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Is Throat Pain On Only One Side While Swallowing Due To Seasonal Allergies?
Question: Hello! For two days now I’ve had pain on only the left side of my throat when swallowing. My tonsils appear to be normal when I look in the mirror. I have bad seasonal allergies and here in the northeast US right now there are major pollen alerts and I am allergic to tree pollens. I do take a Claritin and flonase for allergies every day. I have some sinus pain on the left side of my cheek which radiates to my upper teeth on that side, and also some pressure in my left ear and a lot of post nasal drip.
Is it normal to have throat pain on only one side when swallowing and do you feel it could be related to my seasonal allergies? Thank you for any input you can provide!!
Is it normal to have throat pain on only one side when swallowing and do you feel it could be related to my seasonal allergies? Thank you for any input you can provide!!
Brief Answer:
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Looking at the information given by you,most probably you are suffering inflammation in the left side of the throat due to irritation caused by post nasal drip.Due to nasal allergy,congestion occurs in the nasal and sinus cavity,which may lead to ear blockage.In your case,as the left side of sinus is involved,it would have caused left sided ear blockage leading to ear pain,and the post nasal drip leading to left sided throat pain.
You may find relief by taking the following medications:
Continue using Antiallergic:Claritin and flonase nasal spray,
Oral decongestant like phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine (if you are not suffering from hypertension),
Nasal decongestant like Oxymetazoline,
Analgesic with Antiinflammatory like Ibuprofen,
Antacid like Rantac.
Do steam inhalation.Warm saline gargles.Avoid dust.
If still there is no improvement in around 2-3 days,then it would be advisable to take antibiotic like Azithromycin,after consulting Doctor.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Looking at the information given by you,most probably you are suffering inflammation in the left side of the throat due to irritation caused by post nasal drip.Due to nasal allergy,congestion occurs in the nasal and sinus cavity,which may lead to ear blockage.In your case,as the left side of sinus is involved,it would have caused left sided ear blockage leading to ear pain,and the post nasal drip leading to left sided throat pain.
You may find relief by taking the following medications:
Continue using Antiallergic:Claritin and flonase nasal spray,
Oral decongestant like phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine (if you are not suffering from hypertension),
Nasal decongestant like Oxymetazoline,
Analgesic with Antiinflammatory like Ibuprofen,
Antacid like Rantac.
Do steam inhalation.Warm saline gargles.Avoid dust.
If still there is no improvement in around 2-3 days,then it would be advisable to take antibiotic like Azithromycin,after consulting Doctor.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Hi Dr. Shah! Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring answer! This morning i looked in my magnifying mirror and my tonsils do appear redder and inflamed. I’m not sure whether the pain I feel on the left side when swallowing is from my throat or left tonsil. I’m attaching a few images of my throat and tonsils...can you please take a look and let me know if they look okay? I do have several craters in them, as I had severe tonsillitis thirty years ago. You’ll notice on my left tonsil (right side of the images) there is a whitish line and also a deep depression...is that normal? Thank you again so very much for your help!!
Brief Answer:
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for uploading images.
From the images,it can be seen that there is inflammation in the left tonsil.The crevice seen over the left tonsil is anterior pillar ,which is a part of throat.The anterior pillar is also inflammed.
Post nasal drip is also seen ,covering the throat.
Tonsil and anterior pillar are a part of throat.
The inflammation seen is most probably as a result of irritation due to post nasal drip due to involvement of left sinus.
Continue with the treatment as advised before.
Start with Antibiotic,if you have fever/painful swallowing/severe throat pain.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for uploading images.
From the images,it can be seen that there is inflammation in the left tonsil.The crevice seen over the left tonsil is anterior pillar ,which is a part of throat.The anterior pillar is also inflammed.
Post nasal drip is also seen ,covering the throat.
Tonsil and anterior pillar are a part of throat.
The inflammation seen is most probably as a result of irritation due to post nasal drip due to involvement of left sinus.
Continue with the treatment as advised before.
Start with Antibiotic,if you have fever/painful swallowing/severe throat pain.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Hello again Dr. Shah-- thank you so very much for your kind, reassuring and informative answer! I did end up visiting my doctor today, who diagnosed tonsilitis and sinusitis (based on my clinical symptoms), most likely caused by seasonal allergies. He prescribed another nasal spray, steroids and an antibiotic. If those do not provide relief, I may need to visit an ENT in the future.
As a follow up question, in general, is it necessarily unusual to feel sinus pressure on one particular side of the face more so than the other? When I have sinus pain it seems to be always in the left area of my cheek and upper teeth in the maxillary sinus issue. I have told my dentist about the pressure I occasionally experience in my upper teeth on the left side, and he has done both a panoramic x-ray and regular x-rays, both of which show the roots of my teeth are very close to, if not extending into, the sinus cavity on that side.
Thank you again so much for your kindness and expertise!
As a follow up question, in general, is it necessarily unusual to feel sinus pressure on one particular side of the face more so than the other? When I have sinus pain it seems to be always in the left area of my cheek and upper teeth in the maxillary sinus issue. I have told my dentist about the pressure I occasionally experience in my upper teeth on the left side, and he has done both a panoramic x-ray and regular x-rays, both of which show the roots of my teeth are very close to, if not extending into, the sinus cavity on that side.
Thank you again so much for your kindness and expertise!
Brief Answer:
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Only one side of sinus may be affected when the drainage tract of that side of sinus is narrow as compared to the other side.
When there is Maxillary sinusitis(inflammation in the maxillary sinus),the pain radiates to upper teeth as the maxillary sinus is very close to the upper teeth.
In your case it seems that left side of maxillary sinus is affected.
Hop this answers.Take care.
Please see the answer
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Only one side of sinus may be affected when the drainage tract of that side of sinus is narrow as compared to the other side.
When there is Maxillary sinusitis(inflammation in the maxillary sinus),the pain radiates to upper teeth as the maxillary sinus is very close to the upper teeth.
In your case it seems that left side of maxillary sinus is affected.
Hop this answers.Take care.
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. Remy Koshy
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