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Pharyngitis
Medical Questions » Pharyngitis
| Name: Pharyngitis |
| Also known as: Throat Infection |
| Very common bacterial or viral infection of the throat (pharynx). |
Causes of Pharyngitis
The vast majority are caused by viruses, while a minority are due to bacteria. The most serious bacterial pharyngitis is caused by Staphylococcus aureus (golden staph), but by the most common is caused by Streptococci. The infection is passed from one person to another in tiny water droplets in the breath. Most cases occur in winter. |
Symptoms of Pharyngitis
May vary from one day of mild discomfort to a severe infection that may cause dramatic swelling of the throat for more than a week. Symptoms include fever, throat pain and soreness, pain on swallowing, dry cough, headache and sometimes enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. |
Tests for Pharyngitis
Most require no investigation, but if the infection is serious, a throat swab may be taken to identify the responsible bacteria and appropriate antibiotic. Blood tests may be performed if diseases such as glandular fever which also cause throat pain are suspected. |
Treatment for Pharyngitis
Viral pharyngitis: aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen; anesthetic gargles, and soothing lozenges. Bacterial pharyngitis: antibiotics such as penicillin can be prescribed as well as the medications for a viral infection.
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Complications of Pharyngitis of its treatment
Severe bacterial infections may rarely cause a throat abscess. |
Likely Outcome of Pharyngitis
Viral infections last for a week or ten days. Antibiotics will cure a bacterial infection in a day or two. |
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