Why does my throat itch and my ears itch as well?

In daily life, some people always have itchy throats and itchy ears, which makes people very upset. They can only drink water or swallow to relieve the symptoms, which makes people very distressed. So what is going on when your throat and ears also itch? In fact, this is a symptom of chronic pharyngitis.

Chronic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, which is more common in middle-aged people and is a very common disease. This disease may be caused by repeated attacks of acute pharyngitis, and in many people it is caused by long-term stimulation from smoking and drinking. In addition, chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, anemia, indigestion, liver disease, kidney disease, and some occupational factors (such as teachers or singers and people working in unclean environments) are also often related to this disease.

[Clinical manifestations]

Discomfort or foreign body sensation in the throat, dryness, itching, burning, slight pain, feeling of something sticking, irritation, etc. The above feelings often lead to short and frequent coughing, which is more severe in the morning and can easily cause nausea. The above symptoms can be aggravated by excessive use of the voice, sudden climate changes, inhalation of dry and cold air, and after smoking and drinking.

[diagnosis]

1. Throat pain, dry throat, itchy throat, foreign body sensation in the throat. Examination may reveal chronic congestion of the pharyngeal mucosa, dryness of the posterior pharyngeal wall or hyperplasia of lymph follicles, and hypertrophy of the lateral pharyngeal cords.

2. Identification

(1) Differentiation from chronic tonsillitis: Chronic pharyngitis and chronic tonsillitis often coexist, but when chronic tonsillitis is the main manifestation, it is often accompanied by submandibular lymph node enlargement, while chronic pharyngitis is characterized by hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles on the posterior pharyngeal wall.

(2) Differentiation from early esophageal cancer: In the early stages of esophageal cancer, there is no dysphagia, but there is often discomfort in the throat or a feeling of pressure behind the sternum. At this time, an esophagoscopy or esophageal barium meal radiography can be performed to differentiate the cancer.

[treat]

The treatment of chronic pharyngitis will not be cured in a short time. In addition to local and systemic treatments, gargling with warm, light salt water before bed and after meals has a good maintenance effect on the pharyngeal mucosa. If it is not an acute attack, do not abuse antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. If necessary, they should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

1. General treatment

(1) External medication treatment: Apply 2% to 5% silver nitrate to the throat once a day, 2 to 3 times a week. It has anti-inflammatory and astringent effects. You can also use Chinese medicine pearl layer powder and Shuangliao Houfeng powder, spray a small amount evenly on the throat, 2 to 3 times a day.

(2) Cryoablation or electrocautery: For large lymph follicles proliferating on the posterior pharyngeal wall, cryoablation or electrocautery can be performed to shrink or eliminate them, thus reducing irritation to the pharynx.

(3) Nebulizer therapy: Use 30 grams of Adenophora Root, 15 grams of Ophiopogon japonicus, 10 grams of Platycodon grandiflorum, and 10 grams of raw licorice, add 500 milliliters of water, and boil until 300 milliliters remain. Filter out the residue and take the liquid for nebulization (put it into a nebulizer). Use 30 milliliters of the drug each time.