Ear, Nose & Throat 5 Reasons Why Your Throat May Be Burning Get relief from this unpleasant sensation By Sharon Gillson Sharon Gillson is a writer living with and covering GERD and other digestive issues. Learn about our editorial process Sharon Gillson Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on January 10, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD on January 10, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All GERD Esophagitis Burning Mouth Syndrome Infections Postnasal Drip There's a host of health conditions that may be causing your burning throat. The good news is that it's fairly straightforward for a doctor to tease out the cause, based on your other symptoms and a physical examination. Explore the most common reasons for a burning throat and how your doctor will likely treat it so you get relief. Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell Worried about the new coronavirus? Learn about COVID-19, including symptoms and how it's diagnosed. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease The hallmark symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a burning sensation in the chest known as heartburn. It occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. But sometimes the acid travels so far up the esophagus that it reaches the throat and voice box. When that happens it's called laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Interestingly, half of the people with LPR have what's known as "silent reflux," which means they don't experience heartburn or an upset stomach. Other symptoms of LPR include: Continual throat clearingChronic throat irritationChronic coughHoarsenessExcessive phlegm the throatDifficulty swallowingConstant sensation of something in the throat Unlike with GERD, which occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle in the esophagus relaxes abnormally or weakens, LPR requires two muscles—both the LES and the upper esophageal sphincter—to function improperly. Diagnosis is relatively easy and is usually made based on a physical exam. As with GERD, lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking, limiting or cutting out alcohol and GERD-triggering foods (for example, chocolate, spicy foods, and citrus fruits), and losing weight if you're overweight or obese can help manage and prevent LPR. Sometimes medication like a proton pump inhibitor is needed in addition to lifestyle changes. Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease (GERD) Esophagitis Another condition that may cause burning in your throat is esophagitis, which is inflammation of the esophagus. Not unsurprisingly, a common cause of esophagitis is GERD. When stomach acid is refluxed into the throat, it can cause irritation and inflammation, which usually leads to a burning sensation in the throat, in addition to difficulty swallowing and/or pain with swallowing. Besides GERD, other potential causes of esophagitis include infections, radiation therapy to the neck area, ingestion of certain medications (called pill-induced esophagitis), chemical ingestion (for example, drain cleaners), or food allergies (called eosinophilic esophagitis). Treatment of esophagitis depends on the underlying cause. For example, if a fungal infection is at play, then an antifungal medication is needed. If GERD is the cause, then lifestyle changes and a proton pump inhibitor are generally recommended. Burning Mouth Syndrome Burning mouth syndrome is the medical term for a long-lasting—and sometimes very severe—burning sensation in the tongue, lips, gums, palate, or all over the mouth and throat that has no apparent health-related cause. Someone with burning mouth syndrome may also experience a dry mouth and/or a salty or metallic taste in their mouth. Burning mouth syndrome is a complex problem and requires what's known as a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that other causes of a burning and/or dry mouth must be ruled out first through a physical examination and blood tests. Since the cause of the syndrome often can't be determined, treatment is challenging and focuses on helping to control symptoms. Burning Mouth Syndrome Symptoms and Treatment Viral or Bacterial Infection Everyone has experienced a sore throat, a painful inflammation of the back part of the throat, at some point in their lives, with the most common cause being a virus. In addition to a burning, itchy, or raw throat, especially when swallowing, someone with a viral infection of the throat may also experience a cough, runny nose, hoarseness, and/or diarrhea (in children). Antibiotics don't work against viruses, so treating the symptoms with rest, over-the-counter pain meds, saltwater gargles, and throat lozenges or anesthetic throat sprays is the recommended course of action. Less commonly, the cause of an infection is bacterial, and this is called strep throat. It requires a trip to your doctor for an antibiotic, since if left untreated it can spread and lead to serious complications like rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, and kidney inflammation. Other signs and symptoms of strep throat often include: FeverSwollen and tender lymph nodes in the neckWhite patches on the tonsilsBody aches Postnasal Drip Postnasal drip, also referred to as upper airway cough syndrome, occurs when mucus and fluid from the sinuses and nose drain into your throat. It's usually described as a sensation of something dripping into the throat, and this can be irritating and lead to a burning feeling. A cough is also common as you constantly attempt to clear your throat. There are many different causes of postnasal drip including: AllergiesSinus infectionsViral infections like the common coldAnatomic abnormalities of the nasal and sinus passageOveruse of certain over-the-counter decongestants (called rhinitis medicamentosa) An antihistamine/decongestant medication like Claritin-D, which is a combination of loratadine and pseudophedrine, is often used to treat postnasal drip. Treating the root cause—for example, taking an antibiotic for a bacterial sinus infection—is also essential. Sometimes gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, can mimic or even coexist with upper airway cough syndrome, which makes the diagnosis and treatment a bit more complex. Find Relief for Postnasal Drip A Word From Verywell There are many reasons you may be experiencing a burning throat. While your family doctor or primary care doctor can diagnose most conditions, sometimes you might need to see a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist or an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT). Seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan is important, so you can get back on track to feeling well. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Patel DA, Blanco M, Vaezi MF. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Functional Laryngeal Disorder: Perspective and Common Practice of the General Gastroenterologist. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2018;14(9):512-520. Grossi L, Ciccaglione AF, Marzio L. Esophagitis and its causes: Who is "guilty" when acid is found "not guilty"?. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(17):3011-3016. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i17.3011 Martin JM. The Mysteries of Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Curr Treat Options Pediatr. 2015;1(2):180-189. doi:10.1007/s40746-015-0013-9 Additional Reading Choby BA. Diagnosis and Treatment of Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Mar 1;79(5):383-90. Katz PO, Gerson LB, Vela MF. Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2013;108:308-28. McMillan R, Forssell H, Buchanan JA, Glenny AM, Weldon JC, Zakrzewska JM. Interventions for treating burning mouth syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Nov 18;11:CD002779. Sylvester DC et al. Chronic Cough, Reflux, Postnasal Drip Syndrome, and the Otolaryngologist. Int J Otolaryngol. 2012;2012:564852.