Throat Disorders
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.
Throat problems are common. You've probably had a sore throat. The cause is usually a viral infection, but other causes include allergies, infection with strep bacteria or the leaking of stomach acids back up into the esophagus, called GERD.
Other problems that affect the throat include:
- Tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils
- Cancer
- Croup - inflammation, usually in small children, which causes a barking cough
- Laryngitis - swelling of the voice box, which can cause a hoarse voice or loss of voice
Most throat problems are minor and go away on their own. Treatments, when needed, depend on the problem.
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Barium Swallow · National Library of Medicine
- Mouth Dryness or Thick Saliva · American Cancer Society
- Neck Swelling (Symptom Checker) · American Academy of Family Physicians
- Strep A Test · National Library of Medicine
- Strep Test: Throat Culture (For Parents) · Nemours Foundation
- Throat Problems (Symptom Checker) · American Academy of Family Physicians
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For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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