Your uvula is the little fleshy hanging ball in the back of your throat. As part of your soft palate, it helps prevent food and liquid from going up your nose when you swallow. It also secretes saliva to keep your mouth hydrated.
Uvulitis usually isn't dangerous, and you'll likely feel better in a couple of days. But it can be scary if your swollen uvula becomes severe. You might feel like there's something stuck in your throat or you may have difficulty breathing.
You can get a swollen uvula from infections including the flu, mononucleosis, croup, and strep throat. Even a common cold can cause your uvula to swell. Depending on the type of your infection, you may have symptoms like: Cough.
A swollen uvula can last anywhere from a few days to a week and a half depending on the cause. However, if you have a swollen uvula, and particularly if you are having trouble breathing, you should seek medical attention.
If you wake up with a swollen uvula, it may be the result of trying a new food that you are allergic to. 4 Other possible reasons may include exposure to an irritant or you may be developing an infection, like a cold.
Gargle with warm salt water once an hour to help reduce swelling and relieve pain. Use 1 teaspoon of salt mixed in 1 cup of warm water. Try an over-the-counter throat spray to relieve throat pain.
Because the uvula hangs at the back of the mouth directly in the airway, swelling can turn into a medical emergency. If you experience shortness of breath or difficulty with swallowing, or if your pain becomes worse or you feel noticeably sicker, seek professional help immediately.
You can use ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling. You can also take OTC allergy medicines to reduce your response to environmental allergens. Talk to our doctor about which medications will help clear up allergies. Muscle strain: it is possible to overwork the muscles in your throat.
Sleeping on an incline can help you breathe easier and help clear mucus, which drip down the back of your throat and cause irritation. Rather than propping yourself up by using pillows, raise the head of your bed.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure that removes or alters tissues of the palate, which includes the uvula and surrounding muscles. People may have uvula removal surgery to treat certain medical conditions , such as sleep apnea or hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE).
If swelling of the uvula is severe and goes untreated, it may cause choking and restrict your breathing.
Sometimes, your uvula may become so swollen that it touches your tongue. Occasionally, this may even trigger your gag reflex. If you experience a swollen uvula, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. By treating the underlying cause of your swollen uvula, they can help you find relief faster.
Sore throat that can start very quickly and may look red. Red and swollen tonsils. White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils. Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae.
If it is caused by an infection, your doctor may give you an antibiotic. Your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine or a steroid medicine if uvulitis is caused by an allergy. It may also go away without treatment. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
A swollen uvula , also known as uvulitis, occurs when the uvula (the bell-shaped organ hanging from your soft palate at the back of the mouth) becomes inflamed. This can happen because of an infection, allergic reaction, irritation, or illness. Uvulitis can usually be treated with at-home remedies or medication.
Cold foods like ice cream “can be particularly good because they help soothe the sore throat and may even reduce the inflammation,” Dr. Favini says. Just remember not to go too buck wild with the sugar.
Cold foods such as ice cream help soothe sore throats and reduce inflammation. Again, stick to a single scoop, as too much sugar may inhibit the immune system's effectiveness.
The uvula is a fleshy, soft tissue in the middle of the soft palate that hangs down in the back of the throat in front of the tonsils, resembling an oval or teardrop shape (see Figure 1).
It's a side effect of medication
Zalvan, but some medications can cause them more often, such as ACE inhibitors (a blood pressure medication). “As part of the reaction, the uvula and other throat structures swell,” he says.
A normal uvula is about a centimeter in length and hangs free in the oral cavity when the mouth is open and the organ relaxed. No part of it should touch the tongue. On contraction, its mucosa should fold up upon itself so that it shows as a deep and thick- ened indentation between the pillars of the fauces.