Acute pharyngitis

Illness description

Acute pharyngitis is inflammation of the throat pharynx. The pharynx is a part of the digestive system, a tube-shaped cavity located behind the mouth and transitioning into the esophagus.

Pharyngitis is a very common upper respiratory tract illness, especially among children. Most cases of the disease are recorded during the colder months of the year. Often, several members of the same family get sick (the infection spreads easily).

Cause of the illness

Pharyngitis is usually of viral origin (60-80% of cases). It is caused by various viruses typical of colds. Sometimes pharyngitis is caused by bacteria (e.g., Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus), less commonly by fungal infections.

Risk factors

Risk factors for pharyngitis include young age, smoking, constant exposure to allergens or chemical irritants, weakened immune system, living in damp, poorly ventilated spaces.

Symptoms

The main symptom of pharyngitis is a sore throat, pain. It worsens when swallowing saliva or speaking. Dry mouth is felt. The disease is also characterized by fever, swollen neck lymph nodes, headache, cough, runny nose.

Diagnosis

During a visit to the doctor, the throat is examined, blood tests are performed. If bacterial pharyngitis is suspected, a throat swab may be taken for culture (to identify the causative agent of the disease).

Treatment

When the illness is caused by viruses, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm fluids, gargle the throat with warm water and salt several times a day. Ibuprofen or paracetamol is used to reduce fever. Decongestants can be used to reduce nasal mucosa swelling. If pharyngitis is caused by bacteria, in addition to the aforementioned treatments, antibiotics are prescribed.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology