Throat Swelling
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Reviewed By:
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
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People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
I have pharyngeal edema
Swelling of the tonsils
Swelling of the throat is worse on one side
My uvula leaning to one side or the other
Tonsils are stretched
Asymmetric deviation of the uvula
Unilateral tonsillar swelling
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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Throat swelling is referring to the swelling in the back of the throat between the tonsils and the voice box. It can be uncomfortable, causing a sore throat or tightness.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Throat swelling
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.
Primary immunodeficiency syndrome
- Immunodeficiency syndrome
Related serious diseases
- Acute HIV infection
Acute HIV infection occurs in some individuals during the first 4 weeks after contracting the HIV virus. The virus rapidly attacks the immune cells and causes fevers, headaches, and sometimes a rash. The patient is highly contagious during this time as the viral load is high. Risk factors for transmitting HIV include unprotected sexual activity and contaminated needle stick injuries(e.g., via tattoos or sharing needles). Rarely, it is transmitted through the transfusion of blood products.
- Group A streptococcal infection
- Angioedema
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have throat swelling?
Do you have a fever?
Do you have a cough?
Do you have a runny nose?
Do you have phlegm?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
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