Uvula Infection

Uvula is actually a conical structure situated in the mouth cavity at the posterior edge of the mid soft palate. Uvula is a composition of a number of connecting tissues containing many racemose glands and musculus uvulae (muscle glands). Many a times, uvula is confused with similar glands like tonsils and epiglottis. The most important function of the uvula gland is to articulate the sound during speech. It also plays an important role in food swallowing as it moves in tandem with the soft palate to close the nasal part of the pharynx (nasopharynx), which is an important part that prevents chocking or blocking while we eat any food. Several internal as well as external factors can cause some sort of trouble and infection to the uvula.

Uvula Infection: Symptoms
Sometimes we get up with a really sore throat that causes extreme difficulty in swallowing. It might be an infection of the uvula which results in a swollen uvula. Not long lasting but uvula swelling can be very painful and it is the main cause behind most of the occasional sore throats that we go through. Actually the mucous membrane that surrounds the uvula gets infected and swells up that causes the actual swelling of the uvula. The swelling of uvula is also called as 'Uvulitis'. Uvula swelling can cause a lot of short term problems in the mouth cavity and create difficulty in breathing, eating, swallowing and talking as well.

Uvula Infection: Causes
There are several theories that try to explain the exact reason behind the infection of uvula. The location of uvula is the main cause of the uvula infection. Uvula is located at the meeting point of the mouth and the rest of the body. Any allergen that successfully passes through nose and mouth get in direct contact with the uvula that can cause uvula infection. Dehydration due to rough weather or due to excessive intake of alcohol can lead to uvula infection. These things passed through the uvula can actually damage the function of uvula for sometime that normally comes in shape within several hours of the infection. Too hot or too cold food items, excessive smoking, snoring, canker sores, inhalation of various irritants like cannabis or cocaine inhaled at a very elevated temperatures can cause uvula infection. Several infections like viral, bacterial and yeast infections can also cause uvula infections. Trauma due to intubation or endoscopy, hereditary angioderma can lead to the infection of the uvula. Infection due to Haemophilus influenzae type B or group A streptococci can also cause uvula infection.

Uvula Infection: Treatment
Uvula infection doesn't last long in normal conditions hence, there is no need to panic regarding uvula infection. The treatment of swollen uvula infection varies with the severity as well as the reason behind the uvula infection. If you feel that the pain and the uvula swelling is just not going away then my advice would be to take Benadryl as the swelling must be just because of the regular dry throat or common cold. Several remedies like drinking, overexposure of uvula to excessive smoking, drinking and too hot or too cold substances can be cured by simple gargles with warm salted water. Drinking plenty of water, to keep yourself from getting dehydrated in extreme weathers is very important to avoid uvula infection. If the pain is not going away after 6 to 8 hours then without any further delay, visit the Otolaryngology specialist and get proper medical attention for the uvula infection.

Avoiding dehydration, excessive smoking, drinking excessive alcohol can save you from the infection of uvula. Sleeping by keeping your head at an elevated position can also be a precaution to stay away from uvula infection.