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Uvulite

Author: Alexey Portnov, family doctor
Date created: 08.12.2011
Last reviewed: 27.10.2025

Uvulitis is an acute inflammation of the uvula with sudden onset, pain when swallowing, a sensation of a floating foreign body in the pharynx and difficulty breathing.

Causes uvulita

The cause of uvulitis is associated with a violation of the integrity of the venous plexus located in the uvula, in particular due to a rupture of a vessel in the uvula and infection of the resulting hematoma with opportunistic microbiota of the oral cavity (uvula apoplexy).

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Symptoms uvulita

Sometimes uvulitis occurs at night, and the patient wakes up from the sensation of a foreign body in the throat; attempts to remove it by sharp expectorating exhalation increase the pain and swelling of the soft palate. But most often uvulitis occurs during eating with sudden sneezing or coughing. Uvulitis also occurs in people who have previously undergone tonsillectomy and adenotomy.

Where does it hurt?

Sore throat

Diagnostics uvulita

On pharyngoscopy, the uvula appears sharply enlarged, edematous, bright red or bluish in color, hanging down to the root of the tongue; when reaching the latter, it causes a gag reflex. The tip of the uvula may be covered with a false film or ulcerated.

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What do need to examine?

Throat
Pharyngeal (adenoid) tonsils

How to examine?

Pharyngeal examination

Who to contact?

ENT doctor

Treatment uvulita

Treatment for uvulitis is the same as for catarrhal and follicular tonsillitis.