Hurts to Swallow
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Burning in the throat when I drink
Throat feels burnt when I drink
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Content updated on Sep 6, 2022
About the symptom
Pain while swallowing most often occurs when there is inflammation of the throat or surrounding structures, including inflammation of the oesophagus.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Pain when swallowing
Possible causes
- Acute tonsillitis / pharyngitis
Infection of the tonsils and pharynx (back of the mouth), either by viruses or bacteria.
Suppurative lymphadenitis
- Retropharyngeal abscess
A retropharyngeal abscess is uncommon but potentially life-threatening. It is an infection that forms behind the back wall of the throat.
- Crohn's disease
Burn/scald of roof of mouth
Related serious diseases
- Mumps
A highly contagious infection with the Mumps virus.
- Esophageal foreign body
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have pain when swallowing food?
Do you have a fever?
Do you have a cough?
Do you have a runny nose?
Are you breathless or having hard time breathing?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan