of the digestive system, for example, gastritis or pancreatitis. Gastritis can be suspected if there are additional symptoms, such as stomach pain, worsening appetite, the appearance of a plaque on the tongue, nausea, an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Pancreatitis is manifested by pain in the left side of the abdomen, eructation, increased gas formation, stool disorder, periodic attacks of nausea and vomiting. To improve the condition requires a thorough correction of nutrition, as well as drug treatment.

• If there is dryness in the throat during pregnancy - what does it mean?

During pregnancy, the increased function of the salivary glands is more common than the decreased function. Therefore, dry mucous membranes of the oral cavity and throat should alert. First, you need to determine the cause of this state. Perhaps the humidity in the room is too low, or the woman consumes too little of the liquid, which during pregnancy is incorrect - the volume of blood in the process of growing should increase. If the fluid is used and the level of moisture is okay, it is recommended to undergo a test for glucose in the blood.

• Why can dryness in the child's throat appear?

The simplest household factor that provokes the drying of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat in children is dry air, for example, during the winter heating season. Children react sharply to a low level of humidity, because their mucosa is not yet sufficiently formed, so it has an increased sensitivity. If, in addition to dryness, there are other symptoms (for example, a common cold, nasal congestion, temperature, etc.), you should definitely consult a doctor - this may be a sign of an inflammatory disease or allergy.

Diagnosis of dryness in the throat

A thorough questioning and examination of the patient allows to determine the direction of complaints, the prescription of the symptoms, their connection with previous injuries or medical procedures (for example, with gastroscopy, damage to the mucosa may occur). Perhaps there was a foreign body hit, contact with a sick flu or ARVI, hypothermia (eating ice cream or cold drinks). Also, the doctor interrogates the patient for the presence of occupational hazards, bad habits, etc. The appearance of viral, tumor or fungal infection of mucous membranes is also not excluded.

Some chronic diseases - endocrine pathologies, blood diseases - can also lead to inflammatory and atrophic processes in the pharynx. For example, one of the first manifestations of hyperglycemia is thirst and dry oral mucosa. Patients with hypothyroidism often have problems with swallowing, and the tongue swells and becomes dry.

The main diagnostic measures should include pharyngoscopy, taking swabs from the nasopharynx and from the surface of the tonsils, checking the blood sugar level, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, and, if necessary, examination of the digestive tract. In addition, consultation may be necessary:

• otolaryngologist;
• endocrinologist;
• gastroenterologist;
• neuropathologist.

The diagnosis is established based on the results of a comprehensive survey.

[8], [9], [10], [11]

Treatment of dryness in the throat

With discomfort and dry mucous in the pharynx, you should consult with an ENT doctor who will determine the cause of the unpleasant symptom and help to cope with the problem.

Treatment scheme depends on the nature of the disease: viral disease is treated with antiviral drugs, bacterial - antibiotics, fungal infection - antifungal agents. In any case, the doctor should put the exact diagnosis.

If the mucous membranes become dry due to domestic causes (low humidity, etc.), then, first of all, try to drink more liquid to compensate for dehydration of the tissues.

Perfectly moisturizes the throat isotonic sodium chloride solution (you can buy in a pharmacy), which drip several drops into the nasal cavity, and also rinse the mouth and tonsils.

It is recommended to drink at night a teaspoon of vegetable oil, for example, linseed, sea-buckthorn, olive.

In order to moisten the air in the room, often use special humidifiers. If there is no such device in the house, then you can simply put the plates with water on the heating batteries, or lay out the towels soaked in water.

In order for the treatment to be most effective, it is important to determine the root cause of drying the mucous membranes, and direct all actions to eliminate it. If this condition continues for a long time, and the effect is not observed, you should consult your doctor.

Remedies for dryness in the throat

Currently, doctors from many clinics recommend such treatment methods:

• laser treatment based on the use of electromagnetic radiation. Such therapy is carried out at the cellular and molecular level, favorably affecting not only the area of the nasopharynx, but also the entire body. The laser restores the mucous membrane, improving the trophic and circulatory processes in the affected areas;
• mineral treatment is a finely dispersed treatment of the mucous mineral salts with the help of ultrasound technology;
• organotherapeutic effect - a kind of therapy with drugs that are obtained from certain organs of different animals;
• ozonotherapy is a physiotherapeutic method of using ozone, which strengthens immunity, improves the condition of the whole organism, stimulates blood flow and enriches blood and tissues with beneficial substances;
• vacuum ultrasound effect on the tonsils - is carried out with the help of vacuum, ultrasound and ozonized solution. This procedure helps to clean the tonsils and restore the tissue structure of the nasopharynx;
• photodynamic treatment - involves the use of photosensitization and visible light beam, which allows you to start the reaction with the production of atomic oxygen. Has extensive therapeutic effect on the body.

