Smell from the throat causes treatment. Lump in the throat: reasons for feeling a lump, bad smell, mucus, belching

The feeling that a foreign body is stuck in the throat, which makes it difficult to swallow even saliva, and after swallowing it returns to its place, is called a "lump in the throat." The causes of this symptom can be different: from Quincke's edema, which occurs when eating unusual food (introduction of a new drug, insect bite) to diseases of the esophagus and thyroid gland, which really block the throat. In all cases, only medical diagnostics will help.

The main thing is not to worry that there will be nothing to breathe: dangerous diseases in which the throat can really be blocked develop gradually, not in 1 day (except for Quincke's edema, but you will see it in the mirror). In addition, "turning on" the panic, you can only harm yourself by increasing the feeling of lack of air. Therefore, if you have a feeling of a lump, carefully examine your neck, look into your throat. If there is no sharp increase in the volume of the neck, and the tonsils are not closed together, calmly contact a therapist for an appointment. And below we will tell you what reasons could cause a sensation of a lump.

Causes

The causes of a lump in the throat are varied - from "nervous soil", when no narrowing of the respiratory or digestive tract actually occurs, to throat abscesses, which can cause asphyxia. Most often, a similar symptom occurs with pathological processes localized in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and the initial sections of the esophagus.

The main pathologies that cause a sensation of a coma in the throat are as follows:

chronic inflammation of the tonsils, throat mucosa, or vocal cords;
flow of mucus from the inflamed sinuses or nasal cavity into the pharynx;
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat;
diseases of the pharyngeal muscles or a violation of the signal going to them along the nerves (with a stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis);
tumors of the esophagus (benign or malignant);
diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its increase;
throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and above (gastro-esophageal reflux);
scleroderma with damage to the esophagus;
dermatomyositis with damage to the esophagus;
divericulum of the esophagus;
throat abscesses: accumulation of pus over the epiglottis, in the tissue near the tonsils, or in the tissue between the pharyngeal muscles;
spasm of the esophagus;
neuroses, panic attacks, hysteria;

Can a "lump" lead to suffocation

Sometimes it can, and it depends on the area in which the pathological process is located. To do this, consider how the human throat and underlying organs are arranged - those structures whose disease can cause a sensation of a lump.

The cavities of the mouth and nose are "tubes" of not quite the correct shape. They fall into one large "pipe" - the throat. The latter has a rather large length (11-12 cm) and ends with a kind of "fork":

on the one hand, it passes into the larynx - the initial section of the respiratory tract, the place where the vocal cords that form sounds are located;
on the other hand, behind the larynx, the pharynx ends in the esophagus, a muscular tube that leads directly to the stomach.

Before the nasal cavity passes into the pharynx, at the mouth of the auditory tube - the formation that communicates the ear and pharynx, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe root of the tongue and on both sides of it there are tonsils - large accumulations of lymphoid tissue. The same tissue is scattered in the form of small "peas" in different places of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

The task of the lymphoid tissue is to “examine” the air flow and the food bolus for microbes and potentially dangerous agents for the body. If any are found, the tonsils and separate areas to fight microbes increase in size. Then they may feel like a lump in the throat.

If a person inhaled air containing a certain number of microorganisms, the palatine tonsils usually increase immediately (we see them in the mirror when we open our mouths) and the pharyngeal tonsil, which lies on the border of the nose and pharynx. If they increase greatly (when a large number of microbes enter the air at once or constantly inhale small amounts of dust or microorganisms), not only a lump in the throat will be felt. This can cause difficulty in breathing, but rarely one that can lead to suffocation.

A condition called paratonsillitis or paratonsillar abscess can lead to suffocation. In this case, which is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, pus impregnates fatty tissue around the tonsils (one or two). With a large amount of pus, an enlarged tonsil blocks the path of air.

Violation of the passage of air and suffocation may develop as a result of edema or abscess of the epiglottis. This condition develops as a complication of an allergy (most often food) or SARS.

In the cases listed above, it is not the feeling of a lump in the throat that comes to the fore, but severe sore throat, inability to swallow, fever and symptoms of intoxication (headache, weakness, nausea).

Another significant part of the "lumps" causes the so-called post-nasal syndrome. This is the name of the condition when, as a result of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (nose, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx), mucus is formed, and it flows down the back of the throat.

Yet, the main causes of feeling a lump in the throat are localized in the esophagus - a tube that is designed to move food to those parts of the digestive system where it can be processed and digested. Pathological processes in the esophagus that can cause suffocation are those that either grow from its anterior wall, which adjoins directly to the trachea (the trachea is in front) or have great hardness to try to close the cartilages of the trachea. Before the feeling of lack of air appears, a “lump” and swallowing disorders will be felt for a long time: first solid food, then liquid.

Now let's consider what could be the reasons for the appearance of a foreign body in the throat - depending on the symptoms that the "lump" accompanies.

Diseases accompanied by sensation of a foreign body when swallowing

A lump in the throat when swallowing develops with any of the following diseases.

Cardiospasm (achalasia cardia)

This is a disease in which there is a spasm of the circular muscle located between the esophagus and stomach.

It is characterized by sudden onset difficulty in swallowing when warm liquid food or, in rare cases, solid food passes better. The person feels that the food will pass better if he walks after eating or eats while standing, or by pressing down on the chest while eating. There may be pain in the upper part of the sternum, which is similar to pain in the heart.

Reflux esophagitis

This is the name of the condition when the contents of the stomach are constantly thrown into the esophagus and inflame its mucous membrane.

Symptoms of the disease: heartburn and sour belching that occur after eating (especially if you immediately lie down), when the body bends forward if a person has eaten less than 1.5 hours before bedtime. With this disease, pain behind the sternum is also noted (very similar to pain in the heart), which are given to the lower jaw, the area between the shoulder blades, the left half of the chest. There may be a cough that develops only when lying down, dry throat, bloating, nausea, vomiting.

hiatal hernia

In this case, the stomach and, in some cases, the intestines, which should be in the abdominal cavity, due to the expansion of the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus must pass, are (periodically or constantly) in the chest cavity.

The disease is very similar to reflux esophagitis: in addition to a "lump" in the throat, it is also characterized by heartburn after eating, pain in the "pit of the stomach" when a person stood in a bent position for a long time, and abdominal pain. If the organs penetrating the chest cavity compress the heart or lungs, there will be shortness of breath, pain behind the sternum, blueness around the mouth, aggravated after eating.

Pathology of the thyroid gland

The sensation of a lump when swallowing occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges and begins to put pressure on the thyroid cartilage of the larynx lying below it. This can be seen as:

production of an increased amount of hormones (hyperthyroidism), which is manifested by weight loss with increased appetite, increased heart rate, sweating, irritability, periodic bouts of abdominal pain and vomiting;
the production of a reduced amount of hormones (hypothyroidism), in which a person gains weight despite a reduced appetite. In such a patient, slowness and fatigue are noticeable, his memory is reduced, the skin becomes dry, and the hair becomes brittle, tending to fall out;
normal function of the gland. In this case, apart from a lump and an increase in the volume of the neck, there are no other noticeable symptoms.

Thyroid disease does not lead to impaired swallowing.

Chronic pharyngitis

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, which occurs either as a result of insufficient treatment of acute pharyngitis, or with prolonged inhalation of dusty, dry or polluted air.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are: a feeling of dryness, sore throat, frequent bouts of dry painful cough. With an exacerbation of the disease, there is a sore throat, body temperature may rise.

Chronic laryngitis

This is the name of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. The cause of the disease: frequent acute laryngitis against the background of professional activities (teachers, singers, speakers), smoking or alcohol abuse.

The disease manifests itself with a feeling of dryness in the throat, perspiration. The voice becomes hoarse up to its complete loss. There is also a dry debilitating cough that develops paroxysmal. There may be a feeling of lack of air, pain when swallowing.

Mental disorders

This feeling is observed in 60% of people suffering from depression. Main symptoms: constant bad mood, inability to rejoice, constant pessimism, loss of interest in life or what used to please.

The same complaint can be heard from people suffering from neuroses. These conditions occur after some kind of psycho-traumatic factor and can be manifested by various symptoms: irritability, frequent phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, mood instability, sleep disorders, pain of various localization (in the heart, in the abdomen, in the head), balance disorders, dizziness . The diagnosis is made after the exclusion of cardiac, neurological and other somatic diseases.

Complaints about this feeling are also made by people in whom psychiatrists, during examination, discover a hysterical personality disorder. Such a disease is more often found in women, when against the background of a constantly observed unstable mood and a tendency to fantasize, attacks of transient blindness, deafness, and paralysis may appear. At the same time, examination of the brain does not reveal either strokes or microstrokes. “Com”, unlike bouts of blindness / deafness, can be observed constantly.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It is manifested not only by a sensation of a lump in the throat, but also, most often, by dizziness, soreness or crunching when turning the neck, and a headache when the weather changes.

Foreign object in the esophagus

The sensation of a coma can be caused by an object stuck in the esophagus: a fish bone, a pill, an inedible particle that has fallen with food.

Esophageal injury

The esophagus can be injured by the probe (when performing fibrogastroscopy or placing a probe for feeding or evacuating the contents). The injury can be produced by a swallowed bone or a tablet: it is possible to distinguish damage to the mucous membrane from the appearance of a foreign object there only after contacting a doctor: an ENT doctor or an endoscopist who will have to perform fibrogastroscopy.

Oncological diseases

Throat cancer can cause this sensation. accompanied by other symptoms: cough, difficulty swallowing solid food at first, then liquid, sudden weight loss.

Cancer of the esophagus, in addition to this, the symptoms are added to it by pain and a feeling of fullness behind the sternum, regurgitation of food, and the production of a large amount of saliva. The feeling of a foreign body in the throat at first simply prevents you from taking food, then it forces you to drink it, then to take only liquid meals. If at this stage a person does not go to the doctor, he completely loses the ability to take food and water.

Sjögren's syndrome

This is a condition when one's own immunity affects the connective tissue and glands of external secretion (lacrimal, salivary). It develops most often in women during menopause. It begins with a sensation of dry eyes, dry skin, mouth and genitals. Jams appear in the corners of the mouth, causing pain at first only when yawning, then when talking. As a result of dry mucous membranes, crusts form in the nose, sinusitis, bronchitis, and gastritis are often observed. With this syndrome, a lump when swallowing does not appear among the first symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis

This is a disease in which one's own immune system attacks the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Such a lesion is observed in mosaic: in some people, some pathological foci appear (for example, in the frontal lobe and cerebellum), in others - others (more in the spinal cord than in the brain). Therefore, there are no specific symptoms in this disease. When the nerve pathways leading to the esophagus are damaged, swallowing is disturbed, a foreign body is felt in the throat. This symptom is rarely observed on its own, accompanied by other changes: tremor, paralysis of one or more limbs, strabismus, visual impairment, decreased sensitivity.

Stroke

The sensation of a foreign object in the throat when swallowing can be as a result of stroke damage to those parts of the brain that were responsible for the act of swallowing. In this case, the process of getting food into the stomach will be disturbed (difficult), but it will not depend on whether the food is solid or liquid.

Scleroderma of the esophagus

Scleroderma is a systemic disease in which normal connective tissue becomes dense and the arterioles that feed it cease to function.

The disease does not affect the esophagus alone. It begins with the defeat of the feet and hands, which begin to freeze (at first only in the cold, after excitement or smoking, and then without a visible provocative factor), while they first become alabaster-white, then turn red. Such attacks are accompanied by pain in the fingers, a feeling of fullness, burning.

Simultaneously with Raynaud's syndrome, which has now been described, the esophagus is also affected. This is manifested by a worsening swallowing disorder, heartburn. It becomes more and more difficult for food to pass through the esophagus, which gives rise to a feeling of a lump.

myasthenia gravis

This disease is characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles, including those that carry out the process of swallowing, those that “block” so that food does not enter the respiratory tract, and those whose duty is to “expel” particles that have entered the trachea or bronchi with the help of a cough. food.

Most often, myasthenia gravis begins precisely with a violation of swallowing and coma, then difficulty in raising the eyelids joins (therefore, a person has to raise his chin in order to consider something), the voice changes.

Damage to the nerves that carry out the act of swallowing

This can happen with jugular vein thrombosis, with a fracture of the base of the skull or a tumor of the glomus. This is accompanied by violations of swallowing, movement of the tongue, a lump in the throat.

Fazio-Londe syndrome

It is a rare hereditary disease that develops in children, adolescents and young adults. The first manifestations of the disease are respiratory failure, wheezing, then the face becomes distorted, speech is disturbed (it becomes blurry, indistinct), a feeling of a foreign body appears in the throat, and swallowing is disturbed.

Pseudobulbar palsy

In this case, swallowing is disturbed, speech is blurred, a person can cry or laugh for any reason, especially during neurological tests (when teeth are bared or when some object is passed over the lips).

Guillain-Barré syndrome

This is a disease that develops as a complication of an intestinal infection, colds, herpes infection, when the activated immune system begins to attack the cells of the nerve trunks. The disease begins with a deterioration in the movements of the feet or both the feet and the hands. If this immune reaction is not stopped, the nerves that carry commands to parts of the limbs that are closer to the body (hips, shoulders) are affected. In severe cases, swallowing is disturbed, a nasal voice appears, breathing can “turn off”, therefore such patients are treated in intensive care units.

Dystrophic myotonia

This is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which often appear between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Less commonly, symptoms occur immediately after birth.

It is characterized by the appearance of spasmodic tension in the masticatory muscles and those muscles that bend the hand. Swallowing and facial expressions are disturbed, the timbre of the voice changes, there may be sleep apnea.

Other reasons

In diseases that force a person to breathe through the mouth (adenoiditis, chronic sinusitis)
With dehydration (for example, food poisoning or intestinal infection: salmonellosis, dysentery).
Enlarged lymph nodes under the mandible, near the angle of the mandible, on the front of the neck, or near the hyoid bone.

Diseases in which there is also an unpleasant odor

A lump in the throat with an unpleasant odor is a symptom characteristic of ENT diseases. Basically, it appears in chronic sinusitis and chronic tonsillitis.

Chronic sinusitis

It is manifested by prolonged mucous or mucopurulent discharge (“snot”) from one or both sides, which flow down the back of the throat and causes a feeling of “coma” with an unpleasant odor. Difficulty breathing through the nose - on one or both sides.

In addition, a person periodically feels a headache - it is from this side that a feeling of heaviness is sometimes felt directly in the area of \u200b\u200bthe inflamed sinus. The sense of smell is reduced up to its complete loss. Due to constant breathing through the mouth, dryness occurs in the mouth, the ear on the affected side is periodically felt blocked, and hearing deteriorates.

Chronic tonsillitis

This is a long and sluggish current inflammation of the palatine tonsils. The tonsil is a formation of soft tissue, which has depressions and passages on the surface, and voids inside. If the tonsil becomes inflamed under the action of a microbe and cannot cleanse itself, the inflammatory process in it becomes chronic. Remains of food fall into such an amygdala, which also support this process.

As a result, white lumps are formed in the amygdala from dead leukocytes, microbes, food debris and cells desquamated from the surface of the organ. These are caseous plugs, which are the source of an extremely unpleasant odor.

With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, the tonsils also secrete pus. During the day, it can form up to half a glass, and all of it will be swallowed. This pus, on the one hand, is the very "lump" in the throat. On the other hand, it leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and stomach, where it enters, which increases bad breath.

