I saw a physician, but it wasn't an ENT. I wish my physician would have used that instrument you described (laryngoscope) to check my larynx. Thank you for the reply. My physician just looked at the ears, throat, listened to lungs and heart with stethoscope, and no culture or swab. How would she know if it is a bacteria or a virus? She then wrote me a prescription for Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 400 mg, naproxen 500 mg for pain and headaches, and Prevacid 30 mg. She said my throat was really red and so she prescribed Prevacid. I did mention that occasionally I feel food or just acidic vapor come up when I sleep. She also asked for bloodwork to check thyroids in two weeks, hemoglobin, lipids, liver profile, TSH, T4, CBC/PLAT
I continue with mild headaches and tiredness and if it doesn't clear up, I will go back and ask for the laryngoscope. Thanks again for the reply.
This is most likely related to your pharynx (behind the tongue) or larynx and not to your esophagus. This should not be ignored. You should have a careful, direct examination of your throat by an ENT specialist, using a flexible laryngoscope. This may not be needed if infection is visible by looking in the mouth to see, for example, signs of a strep throat.