Sore throat: How to differentiate between a scratch and a foreign object stuck
Nov 26, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Cheng
Introduction
When experiencing throat discomfort, distinguishing between a throat scratch and a foreign body obstruction can generally be done by evaluating the nature of the pain, characteristics of the sensation of a foreign body, swallowing response, and symptom progression. A scratched throat typically causes persistent sharp or burning pain that may worsen during swallowing, with relatively fixed pain location. In contrast, a foreign body impaction usually results in dull or distending pain accompanied by a distinct "stuck" or "choking" sensation, and the pain location may shift slightly with swallowing movements.
When experiencing throat discomfort, distinguishing between a throat scratch and a foreign body obstruction can generally be done by evaluating the nature of pain, characteristics of the foreign body sensation, swallowing response, symptom progression, and accompanying manifestations. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Nature of pain: A scratched throat usually causes persistent stabbing or burning pain, which may worsen during swallowing but remains relatively fixed in location. In contrast, a foreign body obstruction typically causes dull or distending pain, accompanied by a distinct "stuck" or "choking" sensation, with the pain location possibly shifting slightly during swallowing.
2. Characteristics of foreign body sensation: The sensation in a scratched throat is vague, often described as a general irritation like "something rubbing in the throat," without a clearly defined object. In cases of a foreign body obstruction, the sensation is clear and distinct—patients can specifically identify the presence and location of an object, and the sensation does not significantly improve with coughing or swallowing.
3. Swallowing response: With a throat scratch, pain increases only during swallowing of food or saliva, but swallowing movements can still be completed normally. With a foreign body obstruction, difficulty swallowing may occur; in severe cases, even saliva cannot be swallowed smoothly, and patients may feel the object "pushing" or "blocking" during swallowing.
4. Symptom progression: Symptoms from a throat scratch gradually improve over time, with noticeable relief of pain and discomfort typically within 1–2 days. In contrast, symptoms caused by a foreign body persist; if the object remains, symptoms do not resolve spontaneously and may even worsen due to irritation, potentially leading to inflammation.
5. Accompanying manifestations: A throat scratch may involve mild redness and swelling of the throat, without other specific signs. A foreign body obstruction may cause coughing (often a dry, irritative cough); if the mucosa is irritated, small amounts of phlegm may appear, and in severe cases, breathing difficulties may develop.
When throat discomfort occurs in daily life, if symptoms persist or swallowing difficulty or breathing problems arise, prompt medical evaluation is necessary to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
