Throat examination
A full look at the mouth, tonsils, throat and voice box, with endoscopy when needed.
Our ServicesThroat & tonsil care
Expert care for a healthier throat.
Sore throats that keep returning, tonsils that swell every winter, a voice that tires by evening. We examine the whole throat, find the cause and treat it with the gentlest option that works.
Book a visit if you notice
- Sore throat for over a week
- Repeated tonsil infections
- Hoarse voice for over 2 weeks
- Trouble swallowing
Struggling to breathe? Call +44 20 7123 4567 or go to the nearest hospital.
Complete throat & tonsil solutions
Six areas of care, from a first examination to surgery, handled by one team.
Tonsillitis care
Acute and recurring infections, for children and adults.
Tonsil & adenoid surgery
Day-care surgery when medicines are no longer enough.
Voice care
Vocal-cord checks and voice rest planning.
Swallowing & reflux
Painful swallowing and reflux-related throat irritation.
Snoring & sleep breathing
Checking the throat and tonsils as a cause of snoring and broken sleep, in children and adults.
Understand your throat & tonsils
This is what your doctor sees when you say “ahh”. Select a part to learn what it does.
Soft palate. The soft roof at the back of your mouth. It lifts when you swallow so food and drink do not enter your nose.
Uvula. The small tissue that hangs at the centre. It helps with speech and swallowing. It can swell with infection or allergy.
Tonsils. Two soft glands on either side. They catch germs, especially in childhood. They can become infected, enlarged or hold small stones.
Tongue. Its base forms the front wall of the throat. A coating or white patches can point to infection or dryness.
Back of throat. The pharynx wall is where redness, post-nasal drip and reflux irritation show up. It leads down to the voice box.
Tonsillitis, sore throat & infections
Most throat problems are mild and pass quickly. Know the signs that mean it is time to see a specialist.
Infection and swelling of the tonsils, caused by a virus or bacteria. Common in children and young adults.
- Signs
- Red, swollen tonsils, white spots, fever, pain on swallowing, tender neck glands.
- Usual care
- Rest, fluids, pain relief. Antibiotics only if bacteria are the cause.
- See us if
- It lasts over 3 days, keeps returning, or one side swells much more than the other.
Pain or scratchiness in the throat, most often from a cold virus, dry air, allergy or reflux.
- Signs
- Scratchy or raw throat, pain on swallowing, mild cough, post-nasal drip.
- Usual care
- Warm fluids, salt-water gargles, lozenges and humid air.
- See us if
- It lasts over a week, with weight loss, blood in saliva or a lump in the neck.
A throat infection caused by group A streptococcus bacteria. A quick swab test confirms it.
- Signs
- Sudden sore throat, fever, no cough, red throat with white patches.
- Usual care
- A full course of antibiotics, taken as prescribed, plus rest and fluids.
- See us if
- You have a rash, joint pain, or no improvement after 48 hours of treatment.
Inflammation of the voice box that makes your voice weak, rough or lost.
- Signs
- Hoarse or whispery voice, dry throat, tickly cough, need to clear the throat.
- Usual care
- Voice rest, plenty of water, no whispering or shouting, avoiding smoke.
- See us if
- Hoarseness lasts over 2 weeks, or comes with pain, breathing trouble or swallowing difficulty.
Small white or yellow lumps that form in the folds of the tonsils from trapped debris.
- Signs
- Bad breath, feeling that something is stuck, a mild one-sided throat ache.
- Usual care
- Gargling, good oral hygiene. Avoid poking them with sharp objects.
- See us if
- They come back often or cause pain. Minor treatment or surgery can help.
Advanced ENT diagnosis, step by step
History
We ask about symptoms, how long they have lasted, your voice use and any past infections.
Mouth & neck check
A gentle look at the tonsils and throat, and a feel for swollen glands in the neck.
Throat endoscopy
A thin camera passes through the nose, after numbing spray, to view the voice box.
Tests, if needed
A throat swab, blood test or scan, only when it will change your treatment.
Explanation
We show you the images, explain the findings and agree a plan in writing.
Personalised throat care
We start at the lowest step and move up only when you need to. Surgery is never the first offer.
- Watch & support
Rest, fluids, salt-water gargles and review in a few days. Enough for most viral throats.
- Medicines
Antibiotics for proven bacterial infection, plus pain relief, reflux or allergy treatment.
- Minor procedures
Draining an abscess, treating tonsil stones or removing small vocal-cord growths.
- Surgery
Tonsil or adenoid removal for repeated infections or breathing and sleep problems.
Modern ENT technology
Clear images and quick tests mean fewer visits and a diagnosis you can see for yourself.
HD video endoscope
A slim flexible camera that shows the throat and voice box in real detail.
Video stroboscopy
Slow-motion view of vocal-cord movement for voice problems.
Rapid strep test
A throat swab with a result in minutes, so antibiotics are given only when needed.
Sterile instruments
Single-use tips and hospital-grade sterilisation for every examination.
Tonsil treatment: medical care & surgical solutions
Compare the options. Your surgeon will recommend one based on your history and examination.
| Option | Best for | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Supportive care | Viral sore throat and mild tonsillitis | 3 to 7 days |
| Antibiotics | Confirmed bacterial tonsillitis or strep throat | Better in 2 to 3 days. Finish the course |
| Abscess drainage | A collection of pus beside the tonsil | Relief the same day |
| Tonsillectomy | Repeated infections, large tonsils, sleep-disordered breathing | About 1 to 2 weeks |
| Adenotonsillectomy | Children who snore, mouth-breathe or have repeated ear infections | About 1 week |
Keep your throat healthy
Simple habits protect your throat all year. Pick a topic to see what helps.
Drink water through the day
A moist throat clears germs better. Aim for pale-yellow urine as a simple check.
Brush your tongue too
It lowers bacteria that cause bad breath and tonsil stones.
Rest a tired voice
Avoid shouting and whispering. Whispering strains the vocal cords more than soft speech.
Stay away from smoke
Smoking and vaping dry and irritate the throat and raise long-term risks.
Wash hands often
Most throat infections spread from hands to mouth. Do not share cups or bottles.
Gargle warm salt water
Half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water eases soreness for a short time.
Eat soft, cool foods
Ice cream, curd and soft rice are easy to swallow. Avoid spicy, hot or sharp foods.
Know the warning signs
Call us for bright red bleeding, fever that rises or if you cannot drink fluids.
Stories of better throat health
Chronic tonsillitis had me missing work every winter. Dr. Raghavan was honest about when surgery made sense, and the recovery matched exactly what she described.
My daughter snored loudly and was always tired. After her adenoid and tonsil surgery she sleeps through the night and her school marks have improved.
I teach for a living and my voice kept failing. The camera exam showed the cause in minutes, and the voice rest plan worked.
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Ready for answers?
We confirm your slot by phone within a few hours. Monday – Saturday, 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM.