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Pharyngitis Causes and Risks:
Pharyngitis is most often caused by a viral infection (95%) or by a bacterium (5%). If caused by the Group A streptococcus , it is called strep throat . The chronic form can be caused by a continuing infection of the sinuses, lungs, or mouth; or by constant irritation from smoking , breathing heavily polluted air, consuming too much alcohol, or by swallowing substances that scald, corrode or scratch the throat. Pharyngitis is a common illness.
Prevention:
Avoid irritation of the throat.
Symptoms:
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
Signs and Tests:
Treatment:
Treatment of viral pharyngitis is only to relieve symptoms. Antibiotics are not effective. To reduce pain and inflammation, gargle with warm salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) several times a day. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen - oral may be helpful.
Note: antiseptic lozenges and sprays may aggravate this condition rather than provide relief.
Bacterial pharyngitis is treated with antibiotics. The full course of antibiotics should be taken, even if symptoms improve before the medication is gone.
Chronic pharyngitis is treated by eliminating the cause of inflammation.
Prognosis:
Pharyngitis most often clears up on its own.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if a sore throat lasts for more than a few days.
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if difficulty breathing occurs.
This throat is fiery red (erythematous) and represents the early appearance of streptococcal pharyngitis. Other throat infections can cause a similar appearance and it is difficult to differentiate strep from other causes by simply looking at the throat. A culture should be analyzed to determine the cause of severe throat irritation. (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
A cross-section illustration of the mouth, nasal cavity, and throat. The nasal passages are also visible.
Streptococcus bacteria has caused the fiery red color and whitish "exudate" (drainage) associated with strep throat. The child's right tonsil is infected (left side of the picture). (Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.)
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