The Sea Wasp (Ryk E. Spoor)

Not necessarily. It can be caused by reaction to a food that started a tiny tear right there. This could have been done by the sharp edge of a food - or something in the food. [like an orange pip, or a sharp-edged seed, or a tiny stone that was swallowed.]

Or it could have been an acid-reflux problem = the start of a small ulcer that became infected.

The advice to me was eat more fiber [like fresh veges - especially broccoli]; eat less fat [it cuts down on acid production] - and the recommendation from my doctor to drink more hot tea because of anecdotal evidence that he had seen.