Differential Diagnosis for Sore Throat, Mild Headache, Sinus Congestion, and Right Ear Pain
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI): This is the most likely diagnosis given the combination of sore throat, mild headache, sinus congestion, and ear pain, which are common symptoms of a viral URTI.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Acute sinusitis: The presence of sinus congestion and headache suggests the possibility of acute sinusitis, which can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
- Acute otitis media: The right ear pain could be indicative of acute otitis media, an infection of the middle ear that can be caused by bacteria or viruses.
- Pharyngitis: The sore throat could be due to pharyngitis, which can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, such as streptococcal pharyngitis.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Peritonsillar abscess: Although less likely, a peritonsillar abscess is a serious condition that requires prompt attention, characterized by severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and fever.
- Mastoiditis: This is a rare but serious complication of acute otitis media, where the infection spreads to the mastoid bone, requiring urgent medical attention.
- Lemierre's syndrome: A rare but potentially life-threatening condition characterized by a bacterial infection of the throat, leading to sepsis and thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder: Although less common, TMJ disorders can cause ear pain and headache, and should be considered if other diagnoses are ruled out.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: A rare condition characterized by sudden, severe facial pain, which could be mistaken for sinusitis or otitis media.
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A rare type of cancer that can cause nasal congestion, sinusitis, and ear pain, although it is unlikely in the absence of other symptoms such as nasal bleeding or weight loss.