Throat and neck: approach to complaints
Sore throat, hoarseness, stridor, swallowing problems, neck lump, mouth ulcers, snoring and salivary swelling.
12 pages
Approach to a complaint
- Approach to a neck lump in adultsIn an adult, a persistent neck lump is cancer until proven otherwise; it is assessed with a head…
- Approach to globus and throat clearingGlobus is the feeling of a lump in the throat with no real difficulty swallowing; it is benign…
- Approach to hoarsenessHoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks, above all in a smoker, means the vocal folds must be seen…
- Approach to mouth ulcersMost mouth ulcers are aphthous or viral and heal in 1 to 3 weeks; an ulcer that does not heal…
- Approach to salivary gland swellingA swollen salivary gland may be infection, a stone, autoimmune disease or a tumour; the key is…
- Approach to snoring and suspected sleep apnoeaSnoring with breathing pauses, night-time choking or daytime sleepiness suggests obstructive…
- Approach to sore throat: Centor and McIsaacMost sore throats are viral; the Centor and McIsaac scores help decide who needs a test and who…
- Approach to stridorStridor is a high-pitched breathing noise caused by a narrowed upper airway; it can be an…
- Approach to swallowing problems (oropharyngeal dysphagia)Oropharyngeal dysphagia is difficulty starting a swallow; it shows as coughing or choking when…
Topic
- Chronic pharyngitis and other non-acute sore throatsA throat dry, scratchy or irritated for weeks is usually from smoke, reflux or a blocked nose…
- Laryngitis and other laryngeal inflammation: acute, chronic, TB, perichondritis and congenital websMost laryngitis is a viral cold of the voice box that settles in days; hoarseness lasting weeks…
- Voice and speech disorders: muscle tension, spasmodic dysphonia, puberphonia and voice careMany voice problems come from how the voice is used, not from a lesion; they are treated with…
A to Z
Educational content; it does not replace a medical assessment and is not a clinical instruction. For a real case, follow current guidelines and specialist advice.
Representative model, for educational purposes only.