Zenker diverticula

This is the name of the protrusion of the wall of the esophagus, which are turned outward, at the level of the transition of the pharynx into the esophagus. The disease is manifested by the sensation of a foreign body in the throat, difficulty in swallowing both solid and liquid food. Since the diverticulum is a kind of “pocket” where food can (and does) get in, bad breath is often felt from the mouth.

Such patients also complain of regurgitation of undigested food (especially in the supine position), dry cough, nausea, and a change in the timbre of the voice. There may be bouts of the “blockade phenomenon”: after eating, a person feels suffocated, he begins to feel dizzy, and he may even faint. If you induce vomiting against this background, the attack goes away.

Diseases in which lump is combined with belching

A lump in the throat and belching are characteristic of the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Gastroesophageal reflux

This is the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. It is described in the section "Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing."

Esophagitis

This is the name of the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which can be caused by various microbes, physical (consequences of burns from hot food) or chemical (consequences of ingested acid or alkali). The cause may also be tuberculosis of the esophagus (only in the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis) or candidiasis (as a complication of oral thrush).

It is characterized by the development of the following symptoms:

burning behind the sternum after eating;
pain behind the sternum, which is present constantly or periodically, can radiate to the shoulders and the area between the shoulder blades;
a feeling of a lump in the throat and belching is present during and immediately after eating, which is associated with additional trauma to the inflamed mucous membrane with a food lump;
periodically, a small amount of food from the esophagus can return back to the mouth.

neuroses

These are conditions in which the work of individual sections of the central nervous system is disrupted, but their structure is not disturbed.

Taking certain medications

Treatment with those drugs that have a damaging effect on the mucous membrane causes belching, and the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which often accompanies this condition, causes a lump in the throat.

The main drugs that lead to the appearance of these two symptoms are painkillers (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone).

If you really need to take any of these drugs, and you notice the appearance of burping and coma in the throat, consult a gastroenterologist on how to protect the stomach (usually drugs such as Omeprazole or Rabeprazole are used for this). Take anti-inflammatory drugs only after meals.

Pregnancy

The combination of belching and a lump in the throat can be caused by pregnancy. This is due to the fact that in this case the woman changes, which leads to relaxation of the muscles located between different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including between the esophagus and stomach. As a result, food is often thrown into the esophagus, inflaming it, which causes belching and sensation in the throat of a foreign body.

Combination of several diseases

It may happen that 2 unrelated diseases developed at the same time: for example, an increase in the volume of the thyroid gland, which caused a sensation of a lump in the throat, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), which caused belching. The same combination can be observed with the combination of the use of a large number of gas-producing foods and drinks and acute respiratory infections with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat.

hiatal hernia

Symptoms of this pathology are discussed in the section "Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing."

Esophageal injury

Swallowing too hot, aggressive contents, placing a feeding tube before anesthesia, or conducting such a study as fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS), can cause belching and coma.

Diseases in which both a foreign body and dryness are felt in the throat

Diseases in which both a lump and dryness in the throat are noted are described above. This is:

laryngitis: acute and chronic;
pharyngitis: acute and chronic;
chronic sinusitis;
allergic edema of the epiglottis. This condition appears after eating some new food, walking in a flowering garden, using new medicines, or working with household chemicals. It is manifested by the appearance of a coma in the throat, which quickly increases and makes it difficult to breathe. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help.
Sjögren's syndrome;
adenoiditis;
diseases leading to dehydration;
smoking.

When a lump is felt in the throat, as if made of mucus

A lump in the throat and mucus will be observed when:

postnasal syndrome, when mucus from an inflamed nose or its paranasal sinuses flows down the back of the pharynx;
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat of tobacco, spicy food, alcohol, vasoconstrictor nasal drops. In this case, the state of health does not suffer, and the "lump of mucus" is observed only in the morning;
chronic pharyngitis;
runny nose;
inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx;
allergic rhinitis, rhinopharyngitis;
reflux of gastric contents into the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux), which is manifested by a mucous lump and bouts of dry cough.

When foreign body sensation is combined with sore throat

The appearance of pain in the throat and a lump is characteristic of such pathologies:

Acute tonsillitis, which is manifested by fever, weakness, and sometimes nausea. Sore throat, painful to swallow both liquid and solid food.
Acute pharyngitis, which often occurs with acute respiratory infections (viral, fungal or bacterial origin). It is manifested by a sore throat, a feeling of mucus in it, perspiration and a lump, a dry cough.
Acute laryngitis, which can also be a manifestation of acute respiratory infections or occur with hypothermia and excessive voice work. It is manifested by hoarseness of voice, sore throat, which can be aggravated by swallowing, a feeling of dryness, itching, scratching in the throat. Cough at first dry, painful, but soon sputum begins to be coughed up.
Peritonsillar abscess- impregnation with pus of fiber near the tonsils (most often - one). It develops as a complication of purulent tonsillitis or purulent pharyngitis. It is manifested by increasing sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, bad breath.
parapharyngeal abscess. In this case, the abscess is localized in the peripharyngeal space. This, like a paratonsillar abscess, is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, but it can also develop as a result of pus from the nasal sinuses flowing into the peripharyngeal tissue, pus from the roots of the teeth. It is characterized by pain on one side of the throat, soreness in swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth, high fever. It requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise it may be complicated by a breakthrough of pus into the tissue around the large vessels of the neck, as a result of which severe bleeding may begin.
Tongue root abscess It is characterized by a sensation of a lump in the throat, an increase in the volume of the tongue, which prevents it from being placed in the mouth and makes breathing difficult and speech slurred. The temperature rises, weakness and malaise appear, sleep is disturbed. Urgent treatment is needed in the ENT department of the hospital.
Inflammation and abscess of the epiglottis manifested by the sensation of a foreign body in the throat, sore throat, which is aggravated by swallowing, fever, difficulty breathing, nasal voice.

What to do if a lump appears in the throat

The treatment for a lump in the throat depends on its cause. So, if it is a tumor formation, an operation is needed, followed by the introduction of chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy. Diverticula are also removed promptly. With the development of a paratonsillar or parapharyngeal abscess, an operation is also needed to open and drain the abscess. But myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome and some other diseases are treated only in a conservative way.

Therefore, to determine the cause of the "lump", contact an otolaryngologist (ENT). He will examine the pharynx and larynx, examine the epiglottis and palpate the neck to exclude a parapharyngeal abscess, take cultures from the tonsils and the posterior pharyngeal wall. If the pathological process is not detected, you need to be examined further:

perform an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and pass those of its hormones that the endocrinologist will say;
perform an MRI of the brain, cervical spine and neck organs and undergo those examinations that a neuropathologist recommends;
visit a gastroenterologist, perform FEGDS (fibrogastroscopy).

If you experience at least 1 of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:

it became difficult to breathe;
the temperature has risen above 37.5 ° C;
swelling of the neck along with a sore throat;
sputum is coughed up, in which pus or blood is visible;
a lump in the throat appeared either against the background of a violation of sensitivity and movements in the legs or arms, or it can be said that at the same time it becomes more and more difficult to swallow;
if, in addition to a coma in the throat, there is a nasal voice, blurred speech, choking when swallowing.

While you are being examined, take the following steps:

Rinse your nose and gargle with salt water in the morning, for which, or dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. sea or regular salt, or buy one of the saline solutions at the pharmacy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Exclude from the diet seafood, spicy dishes, sour-milk products with high fat content.
If swallowing is disturbed, introduce more liquid and high-calorie foods into the diet: broths with chicken meat passed through a blender, fermented milk products, mixtures for enteral nutrition.
If you are concerned about mucus in your throat, include chicken broth, fresh apple puree, and warm soups in your diet. Just don't eat before bed.
If, in parallel with a lump in the throat, the temperature has risen while you are waiting for the day for which you were signed up to the ENT, gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If you notice that a lump in your throat has appeared after contact with an animal, eating new food, working in dusty conditions, and so on, take an antihistamine, optimally - 1 generation (although they cause drowsiness, they act quickly enough): "Diazolin" , "Suprastin", "Tavegil". If such a “com” interferes with breathing, call an ambulance.

