Chronic Throat Pain Doctor in Dubai

Quick answer

Who treats chronic throat pain in Dubai, and when should you see a doctor?

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon who treats chronic throat pain. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. A sore throat lasting over three weeks needs a check. Common causes are reflux, mucus dripping down from the nose, dry air and smoking. See him soon if you have blood in your saliva, pain on one side only or a lasting neck lump. Go to the emergency department if you have trouble breathing.

A sore throat from a cold usually goes away on its own. When the pain is still there three weeks later, something else may be keeping it going. If your throat has been aching, burning or feeling raw for that long, a chronic throat pain doctor in Dubai can examine your throat, voice box and neck and find the reason.

Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, a Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, sees adults and children whose throat pain will not go away. Based at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, he is known to many patients as one of the best doctors in Dubai for persistent throat pain.

When does a sore throat count as chronic?

Most sore throats caused by a virus get better within about a week. Many ENT doctors use three weeks as the point to look more closely. If the pain lasts longer than that, or keeps coming back in the same way, it is often called persistent or chronic throat pain.

You may notice:

A constant dull ache, or a raw, scratchy feeling.
Burning in the throat, or a dry, painful throat when you wake up.
Discomfort when you swallow food, drinks or even saliva.
A need to clear your throat again and again.

Most causes are not serious and can be treated. But a throat that hurts for weeks should be checked by an ENT specialist, rather than treated with more lozenges or another course of antibiotics.

Why does my throat keep hurting for weeks?

Often more than one cause is at work.

Silent reflux

Small amounts of stomach contents can rise up to the throat. Many people with this never feel heartburn. Instead, they may get a sore or burning throat, hoarseness or a lump feeling.

Post-nasal drip

Mucus from the nose and sinuses can run down the back of your throat all day. This irritates the throat lining and makes you cough and clear your throat. Allergies, sinus problems and a blocked nose are common triggers. Read more about post-nasal drip treatment in Dubai.

Chronic tonsillitis

In some people, the tonsils stay inflamed for months. You may have a low-grade ache, bad breath, white debris or small stones on the tonsils, and tender glands in the neck. The pain may flare up from time to time.

Dry air and mouth breathing

Air conditioning runs most of the year in the UAE, and cool, dry air can dry out the throat lining. If your nose is blocked at night, mouth breathing adds to the dryness. You may wake with a dry, sore throat that eases during the day.

Smoking, shisha and vaping

Smoke and heat irritate the throat every time you inhale. A shisha session can last an hour or more, so the throat is exposed for a long time. Vaping can also dry and irritate the throat. Tobacco in any form, including shisha, is linked to a higher risk of throat cancer, and heavy drinking adds to that risk.

Rare but serious causes

In a small number of adults, long-lasting throat pain is caused by a growth in the throat, tonsil, tongue base or voice box. It is uncommon, but it is why a proper examination matters. Problems found early are often easier to treat.

Red flags: signs you should see a specialist soon

Book an ENT appointment without delay if your throat pain comes with any of these:

Blood in your saliva or phlegm, or when you cough.
Losing weight without trying.
Pain that always stays on one side of the throat.
Ear pain on one side when no ear problem is found. Throat problems can send pain to the ear.
A lump in your neck that has lasted more than three weeks.
Hoarseness that has not improved after three weeks.
Pain or difficulty swallowing that keeps getting worse, or food that feels stuck.

Most people with these signs do not have cancer. Still, they need a prompt check by a specialist. If you have a lump, our neck lump specialist page explains how lumps are checked.

Go to the emergency department straight away if you have trouble breathing, noisy breathing, you cannot swallow your own saliva, or you have a painful neck swelling with a high fever.

What tests will a chronic throat pain doctor in Dubai do?

First, Dr. Jabbr asks about your symptoms, your habits and your general health. Then he looks in your mouth and nose, checks your ears and gently feels your neck for swollen glands or lumps.

