Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders What Causes a Swollen Uvula? By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD on June 16, 2020 facebook linkedin Benjamin F. Asher, MD, FACS, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For 30 years, he has worked at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Benjamin F. Asher, MD on June 16, 2020 Print You can experience a swollen uvula, also known as uvulitis, as a result of your body's inflammatory response. Your uvula is a bell-shaped organ that hangs from your soft palate, or the back of the roof of the mouth. The uvula plays a role in speech and is capable of producing saliva, being composed of several types of tissue, including both muscular and glandular. The uvula also contributes to the sounds made when a person snores. The purpose of the uvula is not well understood, though some researchers believe it is a marker of human evolution. Some believe that it protects you while drinking with head down and body in a bent position. Others believe that it was an adaptive mechanism to protect ancient humans from insects flying into their mouths while running. Symptoms A swollen uvula, which is an uncommon disorder, may cause a variety of symptoms based upon the inflammation at and around the uvula. Symptoms associated with a swollen uvula may include: FeverDifficulty swallowingDifficulty breathingSnoringDifficulty talkingPainGaggingDrooling Swelling of the uvula without inflammation of other tissues and structures around the uvula is very rare. A swollen uvula may play a role in obstructive sleep apnea. Some individuals with sleep apnea undergo surgery to have the uvula removed, called uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or uvulectomy. This surgery is often combined with a base of tongue procedure or a procedure to pull the tongue forward to increase its efficacy. Understanding Uvulectomies Causes A swollen uvula may also be caused by the following conditions. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell Infections Infections of the throat may cause other tissues, and subsequently the uvula, to swell. These infections can be bacterial or viral, and may include: Strep throat: Usually the case if you have pharyngitisMononucleosis: Causing disorders like tonsillitisInfluenza: Usually the case if only your uvula is swollenEpiglottitis: Rare, but is a medical emergency Epiglottitis is a rare and dangerous condition that was far more likely in children than adults before the Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) vaccine was routinely given to infants. In epiglottitis, the infection leads to swelling of the epiglottis (a small flap of tissue attached to the end of the tongue) and surrounding structures, and can rapidly lead to breathing problems. If your doctor suspects epiglottitis, they will not swab your throat because that could lead to loss of the airway. Instead, you'll be sent to the emergency room immediately to ensure that they can protect your airway and place a breathing tube if needed. If you are able to tolerate a computerized tomography (CT) scan, they may perform this to help diagnose epiglottitis. In order to determine how to treat your swollen uvula when epiglottitis is not suspected, your doctor will swab your uvula and send the sample for culture. If the cause is bacterial, then your doctor can treat you with antibiotics. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and vaccination status (in children), your doctor may either prescribe oral antibiotics or IV antibiotics. If the culture is negative, then the cause is likely viral and antibiotics will not help. Allergic Reactions Allergic reactions may cause swelling (edema) of the mouth and throat, including swelling of the uvula. This can be a sign of an anaphylactic reaction, which is an emergency. Individuals who experience rapid swelling of the mouth and throat should go to the nearest emergency room to get a shot of epinephrine. Some individuals who have experienced this kind of allergic reaction may carry epinephrine with them. You may also be treated with an inhaled version of epinephrine called racemic epinephrine. Anaphylaxis Hereditary Angioneurotic Edema Hereditary angioneurotic edema, or HANE, is a rare genetic disorder caused by a gene mutation. The condition causes attacks in which swelling in different areas of the body, including the uvula, can occur. The swelling will differentiate from many other causes of a swollen uvula, because your uvula will not be erythematous (red), but will be white and swollen like a grape. Most people with this disorder experience their first attack during childhood. Trauma Injuries to the uvula may cause it to swell, although, as you may imagine, trauma to the uvula is not very common. It's possible to burn your uvula by eating hot food, and the uvula can also be damaged as the result of some medical procedures, such as inserting a breathing tube (intubation). Complications from intubation are rare. Generally, in the case of trauma, sucking on ice chips or using local anesthetics will help manage your symptoms. Genetic Conditions Certain genetic conditions may cause abnormalities of the uvula. Cleft lip/palate is a condition that affects the roof of the mouth (palate), causing the uvula to be absent or have other abnormalities. It's also possible to inherit an elongated uvula; an enlarged or elongated uvula that's inherited is not truly the same as a swollen uvula, though it can cause similar symptoms. If symptoms are troublesome, the uvula may have to be surgically removed. Treatment Treatment of a swollen uvula will vary based on the causes discussed above. Infectious causes: Treatment with antibiotics if bacterialNoninfectious causes: Treatment of symptoms of sore throat by using throat lozenges, sucking or chewing on ice chips, or using topical anesthetics like lidocaineBreathing difficulties: Epinephrine shot or inhaled epinephrine, IV steroids, and IV antihistamines Oral steroids may also be prescribed as a treatment for a swollen uvula of infectious or non-infectious etiology. With proper treatment, you'll usually recover from a swollen uvula without any long-lasting effects. Minor swelling of the uvula may go away on its own without medical treatment. A Word From Verywell If you are experiencing an uncomplicated case of a swollen uvula, drinking cold fluids or sucking/eating ice chips may ease your pain and help the swelling to go down. But if the uvula swells so much that you can't swallow or talk, or you have difficulty breathing, you should go to the nearest emergency room. Swelling can be treated with medications that will be based on the cause and severity of your swollen uvula. 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. Finkelstein Y, Meshorer A, Talmi Y, Zohar Y, Brenner J, Gal R. The Riddle of the Uvula. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 1992;107(3):444-450. doi:10.1177/019459989210700318 Lathadevi HT, Karadi RN, Thobbi RV, Guggarigoudar SP, Kulkarni NH. Isolated uvulitis: An uncommon but not a rare clinical entity. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005;57(2):139-40. Chang E, Baik G, Torre C, Brietzke S, Camacho M. The relationship of the uvula with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review. Sleep and Breathing. 2018;22(4):955-961. doi:10.1007/s11325-018-1651-5 Guerra, AM, M. Waseem. Epiglottitis. StatPearls Publishing. Updated November 15, 2018. Arnold JJ, Williams PM. Anaphylaxis: recognition and management. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(10):1111-8. Frank M, Zuraw B, Banerji A et al. Management of Children With Hereditary Angioedema Due to C1 Inhibitor Deficiency. Pediatrics. 2016;138(5):e20160575. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-0575 Ziahosseini K, Ali S, Simo R, Malhotra R. Uvulitis following general anaesthesia. Case Reports. 2014;2014(sep23 1):bcr2014205038-bcr2014205038. doi:10.1136/bcr-2014-205038 Additional Reading Woods, CR. Clinical Features and Treatment of Uvulitis. http://www.uptodate.com (Subscription Required). Updated December 29, 2015.