What Causes White Spots in Your Throat?

Other symptoms that may accompany white spots in the throat include:

Strep Throat 

• Pain on swallowing
• Fever
• Headache
• Swollen or sore lymph nodes on the front of the neck
• Red and swollen tonsils
• Red spots on the roof of your mouth

Rash (scarlet fever)

• Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth 

Tonsillitis

• Red tonsils
• Sore throat
• Sore or swollen lymph nodes on the side of your neck
• Hoarseness, changes in your voice, or laryngitis 
• Fever
• Difficulty swallowing
• Stiff neck
• Cough
• Headache
• Feeling unwell (malaise)
• Earache
• Tiredness
• Bad breath

Oral thrush 

• Red spots and bleeding under the white patches
• Feels like cotton is in the mouth
• Unpleasant taste in mouth
• Pain or burning sensation on the tongue
• Difficulty eating, swallowing, speaking, or tasting foods and drinks
• Cracks at the corners of the mouth
• Not wanting to feed (in babies)

Mononucleosis

• Extreme tiredness/fatigue
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Swollen and sore lymph nodes in the neck and armpits
• Head and muscle aches
• Swollen liver or spleen or both
• Rash

Tonsil stones

• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Ear pain
• Swollen tonsils
• Cough
• Enlarged tonsils without signs of infection
  • Tonsils may enlarge due to immune response in the body
• Round masses in the back of the throat
• Trouble swallowing

Oral herpes

• Severe, flu-like symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes and headache
• Sores on and around the lips and mouth

Leukoplakia

• Spots can be anywhere in the mouth

Lichen Planus

• Burning or pain
• Bleeding and irritation with tooth brushing
• Sensitivity to hot, spicy, or acidic foods
• Gum inflammation (gingivitis)
• Painful, thick patches on the tongue
• Discomfort speaking, chewing, or swallowing

Treatment for white spots in the throat depends on the cause. 

• Strep throat, caused by streptococcus bacteria
  • Antibiotics
• Tonsillitis
  • If caused by a virus, rest and adequate hydration may be all that is needed
  • If caused by bacteria, antibiotics may be prescribed
• Oral thrush
  • Antifungal medications 
• Mononucleosis
  • Because “mono” is caused by a virus, the Epstein-Barr virus, rest and adequate hydration are the treatment
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) may help relieve fever and body aches
• Tonsil stones
  • Tonsil stones may go away on their own and often no treatment is needed
  • Medications used to treat tonsil stones may include antibiotics for infection or antihistamines to treat sinus problems or allergies
  • Laser treatment (laser tonsil cryptolysis)
  • Coblation cryptolysis
  • Surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy)
• Enlarged tonsils without signs of infection
  • No treatment is necessary if there are no symptoms 
  • If patients have problems swallowing, surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) may be recommended
• Oral herpes
  • Oral antiviral medications, such as acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir
  • Topical antiviral ointments, such as acyclovir and penciclovir
  • Over-the-counter (OTC) topical anesthetics or anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve symptoms
• Leukoplakia
  • Stop smoking/chewing tobacco
  • Limit or avoid alcohol
  • Surgical removal of white patches if it is suspected it could become cancerous
• Lichen Planus
  • May go away on its own but can also last years
  • Prescription mouthwashes and sprays can help relieve burning or sore gums
  • Corticosteroids, oral, topical, or by injection 
  • Immunosuppressants