Depending on what he finds, you may need some of these tests:

Flexible laryngoscopy. A slim camera goes in through the nose to show the back of the throat and the voice box. It takes a few minutes in the clinic, and you breathe normally throughout.
Nasal endoscopy. This checks the nose and sinuses if post-nasal drip may be part of the problem.
Neck ultrasound. This looks at glands and any lumps in the neck. If a lump looks unusual, a fine needle sample (FNA) may be taken.
CT or MRI scans. These are used only when a deeper look is needed.
Biopsy. If an area looks abnormal, a small tissue sample may be taken, sometimes under general anaesthesia, and checked under a microscope.

Many patients need only the examination and a camera check. For more on voice box checks, see our laryngologist in Dubai page.

How is long-term throat pain treated?

What helps depends on what is behind the pain, so the diagnosis comes first. Common options include:

For silent reflux: changes to meal times and diet, raising the head of the bed, and medicines when needed.
For post-nasal drip: saline rinses, nasal sprays, allergy treatment, and sometimes treatment of the sinuses or a blocked nose.
For chronic tonsillitis: good mouth care and medicines at first. If the tonsils keep causing problems, removing them may be discussed.
For dryness: more water, a humidifier in the bedroom, and treating nose blockage so you can breathe through your nose at night.
For smoke irritation: stopping smoking, shisha and vaping. Many people find their throat feels better once the irritation stops.

If a growth is found, you will get a clear plan for the next steps. Dr. Jabbr is also a head and neck surgeon, so he can guide you on head and neck cancer surgery if it is ever needed.

Seeing Dr. Muhammad Jabbr about a throat that will not settle

Long-lasting throat pain needs a doctor who checks the nose, throat, voice box and neck together, and Dr. Jabbr is trained in all of them.

Head & Neck Surgeon and Consultant ENT, based at Medcare Hospital, Al Safa.
Qualified with MD and MS degrees, the DOHNS (England), and European Board and Arab Board certification in ORL-HNS.
Brings over 20 years of ENT experience and has carried out more than 3,000 ENT procedures.
Sees both adults and children.
Google rating of 4.9 across 406 reviews.

He explains in plain words what he found and what comes next. For many patients, that clear advice puts him among the best ENT doctors in Dubai.

Book a throat check

If your throat has been sore for over three weeks, it is time for a check. To see Dr. Muhammad Jabbr, request an appointment online or phone +971 52 751 7811.

He sees patients at Medcare Hospital on Hadiqa Street in Al Safa 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a throat hurt for months without an infection?

Yes. Silent reflux, post-nasal drip, dry air, smoking and voice strain can all cause months of throat pain without any infection. This is why repeated antibiotics often do not help.

What should I tell the doctor at my first visit?

Say how long the pain has lasted, what time of day it is worst, and whether it is on one side. Mention any hoarseness, ear pain, weight loss or neck lump. Be open about smoking, shisha and alcohol.

Why does my ear hurt when the problem is in my throat?

The throat and ear share nerves, so pain from the throat can be felt in the ear. This is called referred pain. Ear pain on one side, with no ear problem found, should be checked by an ENT doctor.

Can shisha cause a sore throat that does not go away?

Yes. Shisha smoke is hot and is inhaled over long sessions. It can keep the throat irritated and is linked to a higher risk of throat cancer. Stopping is one of the most helpful things you can do for your throat.

My child's throat has hurt for weeks. What could cause it?

In children, common causes are large or inflamed tonsils, allergies, post-nasal drip, or mouth breathing at night due to big adenoids or a blocked nose. A child whose throat keeps hurting should see an ENT doctor. Our children's ENT page has more on this.

Is chronic throat pain a sign of cancer?

Usually not. Most cases have a common cause. But because cancer is possible in a small number of adults, a throat that hurts for weeks should be examined, especially if you smoke or use shisha.

Key points to remember

A sore throat that lasts more than three weeks deserves a closer look. In most people the cause is common and treatable, such as reflux, post-nasal drip, dry air or smoke. If your throat keeps hurting, book a visit with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr and leave with a clear plan.