Top Reasons Why Your Throat Burns: Causes and Solutions Explained

A burning throat is commonly caused by acid reflux, a sore throat from infection, or irritants. See a doctor if it lasts more than a week.

Common causes

• Acid reflux (GERD) or heartburn.
• Sore throat from viral or bacterial infection.
• Postnasal drip.
• Irritants: smoke, alcohol, spicy food.
• Dry air and allergies.
• Tonsillitis.
• Thrush.
• Voice overuse.

Home care

Warm fluids, honey, salt water gargles, lozenges and antacids if reflux.

Avoid

Smoking, alcohol and acidic foods.

See a doctor if

Burning lasts over 2 weeks, with trouble swallowing, hoarseness, weight loss or blood.

Emergency

Trouble breathing or swallowing needs urgent care.

Reflux

Eat smaller meals, avoid lying down within 3 hours of eating.

Common causes

A burning throat is usually from inflammation or irritation of the throat lining.

• Viral infections like colds, flu and COVID-19, the most common cause.
• Strep throat and tonsillitis, which are bacterial. Strep causes about 10% of adult sore throats and 25% of child cases.
• Acid reflux (GERD and LPR): stomach acid reaches the throat, causing burning, a sour taste, hoarseness and a feeling of a lump.
• Allergies and postnasal drip.
• Dry air, smoke, pollution and chemical fumes.
• Spicy food, hot drinks and alcohol.
• Voice overuse.
• Oral thrush and esophagitis.
• Infections like mononucleosis.
• Thyroid inflammation.
• Cancer, rarely, usually with persistent symptoms.

Home care

• Drink warm fluids, such as tea with honey, broth or water.
• Gargle with salt water, half a teaspoon in a cup of warm water.
• Rest your voice.
• Use a humidifier.
• Suck on lozenges or ice chips.
• Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Raise the head of the bed if reflux is the cause.
• Eat smaller meals and avoid eating within 3 hours of bedtime.

Avoid

Avoid smoking, alcohol, acidic or spicy food, very hot drinks and shouting. Do not give honey to babies under one year.

See a doctor if

The burning lasts more than a week, comes with fever over 101 F, white patches on the tonsils, swollen glands, a rash, hoarseness for more than two weeks, difficulty swallowing, or blood in saliva or sputum. A doctor can do a rapid strep test, which gives results in 10 minutes. Strep requires antibiotics to avoid complications like rheumatic fever.

Emergency

Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, drooling or inability to swallow, severe swelling of the throat or tongue, a muffled voice, or a high fever with a stiff neck.

Reflux

Acid reflux affects about 20% of Americans. Lifestyle changes, over-the-counter antacids and proton pump inhibitors can help. Burning in the throat that occurs without heartburn is called silent reflux (laryngopharyngeal reflux). Smoking and obesity make it worse.

Reflux and infection statistics

A burning throat is common with acid reflux, which affects about 20 percent of US adults weekly. In laryngopharyngeal reflux, stomach acid reaches the throat and causes burning, hoarseness and a feeling of a lump. Sore throats from viruses are the most frequent cause, with strep throat causing about 5 to 15 percent of adult cases. Allergies, postnasal drip, smoking, spicy foods, alcohol, thrush and tonsillitis may contribute. Home care includes warm saltwater gargles, lozenges, honey, hydration and avoiding irritants. Elevate the head of the bed by 6 to 8 inches and avoid eating within 3 hours of lying down for reflux. Persistent burning for over 2 weeks, trouble swallowing, unintended weight loss, coughing blood or a neck lump should be checked. Emergency symptoms include severe difficulty breathing, drooling, a muffled voice or inability to swallow saliva.

Based on data from the American College of Gastroenterology and the CDC