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Symptoms throat

Throat Doctor & Specialist

Learn How Our Throat Doctor & Specialist Improve Your Symptoms

Chances are we have all experienced the most common symptom of throat problems at some point in our life, which is the basic sore throat. The most common cause of this throat pain is a benign viral infection and is nothing to worry about so long as it goes away in a week or so. Also, many times symptoms can be alleviated by at-home remedies. Another cause for throat discomfort is when small food particles called tonsiliths or tonsil stones can get caught in the small pits that form in the tonsils. Bacteria such as strep can infect tonsils and cause difficulty swallowing. Problems swallowing can be caused by enlarged tonsils or even silent acid reflux can interfere with normal swallowing. Especially in children, inflammation of the throat can cause a barking cough called Croup which should be a cause of concern, and the child should be brought in for an evaluation. There are of course many more concerning causes of persistent throat problems, particularly in people who smoke. The important part is that if you have throat pain or trouble swallowing and the problem isn’t going away, you should seek the guidance of a medical professional.

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How Our Throat Doctor & Specialist Diagnoses Your Problem

During your initial visit we will obtain a thorough history from you including a history of your symptoms, anything in your daily routine that could be causing the problems, and any past throat problems or treatments you may have had. After that we will perform a detailed examination. This exam includes the evaluation of your throat with a small scope that is about the size of a strand of spaghetti. Dr. Davis will place the scope gently into the nose and back toward the throat. This allows us to view, in detail, structures that are not visible by simply looking in your mouth with a tongue depressor. In some patients exhibiting specific symptoms we will also perform a Q-Tip culture of the back of the throat to check for strep and other bacteria. Depending on the nature of the problem, we may order additional testing such as imaging studies or tests that check your ability to swallow solids and liquids of various consistencies.

Treatment Options for Your Throat Problem

We will take into consideration many variables when deciding on the correct treatment plan for your specific throat problems. Some examples include your age, the severity of the symptoms, the cause of the symptoms, and whether or not you can be treated simply with medication. The most common culprit of irregularities in the throat are the tonsils, which are susceptible to infection and inflammation, and unfortunately can be the cause of further problems. If necessary, tonsils can be removed by Dr. Davis in a routine procedure called a tonsillectomy. Small benign lesions can be removed in the office by Dr. Davis under local anaesthetic, while larger lesions can be removed by Dr. Davis in a nearby operating room.

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