Tonsillitis, which is a serious form of a cold, has a number of characteristic symptoms and, if left untreated, can show numerous complications. And the unpleasant odor that can accompany this disease indicates the active course of the inflammatory process and requires active action to carry out the necessary treatment. Why there is a smell from the mouth with tonsillitis and what to do about it, we will tell further.

Causes

Since it is the tonsils, which are responsible for the timely neutralization of pathogenic microorganisms that enter the cavity of the nasopharynx and throat, take on the main burden during the development of the disease, their regular washing and medicinal effects can quickly eliminate this unpleasant manifestation. The unpleasant stench emanating from the mouth during the development of tonsillitis has several causes that most often diagnose this disease. To understand the causes of this condition, it is necessary to study the nature of the work of the tonsils and the specific composition of the tissue from which they are formed.

Features of the composition of the tissues of the tonsils

Formed by lymphatic tissue, the tonsils are located in the back third of the throat and their main function is to adsorb pathogenic bacteria, food debris and dead cells of the tonsils themselves. They contain recesses of various sizes, or gaps, which serve as a place for the accumulation of these particles. Gradually accumulating, these organic residues, under the influence of temperature and high humidity in the nasopharyngeal cavity, begin to rot, forming an unappetizing "aroma".

However, this unpleasant manifestation, which occurs at the onset of tonsillitis and intensifies with the progression of the disease, more often indicates the relationship between inflammation processes occurring in the oral cavity and the degree of intensification of the unpleasant amber.

Likely Causes

An unpleasant "aroma" may appear in the following cases:

with the development of sinusitis with the accumulation of a large number of microorganisms in the region of the tonsils and tonsils;
lack of oral hygiene;
excessive growth of adenoids with ongoing inflammatory processes in them with the formation of purulent deposits;
with an increase in the inflammatory process with colds;
bad habits that provoke the formation of an unpleasant amber. These include smoking, abuse of alcoholic beverages and strong-smelling substances;
as a result of prolonged accumulation of undigested food residues and dead cells of the tonsils and lymphatic tissue.

However, most often, the tonsils emit an unpleasant odor when specific plugs form in them, which, after a long stay in the gaps (recesses of the tonsils), begin to decompose and emit a disgusting amber, which even has the ability to negatively affect a person’s social activity. This issue becomes especially relevant for everyone who regularly communicates with people around them, whose activities are related to public relations.

Neutralization of this manifestation requires the application of certain measures that eliminate both the cause and its effect. After all, with an exacerbation of the disease, there will be an increase in the intensity of such a manifestation, which can occur both with mouth breathing and breathing through the nose.

Elimination Methods

The use of aromatic drugs that mask the manifestation of the activation of the inflammatory process in the throat will not bring the desired relief of the condition: only the external effect of a very short manifestation plus the absence of the necessary medicinal effect have such drugs.

An effective measure will be a visit to an ENT doctor, who, with the help of a specially selected treatment, will reduce the manifestations of the disease, after which, upon reaching a stable remission, a number of measures can be applied to help eliminate the causes of ambre. Since the main cause of tonsillitis is the infection of the tonsil, the active reproduction of pathogenic microflora in the tonsils, it is the removal of the inflammatory process that will eliminate the cause of this condition.

General tips include:

implementation of hygiene procedures that are carried out in the oral cavity. These include brushing your teeth and tongue with a toothbrush: this is how most of the pathogenic microorganisms that accumulate in gaps are removed;
rinsing the mouth and throat with disinfectant solutions;
cleansing the nasal cavity and tonsils with the help of special preparations.

Some patients try to remove such plugs on their own, by influencing the lymphatic tissue. However, this can seriously damage health: the introduction of infection with dirty hands, microtrauma - all this negatively affects the condition of the tonsils and has the ability to provoke the progression of the disease with the possibility of complications.

Recipes for freshening breath with tonsillitis

With the help of rinses, even significant purulent deposits (or stones) in the throat are eliminated, which often cause worsening of bad breath. For them, the following solutions are used:

If the above measures did not bring a pronounced result, the smell continues to bother and can even be felt at a considerable distance, a visit to the dental office is required: often decayed teeth, insufficient oral hygiene, gum problems are accompanied by a bad smell.

Operational Methods

In the absence of a positive result when applying all of the above recommendations, the doctor may also recommend the removal of the tonsils: this operation can be performed not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. However, such a measure is not considered the only correct one even with especially advanced variants of the disease: these growths of lymphatic tissue are a natural barrier to the penetration of pathogens and infections into the body, therefore the best option is still the complete cure of the current disease, followed by maintaining the health of the oral cavity and nasopharynx.

Currently, in medicine there is also the practice of partial removal of the affected area of the tonsils: this allows you to save them to a greater extent, leaving the body protected, and at the same time removing the foci of the most severe lesions. This operation is tolerated by the patient quite easily, because only part of the vital tissue is surgically removed.

There is also an additional measure of influence: cryogenic.

Cryotherapy has been widely used in the treatment of a variety of lesions, and in diseases of the nasopharyngeal region, it brings pronounced results after just a few procedures. Its essence lies in the action of the lowest possible temperatures on the tissues most affected by the disease with their partial destruction and subsequent removal. The treatment is carried out at the back of the pharynx, where purulent plugs can also form, giving off an odor and being a real "hotbed" of infection. Such a focus can be treated with ultra-low temperatures already during the first few procedures: you can get rid of purulent plugs even after 2-3 exposures.

To improve the microflora of the mouth and nasopharynx, such measures can be recommended that stimulate the body's defenses and at the same time improve the condition of the oral cavity. And in the presence of severe tonsillitis, as well as after its cure, breathing will improve when using the following simple recommendations.

First recommendation- revision of the diet. An increase in the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed will increase immunity, guarantee high body resistance when exposed to infection, eliminate the cause of the appearance of an unappetizing "flavor" from the mouth: tonsillitis rarely occurs in practically healthy people, the walls do not experience the active action of pathogenic microflora. The use of combined vitamin complexes is an excellent prevention of high morbidity during the off-season and in the event of an epidemic.

Second recommendation- maintaining an active lifestyle. A sufficient amount of movement, a decrease in the proportion of passive sitting in front of the TV and the introduction of sports into your usual life will stimulate the immune system and avoid colds.

Third recommendation- Carrying out physiotherapy at the first symptoms of tonsil disease. The use of homeopathic remedies in combination with various types of physiotherapy makes it possible to boost the immune system. Physiotherapeutic measures include laser exposure to the affected part of the lymphatic tissue, ultraviolet light and phonophoresis. These types of local treatment, in addition to eliminating the consequences of tonsillitis in the form of a repulsive "aroma", also make it possible to stop the pathological process of an inflammatory nature both in the pharynx and the back of the nasopharynx.

Fourth recommendation- at the first signs of any inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, mouth rinses containing chlorine dioxide, sodium chloride and zinc should be used, which perfectly disinfect the affected areas, stop the process of reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. Using them regularly, you can quickly achieve an excellent result: not only stopping inflammation in the nasopharynx, but also restoring a normal smell when breathing. And the main condition for the appearance of such a manifestation of tonsillitis as bad breath can be called the prevention of the disease.

Prevention

Preventive measures for the appearance of this side effect when inflammatory processes are activated in the body include a regular examination by an ENT doctor, who will be able to identify the onset of the disease in time and recommend the necessary treatment, taking stimulating immunomodulating drugs, introducing healthy habits and getting rid of bad addictions.

To a large extent, stimulating the secretion of saliva can help, which, when released, naturally flushes the lacunae, brings out deposits and plugs of purulent content.

Bad breath or throat odor is a delicate problem that reduces a person's self-esteem, limits his ability to communicate, and worsens the quality of life. It is not surprising that a person seeks to get rid of the smell from the throat as quickly as possible, which repels those around him. To do this, drugs are usually used that act on the symptom, but not on the very cause of the bad odor. And in most cases, significant results cannot be achieved, the problem returns again and again. To get rid of bad breath from the throat forever, you need to establish the exact cause of its occurrence and eliminate it or cure the underlying disease.

Possible causes of bad breath

Bad breath can be caused by external factors, or it can be a symptom of a wide range of diseases. In order to differentiate the cause of the pathology, you need to contact a therapist who will refer you to the right specialist of a narrow profile. But first, you can conduct a self-diagnosis by listening to your body and finding out if there are additional characteristic symptoms of diseases.

External causes of bad breath and throat:

Smoking, including hookah smoking.
The use of alcoholic beverages.
Inadequate oral hygiene, contributing to the appearance of abundant plaque.
Eating food with a characteristic odor (onion, garlic).
The use of certain medications.
Hunger or excessive dryness of the mouth and throat.

Internal causes of bad breath:

Dental diseases - caries or periodontal disease. In this case, a person is worried about pain in the teeth, gums, bleeding, gradual loss of teeth.
Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity. It could be stomatitis or thrush. Additional symptoms are pain in the soft tissues of the mouth, the presence of rashes, plaque, pain when swallowing and talking.
Lung disease - some types of pneumonia or tuberculosis. At the same time, a person is worried about a continuous cough, which may be accompanied by bloody clots, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Neoplasms in the area of the nose and pharynx, which impede the movement of mucus and contribute to its accumulation. It is difficult for a person to breathe, weakness and deterioration in general health appear.
Pathological changes in the nasopharyngeal mucosa. It is painful for a person to swallow, there is perspiration, burning, itching and other strange sensations in the throat.
Diabetes. A distinctive feature is the smell of acetone from the mouth.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, ulcers. Additional symptoms are abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, nausea, flatulence.

However, the most common cause of bad breath from the throat is a variety of infectious diseases of the ENT organs.

It can be:

chronic course or. The disease is accompanied by an increase in the tonsils, the appearance of purulent contents in the tissues of the tonsils, fever, symptoms of intoxication, and sore throat. The mucus and plugs in the tonsils accumulated due to the inflammatory process cause a characteristic putrid odor from the mouth.
Tonsillolitis. There are no main symptoms, but there are plugs in the tonsils, causing sensations of a coma in the throat, pain when swallowing and an unpleasant smell from the throat.
Rhinitis or sinusitis of a chronic course. A person is disturbed by difficulty breathing, discomfort in the nose, separation of foul-smelling mucus.
Also, other diseases of the throat - pharyngitis, laryngitis - can become the causes of a bad smell. Having established the cause of this unpleasant symptom, you can proceed to therapy, because only a complete cure will get rid of the unpleasant odor.

Treatment for bad breath

To eliminate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, dental diseases, tumor and endocrine pathologies, you need to contact the appropriate specialists. An otolaryngologist deals with infectious and inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx, but you can also contact a therapist or pediatrician. The attending physician will prescribe drugs of different pharmacological groups so that the therapy is versatile, complex and the cure comes as quickly as possible:

Antibiotics.
Antiseptic agents for the treatment of the throat.
Anti-inflammatory drugs.
Immunostimulants.

Azithromycin is an antibacterial drug belonging to the group of macrolides. The main active ingredient is called similarly. It has a wide spectrum of activity and is active against various gram-positive and gram-negative agents, some types of anaerobic microorganisms.
Augmentin is a semi-synthetic drug belonging to the group of penicillins. It is active against most pathogenic microorganisms: staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, etc. The active substance is amoxicillin.

Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents for rinsing and lubricating the throat:

Furacilin. The main active ingredient is nitrofural. Available in the form of tablets, ointments, alcohol solution. For gargling use tablets, pre-crushed and dissolved in water. The drug has a high biological activity against pathogenic microorganisms and its use for several days in a row helps to stop inflammation. It has a minimum of contraindications, throat treatment is allowed for children and pregnant women.
Dioxidine. ODV – hydroxymethylquinoxylindioxide. The drug is available in the form of an ointment or powder (in ampoules). It can be used for instillation into the nose for rhinitis, throat lavages, inhalations with a nebulizer. Dioxidine is considered a potent drug that is effective in reducing the activity of pathogenic microflora.
Chlorhexidine is one of the best antiseptics used to destroy pathogenic microflora in infectious diseases of the larynx and nose. EFA - chlorhexidine bigluconate. Available in the form of an aqueous solution of different concentrations. Children for gargling is prescribed with caution, because it should not be swallowed. After several days of rinsing, there is a significant decrease in the severity of clinical symptoms - pain, swelling, inflammation and unpleasant odor.
. Natural antiseptic preparation, organic antibiotic. It is made on the basis of eucalyptus chlorophylls. Effective in the treatment of all diseases of the throat, quickly eliminates inflammation and putrid odor. It has no contraindications except for individual intolerance and is approved for the treatment of children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Preparations to strengthen the immune system:

Levamisole is an effective immunostimulating, immunomodulatory and antihelminthic agent. Produced in the form of tablets. It is prescribed as part of complex therapy for a wide range of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It is not prescribed for children under 7 years of age and pregnant women, may cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract.
Isoprinosine. The active substance is inosine pranobex. Produced in the form of tablets. The drug has immunostimulating properties and non-specific antiviral action. It is not prescribed for children under 3 years old, it can cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system.

In some cases, conservative treatment does not help. For example, with chronic decompensated tonsillitis, or with the occurrence of tonsillolitis. In the case of tonsillitis, surgical removal of the tonsils will be required to eliminate the bad smell. And if a person has tonsillolitis, he should turn to an ENT specialist, who will wash the tonsils using a special apparatus and eliminate foul-smelling plugs.

Conclusion

Bad breath is an unpleasant phenomenon that can occur due to diseases of the throat. In this case, you need to undergo a diagnosis, determine which disease causes such a symptom and undergo appropriate treatment. If the disease has not become chronic, the unpleasant odor from the throat will disappear with it.

Probably, every person at least once in his life felt an unpleasant smell from the nasopharynx. There are many reasons for this symptom, ranging from malnutrition and diseases of the oral cavity to pathologies of the lungs and liver. The symptom may be temporary or accompany the person permanently. But be that as it may, it is extremely important to find out the nature of an unpleasant symptom and use the correct therapy for the disease in order to avoid complications or the transition of the disease to a chronic form.

Why is there an odor?

In order for the specialist to be able to prescribe an effective treatment, it is necessary to find out the cause of the smell from the nasopharynx. Doctors identify several main factors that cause this symptom:

infectious diseases of the nasopharynx;
pathologies of other organs and systems;
unpleasant symptom as the main symptom of the disease.

Diseases of the nasopharynx

Various viral and bacterial infections can provoke the development of an inflammatory process in the oral cavity, affecting the nasopharyngeal mucosa. In this case, diseases such as sinusitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis and others can develop. If left untreated, there is an intensive growth in the number of pathogenic microorganisms, which causes the appearance of greenish discharge from the nose and bad breath.

Often in the final stages of rhinitis, a purulent smell can be felt, since at this stage of the disease the amount of mucus in the nose decreases sharply, and its viscosity increases.

