Blisters in Throat

Did You Know?
As salt acts as a natural antiseptic, gargling with salt water can work wonders to lessen throat pain.

Blisters are small fluid filled lumps that are usually seen on the uppermost layer of the skin. Surprisingly, blisters appearing inside the body is something we haven't heard of, right?

However, blisters in throat is common and often associated with a viral infection. Overexposure to dust and other air pollutants can also irritate the throat and eventually lead to formation of blisters. Throat discomfort, fever, fatigue, and trouble swallowing are some of the most common symptoms of blisters in throat.

This is a throat condition that gives a feeling of scratchy throat. In this condition, a part of the throat becomes inflamed, making it difficult to swallow food. When a particular virus, known as Coxsackie invades the throat, it can lead to formation of blisters on the tonsils.

The blisters generally appear a few days after the virus affects the throat. The influenza virus and the rhinovirus that cause common cold can also cause sore throat, which may lead to throat blisters.

Caused by streptococcal strains of bacteria, strep throat is characterized by swollen tonsils and tiny red blisters at the back of the throat. Apart from throat pain, strep throat also causes fever, headache, and inflammation of lymph nodes in the neck area.

Small white patches may also be visible on the tonsils, indicating formation of pus. This throat infection cannot be ignored as untreated strep throat may worsen and cause rheumatic fever and even damage the kidneys.

It is an infection that erupts due to invasion of herpes simplex virus. In oral herpes, the virus invades the lips and triggers the formation of blisters. However, these fluid filled blisters are not restricted on the lips and can also be seen on the tongue and inside the throat.

Also, referred to as throat herpes, the infection can be quite painful as blisters burst over time and form sores (open wounds). When oral herpes reach the throat, pain while swallowing is bound to occur. Generally, people having a weak immune system or treated with chemotherapy are affected with throat herpes.

Many times, people want to have a morsel of a particular dish that is just prepared and hot. Completely unaware of its temperature, people take a bite.

Sensing how hot the morsel of food is, one may swallow it immediately to prevent the tongue from getting damaged. However, pushing hot food and fluids down the throat is likely to cause irritation and lead to formation of blisters in the throat.

Although most cases of blisters in throat arise from germ-causing infections, the habit of breathing through mouth is sometimes responsible for causing sore throat. If you prefer to breathe through mouth, especially in winter, dry air is pushed down the throat while inhaling.

This can eventually dry the mucus membranes lining the throat and cause irritation. Thus, mouth breathing causes dry throat, making it susceptible to infections.

Outdoor air pollutants can exacerbate symptoms of throat blisters and prolong healing. So, staying indoors and taking rest as much as possible is the first step towards getting rid of this throat condition.

In order to alleviate throat pain, use of painkillers is the best option. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the commonly prescribed medications to relieve the pain. In case, the herpes simplex virus is the culprit behind blisters on throat, antiviral medications such as Valtrex or Zovirax are administered to get rid of infection.

Using a medicated mouthwash that helps to reduce the pain is yet another way to manage this throat infection. In case of bacterial throat infection, antibiotics are the first line of treatment. Antibiotics belonging to the penicillin group such as amoxicillin help to relieve the symptoms and lower the chances of spreading the infection to another person.

Unhealthy habits like smoking can impair the healing process, so if you are a smoker, make sure you stay away from cigarettes as long as the infection does not go away.

In fact, quitting smoking can substantially minimize the risk of recurrence of throat blisters. Staying in a clean environment and ensuring good quality indoor air can also work wonders to speed up healing of blisters in throat.

Inadequate water consumption can make it more difficult to deal with dry and sore throat. So, increase your water intake to soothe pain associated with throat blisters. This kind of hydrotherapy also helps the body to flush off infectious agents through urine, in turn providing relief and reducing the stay of infection.

Dirty hands harbor harmful viruses and bacteria. Hence, you got to clean your hands with medicated soaps. This is a simple way to control and keep any sort of throat infections at bay.

Taking few spoons of honey everyday can also help to ease the infection. Honey is found to be an excellent antiseptic and displays antibacterial activity. So, consuming honey may benefit to clear away the blisters that are caused due to strep throat.

Dry air in your living room can further irritate a sore throat. Breathing moist air is one of the best ways to relieve a sore throat. This can be always achieved by installing a cool-mist humidifier that helps to moisten the surrounding air.

Eating hard foods such as toast or raw vegetables is certainly not feasible and can make matters worse. As throat blisters cause difficulty swallowing, focus should be on eating soft foods such as cooked cereals, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. The doctor may recommend a bland diet so that it becomes easier to swallow food.

Refrigerated dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream may also provide relief from throat discomfort. Spicy hot foods as well as highly acidic foodstuffs need to be discarded from the diet as they can also irritate the throat and aggravate the discomfort.

Garlic is a natural antiviral agent and moreover it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. So, adding crushed garlic cloves to your bland diet can also work to reduce the severity of throat infections.

Nasal passages contain special cells that moisten the inhaled air, before passing through the throat. Hence, nose breathing is often a better option when it comes to keeping the throat moist and healthy.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.