Hi doctor, I am a 39 year old female. I used to smoke one pack a day for 19 years, but quit cigarettes three months ago. 10 days ago, I had ear and throat pain on the left side. My lymph node was swollen only on the left side. I went to my GP who prescribed me Amoxicillin 1000 mg two times per day for 10 days, and ear drops because my ear was red. Also, I have a red line on my throat (please see the picture). However, now, 10 days later, I still have the ear and throat pain as well as the lymph node pain, and this red line does not go away. I have no bleeding from my throat. Can you please tell me what this could be? Since I was a smoker, what is the risk of throat cancer? Also, I want to mention that my tonsils were removed 30 years ago.
Hello. Looking at the photo you have sent (attachment removed to protect patient identity), it is very clear that you do not have any lesions in the throat which cause a suspicion of malignancy (cancer) to arise. The reddish line you are looking at is nothing but the dilation of blood vessels which is clinically known as congestion and it is always seen in a throat infection. You seem to have suffered from acute pharyngitis which is a common type of throat infection wherein the symptoms would be throat pain, referred ear pain and sometimes reactive lymph node enlargement in the throat. There is also a chance that you might have developed an ulcer in the area of the tonsils (which is removed already in your case), which also causes persistent unilateral throat pain. You can gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash for a few days and continue taking over-the-counter analgesics till your pain subsides. A ten-day history of throat pain with a lymph node enlargement is usually inflammatory and not a sign or symptom of malignancy. So, you need not worry about throat cancer unless there is an ulcerative (non-healing) lesion lasting for a few months without resolution even after treatment. For more information consult an ENT otolaryngologist online -->