Also, the cause of the smell from the nasopharynx can be dryness in the nose, which provokes the appearance of fetid crusts, as well as an increase in the number of pathogenic microorganisms. This condition is often observed in allergic, drug-induced and atrophic rhinitis.

Important! You can not independently remove the formed crusts, as this provokes the appearance of cracks and the spread of infection.

Diseases of other organs

Oddly enough, but a bad smell in the nasopharynx is often provoked by problems of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, dental pathologies, diabetes mellitus (causing the aroma of acetone).

Quite often, a foreign smell causes various deviations that develop in the oral cavity:

bleeding gums, provoking a sensation of a metallic taste;
caries, accompanied by the development of a large number of bacteria, the waste products of which provoke the appearance of an obsessive odor;
insufficiently good hygiene, as a result of which the remains of food stuck between the teeth or dentures begin to exude an unpleasant odor over time.

Lack of saliva

A stench from the mouth or nose may appear after a night's sleep. In this case, the cause is reduced activity of the salivary glands at night, which helps to reduce the amount of saliva. It is known that saliva plays an important role, participating not only in the process of digestion, but also in cleansing the oral cavity of bacteria that can cause nasal odor.

Also, the reason for the decrease in the work of the salivary glands are:

A strict diet or prolonged fasting, because saliva is produced in the required amount during sleep.
Insufficient fluid intake (an adult should consume at least 1.5-2 liters of water per day).
As a result of the use of certain drugs, such as Atropine or Hyoscine.
As a result of drinking alcohol.
In diseases affecting the salivary glands (sialadenitis, tumor development).

Important! Insufficient saliva contributes to the intensive development of bacteria, which causes an obsessive odor.

Treatment

Sometimes people mistakenly believe that bad breath is not a serious problem and does not require special treatment. However, various smells from the nose or mouth often indicate the presence of a dangerous disease. Therefore, immediately after the patient has an unpleasant symptom, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause and choose an effective treatment.

Diseases of the oral cavity

If it was possible to establish that pathologies associated with dental diseases and bad habits became the cause of the bad smell, then simple recommendations should be followed to eliminate the symptom.

Infectious diseases

A fetid odor from the throat appears in the presence of plugs on the tonsils, which occur as a result of frequent colds, rhinitis, tonsillitis. In this case, the elimination of an unpleasant symptom will be directly related to the removal of traffic jams. Treatment is carried out using procedures such as:

rinsing the mouth and throat with a solution of furacilin;
treatment of the surface of the tonsils with streptocide (one tablet should be dissolved in a glass of warm boiled water) using rinses.

Important! Treatment should be carried out for at least seven days. If the unpleasant symptom could not be eliminated, other methods of therapy should be sought.

If sinusitis or other purulent inflammations in the nasal cavity and sinuses have become the cause of the stench from the nasopharynx, then in this case apply:

If the cause of rhinitis, which caused an unpleasant odor, was an allergic reaction, then in this case it is necessary to eliminate the allergen and take an antihistamine (Diazolin, Suprastin, Zodak, Loratadin).

Important! When treating a fetid odor from the nasopharynx caused by the formation of a purulent secret, it is important to clean the pharynx and nasal cavity well from purulent discharge.

Also, in the treatment of sinusitis, washing the nasal cavity with antiseptic solutions (Furacilin, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine) is indicated. This procedure can significantly improve the patient's condition, reduce the severity of the inflammatory process.

Conclusion

Bad breath can be caused by a variety of reasons. At the same time, many people often mistakenly believe that a bad smell is not dangerous to health. However, in order to reduce the likelihood of complications and the transition of the disease to a chronic form, at the first signs of an unpleasant symptom, one should undergo an examination and find out its cause. Only a timely and correct diagnosis will help to choose an effective treatment and cope with the disease and an unpleasant symptom. It should also be remembered that a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and timely treatment of inflammatory processes will help to significantly strengthen the immune system and avoid the occurrence of an unpleasant symptom.

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Higher medical education, anesthesiologist.

If you have an unpleasant smell from the nose, this may be a symptom of various diseases. This phenomenon is not very common, but it can bring a lot of discomfort: both to the patient himself and to those around him. In most cases, it will be necessary to see a doctor and get tested to determine the cause of bad breath.

In its most general form, the process of the appearance of an unpleasant odor is as follows: if the human immune system cannot cope with the effects of bacteria or other pathogens, they begin to actively multiply. The result of this is the release of large amounts of pus, which causes an unpleasant symptom. To understand how a bad smell in the nose occurs, it is necessary in order to get rid of it with the greatest efficiency.

Not only purulent discharge can smell bad, but also dry crusts that form on the nasal mucosa in certain diseases. In addition, sometimes a strange fetid odor from the nose is the result of a violation of the patient's sense of smell: only the patient himself feels it, and others do not notice anything.

The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the nose can be associated with various diseases that can be divided into several groups:

diseases for which a putrid "smell from the nose" is the main symptom;
diseases of the nasopharynx, which only occasionally cause an unpleasant odor;
diseases affecting other organs and systems of the body.

In addition, in some cases, this symptom does not occur as a result of infection, but due to a foreign body entering the nasal passage. This can often explain a putrid smell from the nose in a young child, so it is important to understand that smells from the nose not only with diseases of the respiratory tract, but also in inflammatory processes in other body systems.

Ozena

Ozena is a disease that affects the nasal mucosa, and in more severe cases, cartilage and bone tissues. The exact causes of this disease, also called fetid rhinitis, have not been established. However, it is known that a predisposition to it can be associated with some innate characteristics of the organism:

underdevelopment of the frontal sinuses;
expansion of the facial part of the skull;
excessive breadth of the wings of the nose.

Moreover, the risk of ozena increases if a person is constantly malnourished or lives in unsanitary conditions, as well as in the case of degeneration of the nasal mucosa, which gradually disintegrates as a result of this process.

As a rule, conservative treatment is prescribed for ozen, for example, washing the nose with various medicinal solutions, using suppositories or tampons. But if this disease occurs frequently, surgery may be needed to correct the shape of the nasal cavity.

Nasal breathing during ozena remains free, but at the same time there is a constant feeling of dryness in the nose. Often it seems to the patient that a foreign body has entered the nasal passage. The surface of the mucosa is covered with dry crusts, due to which there is a sensation of an unpleasant odor in the nose. If left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the larynx and middle ear.

Other diseases of the nasopharynx

Among other diseases that may cause an unpleasant odor in the nasopharynx, the most common are the following:

parosmia;
acute or chronic sinusitis;
allergy;
acute or chronic rhinitis.

Parosmia is a violation of the sense of smell that can develop with various diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, the patient feels the smell of acetone emanating from the nose or another pungent odor that does not actually exist.

When there is a bad smell from the nose with sinusitis, this is due to the accumulation of pus in the sinuses. Moreover, unpleasant sensations can intensify with a sharp tilt of the head. In patients suffering from a chronic form of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, such a symptom may occur during an exacerbation of the disease.

Other factors

There are other reasons that cause an unpleasant smell in the nose. It may be associated with disorders in the digestive or endocrine system. Kidney diseases and severe forms of diabetes mellitus lead to changes in metabolism, accompanied by the so-called acetone respiration.

The smell of acetone from the nose can also appear with strong physical exertion, especially if they are accompanied by malnutrition or a strict diet. This is due to the release of ammonia during the breakdown of body fat.

Also, the likelihood of a disease that causes a purulent smell from the nose increases significantly if a person lives in an area with an unfavorable environment. There are other risk factors, including:

poor living conditions, the presence of mold on the walls of the apartment;
frequent allergies;
congenital or acquired as a result of trauma deviations from the normal shape of the nasal cavity.

