Pharyngitis

Symptoms & causes Diagnosis & treatment Doctors & departments Care at Vejthani

Overview

A sore throat, characterized by a painful, scratchy sensation in the back of the throat, can make swallowing or talking uncomfortable. This condition can be triggered by a range of factors including bacterial and viral infections, allergies, or even by sleeping with an open mouth. While strep throat, a bacterial infection, necessitates antibiotic treatment to avert complications, most sore throats resolve within a few days. However, if a sore throat persists for more than a week, worsens, or is accompanied by fever or swollen lymph nodes, it’s advisable to seek medical advice. Other, rarer causes of sore throat may require specialized treatment.

Symptoms

Depending on the underlying cause, pharyngitis indication may vary. Signs and symptoms include the following:

Body aches
Cough or sneezing.
Fever
Headache
Hoarseness or muffled voice
Nausea or vomiting
Painful when swallowing or talking
Pus or white patches on your tonsils
Runny nose
Sore, enlarged glands in your jaw or neck
Swollen tonsils
Tingling or soreness in the throat

If your child’s pharyngitis doesn’t go away after the first drink in the morning, take them to the healthcare provider. If they have the following signs and symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

Abnormal drooling, which could be a sign of difficulty swallowing
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty swallowing

If you experience a pharyngitis as an adult with any of the following related issues, consult your healthcare provider:

Consistently getting sore throats
Difficulty breathing.
Difficulty swallowing.
Earache
Fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C)
Having problem opening the mouth.
Hoarseness lasting more than two weeks.
Joint pain
Presence of blood in your saliva or phlegm
Rash
Sore throat that last more than a week.
Swelling in your neck or face

Causes

Sore throats can be uncomfortable and are caused by various factors ranging from infections to environmental irritants. Understanding the cause is crucial for effective treatment.

Viral infections: Many sore throats are the result of a viral infection, including:
- Common cold: A frequent culprit causing throat discomfort.
- Flu (influenza): Often accompanies body aches and fever.
- Mono (Mononucleosis): Can lead to severe throat pain.
- Measles: Accompanied by a characteristic rash and fever.
- Chickenpox: Causes itchy blisters and sore throat.
- COVID-19: Respiratory illness that can include a sore throat.
- Croup: Known for a distinctive barking cough, primarily affects children.
Bacterial infections: Some sore throats stem from bacterial infections, with Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) leading to strep throat being the most common.
Other causes: Various other factors can lead to a sore throat, such as:
- Allergies: Pollen, dust mites, pets, and mold can trigger allergic reactions, causing a dry and scratchy throat.
- Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils can cause throat pain.
- Dryness: Low humidity and mouth breathing can dry out the throat.
- Irritants: Pollution, tobacco smoke, alcohol, and spicy foods can irritate the throat.
- Mouth breathing: Breathing through the mouth, especially during sleep, can lead to soreness.
- Muscle strain: Yelling or prolonged talking strains throat muscles.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Acid reflux irritates the throat, leading to discomfort.
- HIV infection: Can cause a sore throat directly or through infections like oral thrush or cytomegalovirus (CMV).
- Tumors: Cancerous growths in the throat may cause pain and other symptoms like difficulty swallowing and hoarseness.

In rare cases, a sore throat can be a sign of a more serious condition like an abscess or epiglottitis, both of which require immediate medical attention.

Risk factors

While pharyngitis can affect everyone, several things increase your risk of getting one, such as:

Age: Pharyngitis are more common in children and teenagers. The most commonly seen bacterial disease associated with pharyngitis in children is strep throat, which is more common in those between the ages of 3 and 15.
Allergies: A pharyngitis is more likely to occur if you have seasonal allergies or persistent allergic responses to dust, molds, or pet dander.
Tobacco smoking: The throat can get irritated by smoking and secondhand smoke. The risk of mouth, throat, and voice box cancers is also increased by tobacco product usage.
Exposure to chemical irritants: Throat irritation can be brought on by airborne particles from burning fossil fuels and ordinary home chemicals.
Chronic sinus infections: Nasal drainage might aggravate your throat or spread an infection.
Close quarters: Infections caused by bacteria and viruses may proliferate in any setting where people gather including child care facilities, schools, workplaces, and aircraft.
Weakened immunity: If your immune system is poor, you’re more vulnerable to infections in general. Reduced immunity is frequently caused by HIV, diabetes, chemotherapeutic or steroid medication, stress, exhaustion, and poor nutrition.

Diagnosis

The following procedure will help the healthcare provider properly diagnose pharyngitis.

Physical examination: The symptoms and medical history may be reviewed by a healthcare provider of you or your child. In the course of a physical examination, they will examine the neck, ears, and nasal passages using an illuminated device.

Using a stethoscope to gently feel the neck for enlarged glands, or lymph nodes, and to listen to your child’s breathing

Throat swab: The bacterium that causes strep throat, streptococcal, is often found through a straightforward test that healthcare providers perform. To collect a sample of secretions, the healthcare provider wipes a sterile swab across the back of the throat. The sample is then sent to a lab for analysis. Many clinics have a lab that can provide a quick antigen test result in a matter of minutes. On the other hand, a throat culture, which is a second and frequently more trustworthy test, is occasionally sent to a lab for findings that are returned in a day or two.

Rapid antigen tests can identify strep bacteria quickly, but their sensitivity is lower. As a result, if the antigen test is negative, the healthcare provider can request that a throat culture be sent to a lab for a strep throat diagnosis.
To identify streptococcal bacteria, healthcare providers might use molecular testing. A sterile swab is used by the healthcare provider to collect a sample of secretions from the back of the throat during this test. In a lab, the sample is examined. In a few minutes, the doctor treating you or your kid could have accurate findings.

Treatment

Dealing with a sore throat can be uncomfortable, but several at-home treatments can help ease the symptoms. Here’s what you can do:

For immediate relief:

Warm liquids: Tea with honey and lemon, broth, or bouillon can soothe a dry, scratchy throat.
Ice: Sucking on ice chips or popsicles may also relieve sore throat pain.
Humidify your environment: Using a humidifier or vaporizer, especially in your bedroom at night, adds moisture to the air and helps with a dry throat.
Rest your voice: If your sore throat is due to excessive use of your voice (shouting, singing, or long conversations), give your vocal cords a break.

General wellness tips:

Adequate rest: Ensure you’re getting enough sleep at night, ideally around eight hours, to help your body recover.
Avoid irritants: Stay away from second-hand smoke, smoking, spicy foods, and very hot liquids as these can further irritate your sore throat. Consider quitting smoking, even temporarily.

Medical advice for bacterial infections

If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. It’s crucial to:

Complete the antibiotic course: Even if symptoms disappear, finishing all prescribed medication prevents the infection from worsening or spreading.
Avoid aspirin in children and teenagers: Due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a condition that can cause serious issues, including swelling of the liver and brain, aspirin should not be given to this age group. Opt for over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen instead.

When to seek medical attention
A viral sore throat typically resolves within five to seven days without medical intervention, and antibiotics are not effective against viruses. However, if you or your child’s sore throat is severe, persists for more than a week, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, rash, or difficulty swallowing, consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation and treatment.

Diseases & Conditions Pharyngitis