Pharyngitis – What it is, Symptoms and Treatment

What is Pharyngitis: Pharyngitis  is an inflammation that usually causes pain, irritation, itching and discomfort in the pharynx region – the upper part of the throat, which connects the nose and mouth to the larynx and esophagus .

Pharyngitis is one  of several disorders that can affect the throat region, as well as laryngitis  and tonsillitis. Symptoms are more common in winter, when dry air and greater crowding of people in closed environments facilitate the entry of viruses and bacteria through the airways.

Symptoms of Pharyngitis: What happens when a person’s pharynx is inflamed? What are the symptoms that affect the patient? When does she know she’s not in good health?

The symptoms of pharyngitis are very specific. When noticing one or more of these sensations, the search for a doctor should be immediate:

• fever
• Sore throat
• decreased appetite
• Pain when talking and swallowing and enlargement of the neck area (swelling)
• These symptoms are felt both in viral and bacterial pharyngitis  and, in the most severe cases, earache and vomiting can also be noticed.

However, cases of bacterial infection tend to be worse, with high fever  and a lot of headache. It is noted, in several people, the formation of purulent secretion in the throat region and even shortness of breath. Fortunately, this type is less common (20% of cases), caused by bacteria called type A, B, or C streptococci.

Causes of Pharyngitis:  The causes of Pharyngitis  are related to the microorganisms that cause it. In case of viral pharyngitis  , the causing viruses can be Rhinovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Influenza or Parainfluenza.

Regarding bacterial pharyngitis  , the most frequent is streptococcal pharyngitis caused by the bacterium Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, but other causative bacteria can be Pneumococci, Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus or Haemophilus influenzae. These microorganisms can be acquired through contact with the secretions of an infected individual.

Treatment of Pharyngitis: Treatment for Pharyngitis  involves taking medication prescribed by the doctor, rest, good hydration and protection from the cold.

In the case of viral pharyngitis , the drug treatment is done with painkillers and fever medication , for 2 or 3 days, in the case of bacterial pharyngitis  , the treatment is done with antibiotics such as Penicillin or Azithromycin, for 7 to 10 days.