There are quite a few reasons that cause the smell of pus from the nose, so you can’t do without a visit to the doctor. Usually, several types of examinations are necessary to make a diagnosis. The doctor may recommend doing a CT scan of the sinuses and an endoscopy of the nasopharynx. In addition, a nasal culture is usually taken to determine which infection caused the symptom that bothers you.

Giving recommendations on how to get rid of the smell from the nose, the doctor may prescribe conservative or surgical treatment. Conservative therapy includes the use of deodorants, various formulations for inhalation and nasal irrigation. In addition, be sure to prescribe medications focused on combating the disease, due to which an unpleasant odor has appeared.

In advanced cases, surgical treatment may be necessary. The operation is sometimes inevitable in those cases when the inflammatory processes are provoked by the curvature of the nasal septum. Without consulting a doctor and a thorough examination, it is impossible to establish the cause of a bad smell from the nose, therefore, if this symptom appears, you should not postpone a visit to the clinic.

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This is especially true for people whose work is connected with constant communication, the problems that arise are no longer only medical, but also social in nature.

Before trying to eliminate this trouble, you need to figure out what reasons could cause it. In most cases, bad breath is due to dental problems or pathology of the internal organs, but it is also possible due to poor oral hygiene.

Causes of halitosis

The sources of bad breath are anaerobic bacteria produced in the mouth or digestive tract. This can happen for several reasons:

food products (radish, onion, garlic);
decaying food in the mouth;
caries, periodontal disease, massive plaque;
pathology of ENT organs;
lung diseases;
gastrointestinal diseases;
diabetes;
kidney failure;
oncological diseases.

The smell from the throat is not a disease in itself, it is necessary to treat the ailment that caused it. After the root cause is eliminated, it will stop bothering you. Acute infections in the throat (tonsillitis, pharyngeal abscess) can cause an unpleasant odor that disappears after recovery. If the patient smells from the mouth for a long time without obvious manifestations of the disease, it is necessary to consult a doctor for chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the tonsils, since in chronic tonsillitis, food debris and bacteria accumulate in their recesses, which are the source of an unpleasant odor in the throat.

Halitosis with tonsillitis

In many people, even on healthy tonsils, plugs can form, consisting of food debris, dead epithelial cells, bacteria, and calcium salts. They are not dangerous, but they cause a lot of inconvenience, causing a feeling of the presence of a foreign body in the throat. Usually their size does not exceed a pea, but it is the accumulation of bacteria in them that causes the smell that accompanies tonsillitis.

How to properly treat tonsillitis? Many people, in an effort to get rid of an unpleasant odor as soon as possible, try to eliminate plugs in the tonsil area on their own with the help of fingers or cotton swabs. This should not be done categorically, this method will only increase the focus of infection.

You can remove stones from the tonsils with the help of an irrigator with Laringozol, but it is better to entrust this procedure to a doctor so as not to damage the tonsils with a strong stream of water. The smell from the mouth with tonsillitis will help eliminate rinsing 2 times a day with decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula) or salt water.

A good result is rinsing with a solution of furacilin and treating the throat with streptocide. The powder obtained from the crushed tablet of white streptocide is sprinkled on the tonsils and saliva is not swallowed for some time. Treatment is carried out within a week.

Tonsillitis is a rather dangerous disease, especially for children and adolescents, since against its background there is a risk of developing other inflammatory processes (sinusitis). To get rid of it once and for all, many doctors suggest replacing conservative treatment with tonsil removal surgery.

But it should be remembered that after the removal of the tonsils, the protective properties of the body decrease, since the tonsils act as a kind of barrier to microbes penetrating from the outside, and also inform the entire lymphatic system about this for the timely production of antibodies.

Prevention of halitosis

There are many reasons for the occurrence of bad breath and throat, to eliminate it and freshen your breath, the following preventive measures are recommended:

Rinse your mouth after every meal. Try to brush your teeth 2 times a day and use special dental floss.
Periodically clean the tongue and the inside of the cheeks with a toothbrush that has this function.
Change your diet to increase vegetables and fruits and reduce meat.
If you smoke, try to quit.
Do not eat foods that can cause bad breath.
Drink more water and use sugar-free gum.
If you have dentures, they should be cleaned daily to prevent food debris and bacteria from accumulating in them.
Use special mouthwashes that have an antibacterial effect for rinsing your mouth.

All these preventive measures will not be able to get rid of an unpleasant odor if its cause lies in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or ENT organs. In this situation, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor in order to get rid of the disease in time and breathe freely and easily.

Lump in the throat: reasons for feeling a lump, bad smell, mucus, belching

Causes

The main pathologies that cause a sensation of a coma in the throat are as follows:

chronic inflammation of the tonsils, throat mucosa, or vocal cords;
flow of mucus from the inflamed sinuses or nasal cavity into the pharynx;
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat;
diseases of the pharyngeal muscles or a violation of the signal going to them along the nerves (with a stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis);
tumors of the esophagus (benign or malignant);
diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its increase;
throwing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and above (gastro-esophageal reflux);
scleroderma with damage to the esophagus;
dermatomyositis with damage to the esophagus;
divericulum of the esophagus;
throat abscesses: accumulation of pus over the epiglottis, in the tissue near the tonsils, or in the tissue between the pharyngeal muscles;
spasm of the esophagus;
neuroses, panic attacks, hysteria;

Can a "lump" lead to suffocation

on the one hand, it passes into the larynx - the initial section of the respiratory tract, the place where the vocal cords that form sounds are located;
on the other hand, behind the larynx, the pharynx ends in the esophagus, a muscular tube that leads directly to the stomach.

Violation of the passage of air and suffocation may develop as a result of edema or abscess of the epiglottis. This condition develops as a complication of an allergy (most often food) or SARS.

Now let's consider what could be the reasons for the appearance of a foreign body in the throat - depending on the symptoms that the "lump" accompanies.

Diseases accompanied by sensation of a foreign body when swallowing

A lump in the throat when swallowing develops with any of the following diseases.

Cardiospasm (achalasia cardia)

This is a disease in which there is a spasm of the circular muscle located between the esophagus and stomach.

Reflux esophagitis

This is the name of the condition when the contents of the stomach are constantly thrown into the esophagus and inflame its mucous membrane.

hiatal hernia

Pathology of the thyroid gland

The sensation of a lump when swallowing occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges and begins to put pressure on the thyroid cartilage of the larynx lying below it. This can be seen as:

production of an increased amount of hormones (hyperthyroidism), which is manifested by weight loss with increased appetite, increased heart rate, sweating, irritability, periodic bouts of abdominal pain and vomiting;
the production of a reduced amount of hormones (hypothyroidism), in which a person gains weight despite a reduced appetite. In such a patient, slowness and fatigue are noticeable, his memory is reduced, the skin becomes dry, and the hair becomes brittle, tending to fall out;
normal function of the gland. In this case, apart from a lump and an increase in the volume of the neck, there are no other noticeable symptoms.

Thyroid disease does not lead to impaired swallowing.

Chronic pharyngitis

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are: a feeling of dryness, sore throat, frequent bouts of dry painful cough. With an exacerbation of the disease, there is a sore throat, body temperature may rise.

Chronic laryngitis

Mental disorders

This feeling is observed in 60% of people suffering from depression. Main symptoms: constant bad mood, inability to rejoice, constant pessimism, loss of interest in life or what used to please.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It is manifested not only by a sensation of a lump in the throat, but also, most often, by dizziness, soreness or crunching when turning the neck, and a headache when the weather changes.

Foreign object in the esophagus

The sensation of a coma can be caused by an object stuck in the esophagus: a fish bone, a pill, an inedible particle that has fallen with food.

Esophageal injury

Oncological diseases

Throat cancer can cause this sensation. Oncology is accompanied by other symptoms: cough, difficulty swallowing solid food at first, then liquid, sudden weight loss.

