Is a Lump in Throat a Symptom of COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a viral illness that has a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms impact the upper respiratory tract, which includes your nose, throat, and upper airways.

You may be wondering if the feeling of a lump in your throat could mean that you have COVID-19. The short answer is probably no, unless you have other common COVID-19 symptoms like fever, cough, or fatigue.

In this article, we discuss why having a lump in the throat by itself is not generally an indicator of COVID-19, the more common causes of this sensation, and some steps you can take to ease the feeling.

Why a lump in the throat is probably not an indicator of COVID-19

A lump in the throat is a feeling of fullness in the throat. It’s not painful and an examination reveals no actual object in the throat. The medical term for a lump in the throat is globus sensation or globus pharyngeus.

Feeling a lump in your throat is relatively common. In fact, this sensation accounts for about 4 percent of new visits to ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors.

A lump in the throat and COVID-19

Generally speaking, having a lump in your throat is probably not a symptom of COVID-19 unless it’s happening along with other COVID-19 symptoms.

Three of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• fever
• cough
• fatigue

Additional COVID-19 symptoms that are reported with a lower frequency include:

• shortness of breath
• body aches and pains
• chills
• headache
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• loss of smell and taste
• digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

A lump in the throat has been reported in a very small number of people with COVID-19. These findings were discussed in a study of ENT symptoms in 116 people with confirmed COVID-19.

Researchers found that sore throat was the most common throat-related symptom. It was found in 38 (32.7 percent) of participants. A lump in the throat was reported in only 16 participants (13.7 percent).

What might cause a lump in the throat?

The exact cause of a lump in the throat is unknown. However, there are a variety of conditions that it’s been linked to. Some examples include:

1. Acid reflux

Acid reflux is a condition in which stomach acid travels up the esophagus and into the throat. This acid can irritate the lining of the throat, leading to inflammation and a feeling of a lump in the throat.

2. Tension or spasms of throat muscles

The muscles of your throat typically function in a coordinated manner. Having tension or spasms in these muscles or uncoordinated swallowing may lead to sensations like a lump in the throat.

3. Stress or anxiety

Many times, the sensation of a lump in the throat reportedly worsens in times of increased stress or anxiety. This is because it can cause tension in the throat muscles.

4. Sinusitis with post-nasal drip

Sinusitis or a viral upper respiratory illness (a common cold) can cause post-nasal drip, which is when nasal mucus drips down the back of your throat. As this happens, it may lead to a feeling that you have a lump in your throat.

5. Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is a condition in which your tonsils become swollen. This may make you feel as if something is in your throat.

6. Goiter

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland and can occur in people with thyroid disease. A goiter may push against your throat, leading to a feeling of fullness in the area.

7. Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia is when the top part of your stomach bulges up through an opening in your diaphragm. One of the main symptoms of a hiatal hernia is acid reflux, a potential cause of a lump in the throat.

8. Cervical osteophytes

Cervical osteophytes are bone spurs in the neck vertebrae. It’s possible that in some cases these can cause a feeling of pressure or throat fullness.

9. Rare types of cancer

Although very uncommon, some rare head or neck cancers can cause the sensation of having a lump in your throat.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/lump-in-throat-covid

If you experience a lump in your throat immediately book an online ENT appointment with Qural: https://www.qural.app/ent-tele-consultation/.

Remember - earlier the diagnosis, faster the cure.