OpenHealth Q&A

Discomfort in Throat, Ears, and Teeth

At 17, I am assigned female at birth and for the last three days, I’ve been experiencing significant throat pain that has intensified over the past two days, affecting my ears as well. There is also mild discomfort in my jaw and teeth, likely due to the severity of the throat issue. About a fortnight ago, my father contracted influenza and subsequently transmitted it to my mother. Three days ago, my sibling and I began showing symptoms, albeit with some variations. I haven’t been sneezing, but I have been coughing up small amounts of phlegm, which has hardened pieces within it. This morning, I woke up feeling slightly congested, but that is the extent of my nasal issues. I did notice a hint of brownish-red in the phlegm when I spat, which followed a deep breath and originated from my nose, where I often find dried blood (this has been an ongoing issue for a year, but it hasn’t bothered me enough to discuss with anyone). Currently, I do not have a fever; my typical temperature ranges from 95-97°F, and I measured at 96.2°F. However, I am waking up soaking in sweat and feel unusually warm most of the time. Using my throat in any way causes discomfort, especially when I swallow. The only exception was a smoothie I had for breakfast yesterday, which felt somewhat soothing. The ear discomfort is particularly pronounced when I try to swallow or speak. Since falling ill, I’ve noticed I’m burping quite a bit, although I don’t feel nauseous at all. The ear pain has not affected my hearing perceptibly, but since my hearing isn’t the best, it’s possible it’s impacting my self-perception of volume without my awareness. Throat numbing sprays haven’t provided much relief and only work for a brief period. My mother checked my throat and noted mild swelling of my tonsils, but no pus was present. She mentioned that if I had tonsillitis, it would show signs of pus (she has experienced this condition in the past). I haven't stepped outside my home in approximately 5-7 weeks due to agoraphobia, but I usually try to push myself to go out at least once a month. Each night, I take 200 mg of an over-the-counter sleep aid (not melatonin) and nearly take a multivitamin and vitamin D daily. When my dad fell ill, he lost his voice, and my sibling seems to be experiencing similar vocal issues to a lesser extent. My mother informed me that someone at her workplace was sick and could have potentially been the source of her illness. She started exhibiting symptoms about 2-3 days after my dad did. I’ve taken DayQuil and NyQuil; while NyQuil has alleviated some ear pain, my throat still aches. Additionally, I believe it might be relevant to mention that I started my period on March 26 and have been on birth control, which I discontinued three days ago. I was using Opill, and the only time I felt nauseous was before I got sick, which subsided after I stopped taking my birth control. Apologies for the lengthy sentences; I’ve been trying to include everything as it comes to mind.

Answers (1)

4/1/2025, 1:31:03 PM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you're experiencing a significant amount of discomfort related to your throat, ears, and teeth, possibly as a result of viral infections in your household. Let’s break down your symptoms and provide some steps to help manage your situation.

Main Points

1. Your throat pain and ear discomfort may be part of a viral infection, potentially exacerbated by your history of nosebleeds and recent stressors.
2. Mucus changes and throat irritation are common during viral illnesses, but the presence of brownish-red phlegm, particularly if it’s new, should be monitored.
3. There are manageable self-care strategies you can utilize right away.

Explanation

Given your symptoms and the context of recent respiratory illness in your family, it's likely you’re experiencing viral pharyngitis or tonsillitis—common throat infections. The discomfort in your ears can be due to referred pain from throat inflammation, and the throat irritation might be causing increased mucus production, leading to the phlegm you've described.

Your temperature is a bit lower than average, but the sweating you’re experiencing could indicate your body is fighting something off. The fact that there is no pus on your tonsils is a good sign, suggesting the infection may not be bacterial—it’s usually bacteria that lead to pus formation in cases of tonsillitis.

Next Steps

1. Hydration and Diet: Ensure you stay well-hydrated. Warm liquids like herbal tea or soup (which you found soothing) can help ease throat discomfort. Avoid acidic, spicy, or very hot foods that could irritate your throat.

2. Pain Relief: Continue using over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen as directed to help alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. This may also help with ear discomfort.

3. Humidity: Using a humidifier in your room can help soothe dryness in your throat and nose, which may lessen discomfort and prevent further irritation.

4. Monitoring Symptoms: Keep an eye on your symptoms over the next few days. If the blood in your phlegm increases, or if you develop a fever, significant swelling, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, these could be signs to seek further help sooner.

5. Ear Hygiene & Care: If your ear discomfort worsens, consider gentle ear drops or warm compresses around the ear area, but avoid inserting anything into your ear canals.

6. Reassess Menstrual Symptoms: Since you’ve recently stopped birth control, monitor any changes in your menstrual cycle or symptoms of discomfort that may arise, as hormonal fluctuations can impact overall health.

7. Follow-Up: Consider keeping a symptom diary to track any changes, as this can aid in discussions with a healthcare professional should you need further evaluation.

Taking care of yourself during this time is key. Rest, hydration, and gentle care will be your best approach! Please reach out if symptoms worsen or if new concerns arise. I'm here to help!