Pharyngitis is a sore throat caused by inflammation of the back of the throat (also called the pharynx).
One of the most common reasons people visit their doctor, pharyngitis can make it painful to swallow, and you may experience soreness, discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat.
Pharyngitis is often present because of another illness, such as a cold, the flu, or mononucleosis ("mono"), and most sore throats subside within a week or less.
Pharyngitis is caused by swelling in the back of the throat between the tonsils and the larynx.
Most sore throats are occur during colder months and are caused by viral infections such as the common cold, flu, mono, measles, chickenpox, and croup.
However, bacteria such as Group A Strep, whooping cough (caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis), and diphtheria can sometimes cause pharyngitis.
The illness often spreads between people by breathing in bacteria or viruses that are spread in the air, or by touching a surface with germs on it.
Other causes of a sore throat may include allergies, dryness, irritants, straining your throat muscles, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), HIV infection, or tumors of the throat, tongue, or larynx (voice box).
Risk factors for pharyngitis include the following:
Symptoms of pharyngitis may include the following:
Depending on what illness is causing the sore throat, symptoms can vary, as in the following:
Sore throat with cold:
Sore throat with flu:
Sore throat with mononucleosis:
Your doctor will most likely start by giving you a physical exam that may involve checking your temperature; looking at your throat, ears, and nose with a lighted instrument; checking your neck for swollen glands (lymph nodes); and listening to your breathing with a stethoscope.
Your healthcare provider may also take a throat culture or do a rapid strep test by taking a swab from your throat to be checked for the bacteria Group A Strep (the cause of strep throat). Some clinics can get results right away while others need to send off the sample to a lab for testing.
If the rapid, in-clinic test comes back positive, then you almost certainly have a bacterial infection. If the test comes back negative, then you likely have a viral infection.
A blood test might be done to determine whether an infection is more likely caused by a bacterial or viral agent.
If your doctor suspects your sore throat is related to an allergy, you may be referred to an allergist for additional tests, or if you experience chronic or frequent sore throats you may be referred to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor).
If your sore throat is caused by a virus, antibiotics won't help and it will go away on its own within five to seven days.
However, antibiotics can help if your sore throat is caused by the following:
If you have the flu, antiviral medicines may be effective.
The following remedies may help soothe a sore throat:
Sources:
The pharynx, also known as the throat, is a hollow, muscular tube lined by mucous membrane. It runs from the back of the nose down into the neck, ending at the top of the windpipe and esophagus.
It contains three sections: the nasopharynx, the oropharynx, and the laryngopharynx, also called the hypopharynx.
The pharynx is part of the digestive system, and as the common channel for swallowing and breathing, the food and air pathways in the pharynx cross each other.
The following conditions can affect the pharynx:
As one of the most common reasons people visit their family practice physicians, pharyngitis is a sore throat caused by inflammation of the back of the throat.
Pharyngitis can make it painful to swallow, and you may experience soreness, discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat.
Most sore throats occur during colder months and subside within a week or less. Sore throats are often caused by viral infections including the common cold, flu, mononucleosis ("mono"), measles, chickenpox, and croup.
However, bacteria such as strep throat (caused by Group A Streptococcus), whooping cough, and diphtheria can sometimes cause pharyngitis.
If your sore throat is caused by a virus, antibiotics wont help, but if your sore throat is a result of strep throat, chlamydia or gonorrhea all of which are bacterial infections antibiotics can help the healing process.
The following remedies may help soothe a sore throat:
Pharyngeal or throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop anywhere in the pharynx, larynx (voice box), or tonsils. Pharyngeal cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage that acts as a lid for your windpipe.
Most throat cancers begin as thin, flat cells that look like fish scales. These cells develop genetic mutations that cause cells to grow uncontrollably and continue living after healthy cells would normally die. The accumulating cells can form a tumor in your throat.
Signs and symptoms of throat cancer may include the following:
Treatment options for throat cancer vary depending on your condition, and may include one or more of the following, sometimes used in combination:
In 2014, there were an estimated 12,630 people diagnosed with laryngeal cancers and 14,410 diagnosed with pharyngeal cancers. Moreover, there were 3,610 deaths from laryngeal cancer and 2,540 deaths from pharyngeal cancers.
The following can reduce your risk of throat cancer:
Sources:
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
We respect your privacy and aim for the best website experience in compliance with local laws. Allowing cookies enables a tailored experience, while disabling them may reduce personalization. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.