Differential Diagnosis for Sore Throat, Neck Pain, and Difficulty Swallowing
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Viral Pharyngitis: This is the most common cause of sore throat and can be accompanied by neck pain and difficulty swallowing due to inflammation of the pharynx. The duration of two weeks could suggest a prolonged viral infection or a post-viral complication.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Streptococcal Pharyngitis: Although less common than viral pharyngitis, streptococcal (strep) throat can cause severe sore throat, neck pain, and difficulty swallowing. It typically presents with a sudden onset and can last for more than a week if untreated.
- Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils can cause sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and neck pain, especially if the tonsils are enlarged or infected.
- Mononucleosis (Mono): Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, mono can lead to sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, and difficulty swallowing due to tonsillar enlargement.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Lymphoma: Although rare, lymphomas can present with persistent sore throat, neck pain due to lymphadenopathy, and difficulty swallowing if there is significant lymph node enlargement or tumor growth in the throat.
- Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland can cause neck pain and difficulty swallowing. While less directly related to sore throat, it's a condition that could potentially cause some throat discomfort.
- Peritonsillar Abscess: A complication of tonsillitis, this abscess can cause severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and neck pain, often localized to one side.
- Epidottitis: A medical emergency, epiglottitis can cause severe difficulty swallowing, sore throat, and neck pain due to inflammation of the epiglottis.
Rare Diagnoses
- Tuberculosis (TB): TB can affect the lymph nodes in the neck and cause chronic sore throat, neck pain, and difficulty swallowing, although it is less common in areas with low TB prevalence.
- Lemierre's Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by a bacterial infection of the tonsils and a subsequent thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, which can cause severe neck pain and difficulty swallowing.
- Oropharyngeal Cancer: Although very rare, especially in younger populations, oropharyngeal cancer can present with persistent sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and neck pain due to metastasis to the lymph nodes.