Cancer of the esophagus, in addition to this, symptoms are added to it by pain and a feeling of fullness behind the sternum, regurgitation of food, and the production of a large amount of saliva. The feeling of a foreign body in the throat at first simply prevents you from taking food, then it forces you to drink it, then to take only liquid meals. If at this stage a person does not go to the doctor, he completely loses the ability to take food and water.

Sjögren's syndrome

Multiple sclerosis

Stroke

If, after a stroke, only a lump in the throat is felt, and swallowing is not disturbed, most likely, this is a consequence of the feeding tube that was in the stomach, which passed through the pharynx and esophagus. In this case, the feeling of a foreign body should pass after a while.

Scleroderma of the esophagus

Scleroderma is a systemic disease in which normal connective tissue becomes dense and the arterioles that feed it cease to function.

myasthenia gravis

This disease is characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles, including those that carry out the process of swallowing, those that “block” so that food does not enter the respiratory tract, and those whose duty is to “expel” particles that have entered the trachea or bronchi with the help of a cough. food.

Damage to the nerves that carry out the act of swallowing

Fazio-Londe syndrome

Pseudobulbar palsy

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Dystrophic myotonia

This is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which often appear between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Less commonly, symptoms occur immediately after birth.

Other reasons

In diseases that force a person to breathe through the mouth (adenoiditis, chronic sinusitis)
With dehydration (for example, food poisoning or intestinal infection: salmonellosis, dysentery).
Enlarged lymph nodes under the mandible, near the angle of the mandible, on the front of the neck, or near the hyoid bone.

Diseases in which there is also an unpleasant odor

A lump in the throat with an unpleasant odor is a symptom characteristic of ENT diseases. Basically, it appears in chronic sinusitis and chronic tonsillitis.

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic tonsillitis

Zenker diverticula

Diseases in which lump is combined with belching

A lump in the throat and belching are characteristic of the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Gastroesophageal reflux

This is the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. It is described in the section "Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing."

Esophagitis

It is characterized by the development of the following symptoms:

burning behind the sternum after eating;
pain behind the sternum, which is present constantly or periodically, can radiate to the shoulders and the area between the shoulder blades;
a feeling of a lump in the throat and belching is present during and immediately after eating, which is associated with additional trauma to the inflamed mucous membrane with a food lump;
periodically, a small amount of food from the esophagus can return back to the mouth.

neuroses

These are conditions in which the work of individual sections of the central nervous system is disrupted, but their structure is not disturbed.

Taking certain medications

The main drugs that lead to the appearance of these two symptoms are painkillers (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone).

Pregnancy

The combination of belching and a lump in the throat can be caused by pregnancy. This is due to the fact that in this case the hormonal background of a woman changes, which leads to relaxation of the muscles located between different sections of the gastrointestinal tract, including between the esophagus and stomach. As a result, food is often thrown into the esophagus, inflaming it, which causes belching and sensation in the throat of a foreign body.

Combination of several diseases

hiatal hernia

Symptoms of this pathology are discussed in the section "Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing."

Esophageal injury

Swallowing too hot, aggressive contents, placing a feeding tube before anesthesia, or conducting such a study as fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS), can cause belching and coma.

Diseases in which both a foreign body and dryness are felt in the throat

Diseases in which both a lump and dryness in the throat are noted are described above. This is:

laryngitis: acute and chronic;
pharyngitis: acute and chronic;
chronic sinusitis;
allergic edema of the epiglottis. This condition appears after eating some new food, walking in a flowering garden, using new medicines, or working with household chemicals. It is manifested by the appearance of a coma in the throat, which quickly increases and makes it difficult to breathe. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help.
Sjögren's syndrome;
adenoiditis;
diseases leading to dehydration;
smoking.

When a lump is felt in the throat, as if made of mucus

A lump in the throat and mucus will be observed when:

postnasal syndrome, when mucus from an inflamed nose or its paranasal sinuses flows down the back of the pharynx;
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat of tobacco, spicy food, alcohol, vasoconstrictor nasal drops. In this case, the state of health does not suffer, and the "lump of mucus" is observed only in the morning;
chronic pharyngitis;
runny nose;
inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx;
allergic rhinitis, rhinopharyngitis;
reflux of gastric contents into the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux), which is manifested by a mucous lump and bouts of dry cough.

When foreign body sensation is combined with sore throat

The appearance of pain in the throat and a lump is characteristic of such pathologies:

Acute tonsillitis, which is manifested by fever, weakness, and sometimes nausea. Sore throat, painful to swallow both liquid and solid food.
Acute pharyngitis, which often occurs with acute respiratory infections (viral, fungal or bacterial origin). It is manifested by a sore throat, a feeling of mucus in it, perspiration and a lump, a dry cough.
Acute laryngitis, which can also be a manifestation of acute respiratory infections or occur with hypothermia and excessive voice work. It is manifested by hoarseness of voice, sore throat, which can be aggravated by swallowing, a feeling of dryness, itching, scratching in the throat. Cough at first dry, painful, but soon sputum begins to be coughed up.
Peritonsillar abscess - soaking with pus of fiber near the tonsils (most often - one). It develops as a complication of purulent tonsillitis or purulent pharyngitis. It is manifested by increasing sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, bad breath.
parapharyngeal abscess. In this case, the abscess is localized in the peripharyngeal space. This, like a paratonsillar abscess, is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, but it can also develop as a result of pus from the nasal sinuses flowing into the peripharyngeal tissue, pus from the roots of the teeth. It is characterized by pain on one side of the throat, soreness in swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth, high fever. It requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise it may be complicated by a breakthrough of pus into the tissue around the large vessels of the neck, as a result of which severe bleeding may begin.
An abscess of the root of the tongue is characterized by a feeling of a lump in the throat, an increase in the volume of the tongue, which prevents it from being placed in the mouth and makes breathing difficult and speech slurred. The temperature rises, weakness and malaise appear, sleep is disturbed. Urgent treatment is needed in the ENT department of the hospital.
Inflammation and abscess of the epiglottis are manifested by the sensation of a foreign body in the throat, sore throat, which is aggravated by swallowing, fever, difficulty breathing, nasal voice.

What to do if a lump appears in the throat

perform an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and pass those of its hormones that the endocrinologist will say;
perform an MRI of the brain, cervical spine and neck organs and undergo those examinations that a neuropathologist recommends;
visit a gastroenterologist, perform FEGDS (fibrogastroscopy).

If you experience at least 1 of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:

it became difficult to breathe;
the temperature has risen above 37.5 ° C;
swelling of the neck along with a sore throat;
sputum is coughed up, in which pus or blood is visible;
a lump in the throat appeared either against the background of a violation of sensitivity and movements in the legs or arms, or it can be said that at the same time it becomes more and more difficult to swallow;
if, in addition to a coma in the throat, there is a nasal voice, blurred speech, choking when swallowing.

While you are being examined, take the following steps:

Rinse your nose and gargle with salt water in the morning, for which, or dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. sea or regular salt, or buy one of the saline solutions at the pharmacy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Exclude from the diet seafood, spicy dishes, sour-milk products with high fat content.
If swallowing is disturbed, introduce more liquid and high-calorie foods into the diet: broths with chicken meat passed through a blender, fermented milk products, mixtures for enteral nutrition.
If you are worried about mucus in your throat, include rosehip decoctions, chicken broth, fresh apple puree, and warm soups in your diet. Just don't eat before bed.
If, in parallel with a lump in the throat, the temperature has risen while you are waiting for the day for which you were signed up to the ENT, gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If you notice that a lump in your throat has appeared after contact with an animal, eating new food, working in dusty conditions, and so on, take an antihistamine, optimally - 1 generation (although they cause drowsiness, they act quickly enough): "Diazolin" , "Suprastin", "Tavegil". If such a “com” interferes with breathing, call an ambulance.

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