Throat Pain Causes

There's an easy definition for the throat. It's the muscular tube, which is approximately five inches long, connecting the mouth to the esophagus and windpipe. Air and food both pass through it on the way to the lungs and the stomach. It begins behind the nose and ends in the neck. 

The technical name for throat is pharynx. Disorders related to the throat are called pharyngeal disorders.

There are a number of possible causes for throat pain.

Nearly everyone has had a sore throat, which is usually caused by a viral infection. But it can also be caused by allergies or streptococcus bacteria (commonly known as strep). The medical name for a common sore throat is pharyngitis.

Strep throat is a form of sore throat caused by a bacteria known as Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A streptococcus.

A sore throat can also result when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This condition is known as gastric reflux or acid reflux. When acid reflux becomes chronic, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Other throat problems include:

• Tonsillitis, which is an infection of the tonsils which may result from a number of causes.
• Throat cancer, which occurs when cancerous tumors develop in the throat or voice box.
• Laryngitis, which has a number of causes, including throat infections or excessive yelling or strain from talking too long.

Most throat problems are minor and go away on their own. Treatments, when needed, depend on the problem.