The pharynx is a muscular-walled tube located inside the neck. Oxygen and food pass through it.
Drastic climatic changes, which are increasingly common, can attack the pharynx and expose it to infections such as pharyngitis, which causes throat irritation and inflammation.
Epidemiological studies have revealed that pharyngitis affects more than 1.8 billion people annually. Given the high probability of suffering from it at some point in life, it is necessary to know the cause, its symptoms, treatment and prevention.
What is pharyngitis?
Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx, the back of the throat that connects the nose and mouth to the windpipe.
It is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, mainly viral or bacterial infections. It usually has a sudden onset where its annoying symptoms develop.
What types of pharyngitis are there?
Some types of pharyngitis that are recognized are these:
- Viral pharyngitis. Caused by viral infections.
- Acute pharyngitis. This is inflammation of the throat caused by bacteria.
- Chronic pharyngitis. Recurrent infection, where symptoms appear frequently. It is usually frequent in people who smoke a lot or overuse alcoholic beverages.
What are the causes?
Among the most frequent causes of this pharyngeal infection we find these:
- Viral pharyngitis. Caused by viral infections.
- Acute pharyngitis. This is inflammation of the throat caused by bacteria.
- Chronic pharyngitis. Recurrent infection, where symptoms appear frequently. It is usually frequent in people who smoke a lot or overuse alcoholic beverages.
What are the causes of pharyngitis?
Among the most frequent causes of this pharyngeal infection we find these:
- Viral infections. Viruses are the main causes of pharyngitis, including the common cold virus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.
- Bacterial infections. Streptococcus pyogenes is the most common bacterium causing bacterial pharyngitis.
- Allergies. Allergies to certain foods, pollen, dust mites or other substances can also cause inflammation in the throat.
- Gastroesophageal reflux. Stomach acid backing up into the throat can irritate the pharynx.
- Environmental factors. Cigarette smoke, dry air, dust, and other environmental irritants cause throat conditions.
Symptoms of pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is revealed by the presence of these symptoms:
- Sore throat. This is the classic symptom, which can be mild or intense.
- Difficulty swallowing. Inflammation of the pharynx may make swallowing difficult.
- Redness and swelling of the throat. In this infection the pharynx becomes red and swollen.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck. The lymph nodes in the neck may become swollen and tender to the touch.
- Nausea or vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that regularly accompany certain viral infections.
- Fever. This is a characteristic sign in bacterial infections.
- Cough. Coughing may occur in pharyngitis caused by viral infections.
- Bad breath. Inflammation of the throat usually causes bad breath.
- Loss of voice. Hoarseness may be experienced with this disease, making communication very difficult.
Diagnosis of pharyngitis
For the diagnosis of pharyngitis, the health professional combines a visual examination with analytical techniques. Some of the procedures used are the following:
- Physical examination. Using a tongue depressor or a lighted instrument, the physician examines the throat for swelling and redness, and in some cases the presence of white plaques.
- Throat culture tests. In cases where a bacterial infection is suspected, the physician may take a throat swab to test for bacteria.
- Rapid diagnostic tests. There are rapid tests that detect the presence of group A streptococcus in the throat. For example, the rapid antigen test is very useful in detecting this type of infection.
Effective treatment
The protocol for the treatment includes a series of home measures together with the use of some drugs, such as:
- Drinking fluids. Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, juice or tea, helps to keep the throat hydrated, thus mitigating the pain.
- Gargling. Gargling with salt water or an antibacterial mouthwash helps relieve throat pain and inflammation.
- Use of pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can reduce sore throat pain and fever.
- Use of antibiotics. If pharyngitis is caused by bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection.
How can pharyngitis be prevented?
Adopting some healthy habits can help prevent this disease. Some of them are:
- Wash your hands frequently. Washing hands with soap and water, especially after touching contaminated surfaces, helps prevent the spread of infection.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keeping your distance from people who are sick can reduce your risk of getting an infection.
- Get a flu shot. The flu vaccine can help prevent influenza virus infections.
- Maintain a healthy diet. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables strengthens the immune system.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke irritates the throat and increases the risk of infections.
Pharyngitis brings millions of people to health care facilities each year. However, with prevention, the bitter pill of this throat infection can be avoided.
Bibliography
Fornes Vivas, Rosa, Robledo Díaz, Luis, Carvajal Roca, Eva, Navarro Juanes, Agustín, & Pérez Feito, Carlos (2019). Usefulness of clinical criteria for the proper diagnosis of pharyngotonsillitis in pediatric emergency. Revista Española de Salud Pública, 93, e201911061. Epub September 07, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2024, from http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1135-57272019000100029&lng=es&tlng=es.
Josep M. Cotsa,j, Juan-Ignacio Alósb,k, Mario Bárcenac,l, Xavier Boledad,m, José L. Cañadae,n, Niceto Gómezf,o, Ana Mendozag,m, Isabel Vilasecah,o, Carles Llori,j. (2015). Recommendations for the management of acute adult pharyngotonsillitis. Medicina de Familia. SEMERGEN. Vol. 41. no. 7, pages 370-381. Retrieved on May 31, 2024, from https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-medicina-familia-semergen-40-articulo-recomendaciones-el-manejo-faringoamigdalitis-aguda-S1138359315000477
