Common Throat Problems in General Practice

Primary Care Knowledge Boost

Doctors Sara and Lisa talk to ENT Consultant Ms Sadie Khwaja about common throat symptoms we encounter in General Practice and get her take on how to assess and manage these. We cover Red Flag symptoms for the neck in detail as well as looking at three cases we commonly encounter; pain on swallowing, globus symptoms and hoarseness. We discuss a useful approach for assessing causes of throat problems, consider the triad of swallowing, breathing and voice difficulties and the importance of feeling for neck lumps amongst other interesting pearls of wisdom.

You can use these podcasts as part of your CPD - we don’t do certificates but they still count :)

Useful resources:

• NICE guidelines for Head and Neck Cancer Referrals: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12/chapter/Recommendations-organised-by-site-of-cancer#head-and-neck-cancers
• Greater Manchester Cancer: Head and Neck Cancer: Homepage: https://gmcancer.org.uk/head-and-neck/
• Greater Manchester Cancer: Head and Neck Cancer: 2 week wait Proforma: https://gmcancer.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/head-and-neck-referral-form.pdf
• EAT-10 Swallowing Screening Tool Score: https://www.exservanhcp.com/assets/dist/pdfs/eat-10-screening-tool.pdf
• Use of proton pump inhibitors to treat persistent throat symptoms: multicentre, double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. BMJ Jan 2021: https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.m4903
• British Voice Association (BVA) resources: https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/free.htm
• British Voice Association (BVA) resources: General Voice Care Advice: https://www.britishvoiceassociation.org.uk/downloads/free-voice-care-literature/Take%20care%20of%20your%20voice.pdf

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This podcast has been made with the support of GP Excellence and Wigan CCG. Given that it is recorded with Greater Manchester clinicians, the information discussed may not be applicable elsewhere and it is important to consult local guidelines before making any treatment decisions.

The information presented is the personal opinion of the healthcare professional interviewed and might not be representative to all clinicians. It is based on their interpretation of current best practice and guidelines when the episode was recorded. Guidelines can change; To the best of our knowledge the information in this episode is up to date as of it’s release but it is the listeners responsibility to review the information and make sure it is still up to date when they listen.

Dr Lisa Adams, Dr Sara MacDermott and their interviewees are not liable for any advice, investigations, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or products listeners might pursue as a result of listening to this podcast - it is the clinicians responsibility to appraise the information given and review local and national guidelines before making treatment decisions. Reliance on information provided in this podcast is solely at the listeners risk.

The podcast is designed to be used by trained healthcare professionals for education only. We do not recommend these for patients or the general public and they are not to be used as a method of diagnosis, opinion, treatment or medical advice for the general public. Do not delay seeking medical advice based on the information contained in this podcast. If you have questions regarding your health or feel you may have a medical condition then promptly seek the opinion of a trained healthcare professional.