Alternatives to dryness in the throat

From dehydration of nasopharyngeal tissues, alternative healers are advised to use the following methods and means:

• Drink carrot juice in half with natural honey.
• Grate one medium carrot and boil it in milk. Take after eating 2 teaspoons in a warm form.
• Mix half the radish juice with honey, take 1 teaspoon to 4 times a day, after eating.
• Mix the juice of the onion with honey and take 1 tsp three times a day.
• Drink fresh cabbage juice.
• Eat as many garnets as possible. You can also use the peel for decoction, which is recommended to rinse the tonsils at night.
• Eat juice, compote or mors from cherries, and also eat it fresh.
• Drink tea based on viburnum, and also use it for rinsing.
• Drink cranberry juice or mors with honey.
• Eat black currant, grated with sugar or honey.

Treatment of dry throat at home can be strengthened, following the following recommendations:

• use a sufficient amount of clean water;
• regularly clean the oral cavity, using a high-quality toothpaste and a balm rinse;
• limit the amount of salt and salty foods in the diet;
• get rid of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
• monitor the humidity in the room (optimal humidity should be from 40 to 60%);
• timely treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

[12], [13], [14]

Lozenges from dryness in the throat

Restoration of the pharyngeal mucosa is difficult to imagine without local medication:

• lollipops;
• sublingual tablets;
• aerosols;
• solutions for rinsing and irrigation of the tonsils;
• pastilles.

Such drugs have become so popular due to their effectiveness, ease of use, the ability to purchase them in any pharmacy without a prescription.

• Strepsils is an antimicrobial and fungicidal topical preparation. 1 candy every 3 hours is indicated for use.
• Trachean is an antimicrobial preparation intended for resorption in the oral cavity of 1 tablet every 2 hours, but not more than 6 per day.
• Holls are sucking candies based on menthol, eucalyptus and glucose syrup. It is recommended to soften the pharynx mucosa one candy every 2-3 hours.
• Dr. Theiss lollipops with cranberry and vitamin C - a natural stimulant of cellular immunity. Restores mucous membranes, destroys germs. Lollipops appoint 1 pc. Up to 4 times a day.
• Sepptelet - a combined agent that has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, refreshing and analgesic effect. Use for resorption in the oral cavity for 1 pc. Every 2-3 hours.

As a rule, the use of candies does not have a systemic effect on the body. For this reason, the use of such drugs is not only effective, but also safe for the body. However, if the feeling of perspiration occurs with a high fever, then only candies will not be enough. You should see a doctor and take the full course of the necessary therapy.

Prevention of dryness in the throat

In solving the issue of prevention, regular frequent airing of the room (at least 15 minutes several times a day and at bedtime), regardless of the time of the year, can help.

For preventive purposes (especially in winter) it is recommended to wash the nasopharynx with a mild solution of sea salt or rock salt. Instead, pharmacies Akvamaris or Akvalor can be used.

It is optimal to have at home a special device for humidifying the air, which saturates the room with small particles of moisture. In the absence of such a device, it is recommended to lay out wet towels in the room, install tanks with water or regularly spray the air from the spray gun.

In addition, it is recommended to follow the drinking regime - to drink a sufficient amount of liquid (preferably pure water). It is useful to eat a lot of plant food, which is also naturally saturated with moisture. In addition, it perfectly strengthens immunity.

Prognosis of dryness in the throat

The prognosis depends on the cause of this uncomfortable state, as well as on the timeliness of elimination of the provoking factor. For example, a timely diagnosed viral disease allows for faster treatment, so complications after illness should not occur.

Age-related degenerative changes in the mucosa have a more pessimistic prognosis. However, this problem can be solved if you contact the doctor in time.

Dryness in the throat can be the result of a variety of diseases and conditions of the body. But often in this matter can only be understood by a doctor-otolaryngologist, after a careful examination of the nasopharynx and evaluation of clinical manifestations and complaints of the patient.