Published on: 7/9/2025
What could lead to an asymmetric sore throat?
An asymmetric sore throat can be caused by infections, like tonsillitis, or other conditions that affect one side of the throat more than the other.
Explanation
An asymmetric sore throat means that one side of your throat hurts more than the other. This can happen for a few reasons:
Infections: Sometimes, infections like tonsillitis can make one tonsil bigger and more painful than the other. This was seen in a case of a 10-year-old boy who had tonsillar asymmetry due to an infection.
Asymptomatic Tonsil Asymmetry: Some people might have one tonsil that is naturally bigger without any pain or infection. This is called asymptomatic tonsil asymmetry, and it doesn’t always mean there’s a problem.
Other Conditions: There are also other rare conditions, like disseminated nocardiosis, that can cause one side of the throat to be more affected than the other, although these are less common.
If you have an asymmetric sore throat, it's a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider to find out the cause and get the right treatment.
(References)
- Cole SS, & Wessler JM. (2020). Sore Throat and Tonsillar Asymmetry in a 10-year-old Boy. Pediatrics in review, 33004580.
- Schmid A, Ahmad N, Haubitz S, & Speth MM. (2024). Disseminated nocardiosis presenting as a superinfected .... BMJ case reports, 38890116.
- Cinar F. (2004). Significance of asymptomatic tonsil asymmetry. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 15243564.
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