September 9, 2020

PHARYNGITIS

Pharyngitis – sore throat

Pharyngitis, or sore throat, is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. It often makes it painful to swallow.

Causes

Pharyngitis is caused by swelling in the back of the throat (pharynx) between the tonsils and the voice box (larynx).

Most sore throats are caused by colds, the flu, coxsackie virus or mononucleosis.

Bacteria that can cause pharyngitis in some cases:

• Strep throat is caused by group A streptococcus.
• Less commonly, bacterial diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause sore throat.

Most cases of pharyngitis occur during the colder months. The illness often spreads among family members and close contacts.

The incubation period is typically two to five days. Symptoms that accompany pharyngitis vary depending on the underlying condition.

What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?

• sneezing
• runny nose
• headache
• cough
• fatigue
• body aches
• chills
• fever (a low-grade fever with a cold and higher-grade fever with the flu)

In addition to a sore throat, the symptoms of mononucleosis include:

• swollen lymph nodes
• severe fatigue
• fever
• muscle aches
• general malaise
• loss of appetite
• rash

Strep throat, another type of pharyngitis, can also cause:

• difficulty in swallowing
• red throat with white or gray patches
• swollen lymph nodes
• fever
• chills
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• unusual taste in the mouth
• general malaise.

How is pharyngitis diagnosed?

Physical exam

If you’re experiencing symptoms of pharyngitis, your doctor will look at your throat. They’ll check for any white or gray patches, swelling, and redness. Your doctor may also look in your ears and nose. To check for swollen lymph nodes, they will feel the sides of your neck.

Throat culture

If your doctor suspects that you have strep throat, they will likely take a throat culture. This involves using a cotton swab to take a sample of the secretions from your throat. The swab is sent to a lab for testing and results are not available for at least 24 hours.

Blood tests

If your doctor suspects another cause of your pharyngitis, they may order blood work. A small sample of blood from your arm or hand is drawn and then sent to a lab for testing. This test can determine whether you have mononucleosis. A complete blood count (CBC) test may be done to determine if you have another type of infection.

Medical treatment

In most cases, medical treatment is necessary for pharyngitis. This is especially the case if it’s caused by a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed treatment for strep throat. It’s important that you take the entire course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from returning or worsening. An entire course of these antibiotics usually lasts 7 to 10 days.

Pharyngitis prevention

Maintaining proper hygiene can prevent many cases of pharyngitis.

To prevent pharyngitis:

• avoid sharing food, drinks, and eating utensils
• avoid individuals who are sick
• wash your hands often, especially before eating and after coughing or sneezing
• use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available
• avoid smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke.