Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Control and Treatment of Sore Throat
• Method 2 of 2: Recognizing and Treating Esophageal Ulcers

Sores in the throat often make you feel like a lump and cause pain when swallowing. Despite the obvious discomfort, they are quite treatable! Ulcers can result from trauma, bacterial, fungal, or viral infections, or cancer medications. It is important that the doctor correctly identifies the cause of the ulcers and selects the right treatment for you. After the examination, the doctor may prescribe medications to treat the ulcer and reduce pain. Treatment for sore throat will depend on the cause.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Control and Treatment of Sore Throat

1. 1 Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Buy an anti-inflammatory drug like paracetamol. Follow the directions for use and tell your doctor you are taking over-the-counter pain relievers to learn about possible interactions with other medications you are taking.
   • Over-the-counter pain relievers can help you manage the pain of ulcers early.
2. 2 Gargle with warm saline. To relieve ulcer pain and discomfort, make a saline solution with 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda, 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt, and 4 cups (960 ml) warm water. Swish out your mouth for at least 30 seconds and then spit it out.
   • Gargle as often as you like. For example, if you have multiple ulcers and they are very sore, gargle every 1 to 2 hours.
3. 3 Change your diet to include foods that are soft and not spicy. This will prevent further irritation and worsening of the ulcers. Instead of crispy foods that can scratch your throat or spicy foods that can irritate you, choose soft foods that are easy to swallow. Try soups, milkshakes, fruit smoothies, or soft-boiled eggs.
   • If your ulcers are sensitive to high temperatures, do not eat hot foods, but rather warm or cold foods.
4. 4 Don't drink hot drinks. Hot drinks can irritate the ulcer, making the pain worse and slowing down the healing process. Instead, opt for warm drinks to help relieve pain.
   • For example, instead of coffee, start your morning with a warm cup of tea.
5. 5 Stay away from caffeine and other irritating foods. Unfortunately, caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, citrus fruits, and hot spices can make the ulcer worse. However, this can be avoided simply by avoiding these foods until the ulcer has healed.Wait for your throat to heal completely before putting these foods back into your diet to avoid aggravating the ulcer.
6. 6 Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day. If your ulcer has bad breath, or if the ulcer is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, spend more time brushing your teeth. Remember to brush your tongue to remove bacteria trapped between the taste buds.
   • If bad breath bothers you, brush your teeth more than twice a day.
7. 7 Stop smoking and drinking. To prevent sore throat inflammation and irritation, start smoking or chewing less tobacco, or quit this bad habit altogether. Alcohol also irritates the sensitive throat.
   • If you do not want to completely quit smoking, stop smoking at least temporarily until the ulcer heals.
8. 8 Recognize the symptoms of throat cancer. Since there are several reasons for a sore throat, you may experience different symptoms. If you have a sore throat or symptoms of another medical condition, you may feel like you have a lump in your throat or like you need to cough up to clear your throat. You may also experience the following symptoms:
   • an open wound or multiple wounds on a soft and hard palate;
   • a sore throat;
   • discomfort while eating or drinking;
   • fever or chills;
   • joint pain;
   • difficulty swallowing or eating food;
   • heartburn or chest pain;
   • bad breath;
   • nausea or vomiting.
9. 9 Get a medical check-up. If you do not feel better after 1–2 days, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will examine and pay special attention to your throat. He will likely take a throat swab to check for bacteria, and will also direct you for blood and urine tests. The doctor may also do imaging tests to check for sores in the throat.
   • It is very important that you get medical attention, as throat ulcers can be caused by another medical condition that needs treatment.
10. 10 Ask your doctor about the possible causes of ulcers. Talk to your doctor about your medical history so that he can accurately diagnose the cause of the sore throat. With the correct diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe an effective course of treatment. Possible causes of sore throat include:
    • gastroesophageal reflux;
    • injury;
    • swallowing a corrosive substance;
    • excessive vomiting;
    • cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy;
    • bacterial infection;
    • a fungal infection, such as oral candidiasis;
    • viral infection;
    • herpes simplex virus;
    • HIV;
    • inflammatory diseases;
    • severe cough or overexertion of the voice.
11. 11 Take your prescription drugs. The course of treatment will depend on the cause of the ulcers. For example, if the ulcers are caused by a viral infection, your doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs for you. You will receive antibiotics or antifungal agents to treat a bacterial or fungal infection.
    • If the ulcers are caused by cancer treatment, your doctor will advise you to change your diet and talk about how to properly manage your oral health. For example, you may need to brush your teeth and tongue 3-4 times a day and stop eating spicy foods.
12. 12 Use a pain relieving mouthwash. Ask your doctor for a prescription for a mouthwash that contains a local anesthetic such as lidocaine. It will relieve pain and numbness in the throat. Some prescription mouthwashes can reduce inflammation by speeding up the healing process.
    • Use mouthwash exactly as directed, as some lidocaine products require you to rinse your throat first and then swallow them.

Method 2 of 2: Recognizing and Treating Esophageal Ulcers

1. 1 Recognize the symptoms of an esophageal ulcer. Pay attention to pain that occurs when swallowing or pain near the chest. In addition to heartburn, symptoms of an esophageal ulcer also include:
   • nausea and vomiting;
   • abdominal pain;
   • weight loss;
   • vomiting of blood.
2. 2 Get tests to diagnose an esophageal ulcer. If you have any signs of an esophageal ulcer, see your doctor for a check-up. The doctor will do several tests and examine the inside of the esophagus. He will also take a blood sample from you to determine if you have an esophageal infection.
   • To examine the esophagus, your doctor will refer you for an x-ray or an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. During an endoscopy, your doctor will insert a thin tube with a camera into your esophagus and look for ulcers.
3. 3 Take medications to treat acid reflux or an infection that is causing the ulcers. If your esophageal ulcer was caused by an infection, you will need to take prescription antibiotics. If the ulcer is caused by acid reflux, talk to your doctor about ways to control gastric acid production. Your doctor may recommend the following:
   • proton pump inhibitors;
   • antacids;
   • blockers of H2-histamine receptors.
4. 4 Return to your doctor for a follow-up examination in a few weeks. It will take several weeks before medications can treat the cause of the esophageal ulcer. After a few weeks or months, you will need to see your doctor again to make sure the ulcer is gone.
   • The doctor may do another endoscopy of the upper digestive tract to look at the site of the ulcer.
5. 5 Give up alcohol and quit smoking. They can inflame and irritate the ulcer as it heals. If you do not want to give up cigarettes completely, stop smoking until the ulcer is completely healed.
   • Smoking and drinking alcohol can slow the healing of the ulcer.
6. 6 Keep a food diary to avoid foods that cause acid reflux. If your esophageal ulcer was caused by overproduction of stomach acid, look for foods that make you feel heartburn or nauseous. Try to limit your intake of these foods so that you do not develop new ulcers and exacerbate existing ones:
   • spicy food;
   • fried food;
   • caffeine;
   • tomatoes, onions and garlic;
   • citrus;
   • mint.
7. 7 Change your eating habits to prevent acid reflux. Eat a balanced diet of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables while you recover from your esophageal ulcer. To prevent acid reflux from leading to a new ulcer, start eating more slowly and do not lie down for at least 3 hours after eating.
   • You may find it easier to eat several smaller servings throughout the day instead of three large meals.