What is pharyngitis and how to treat the disease

Pharyngitis is an acute inflammation of the back and side walls of the pharynx, which develops as an independent disease or accompanies other pathologies. CR The main symptom is a sore throat when swallowing ² . During examination, you can see swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Pharyngitis is widespread, both children and adults suffer from it ² . In the article, we will talk about the symptoms of pharyngitis, methods of diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

What is pharyngitis

Pharyngitis (from the Latin word “pharynx” – “pharynx”) is an inflammation localized in the back and side walls of the pharynx.

The main symptoms are: sore throat, redness and swelling of the mucous membranes. Pharyngitis can develop as an independent disease or be part of a symptom complex in other pathologies, such as acute respiratory viral infections ³ .

Very often, inflammation of the pharynx is combined with inflammation of the palatine tonsils. This combined disease is called “tonsillopharyngitis” ¹ .

Types

Doctors distinguish several types of pharyngitis depending on the causes and conditions of its development, the characteristics of the course of the disease and the nature of the inflammatory process. This classification helps to correctly formulate a diagnosis and select the optimal treatment tactics.

^{There are 2} reasons for the occurrence of inflammation of the pharynx:

• infectious – bacterial, viral or fungal;

• non-infectious – against the background of hypothermia, burns of the respiratory tract, irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx;
• allergic ² .

Depending on the nature of the inflammatory process, the following types of pharyngitis are distinguished ² :

• catarrhal – mild superficial inflammation, which manifests itself only as redness and slight swelling of the mucous membrane;
• hypertrophic – small bumps or nodules appear on the surface of the inflamed mucous membrane;
• atrophic – the inflamed mucous membrane becomes thin and dry, acquires a pale pink tint, and blood vessels are visible through it.

According to the duration of the course, there are ² :

• acute pharyngitis – occurs suddenly, manifests itself with pronounced symptoms, lasts no more than two weeks;
• chronic pharyngitis – usually develops from the acute form with insufficient treatment, characterized by a long course with periods of exacerbations and remissions.

Reasons

Infection with viruses, bacteria and fungi occurs mainly through airborne droplets. When a sick person sneezes or coughs, tiny particles of mucus filled with microorganisms fly out of his mouth. A healthy person becomes infected through close contact with a sick person. The infection is also transmitted through contaminated hands, dishes, personal hygiene products and household items.

Non-infectious causes of the disease include ⁷ :

• allergic reactions to food, household chemicals, plants and animals;
• constant mechanical irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx – exposure to hot and cold drinks/foods, dust, solid objects;
• repeated chemical irritation – exposure to cigarette smoke, occupational hazards, consumption of non-food liquids;
• irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx by acidic gastric juice, which is observed in reflux disease (weakness of the esophageal sphincter and reflux of stomach contents into the upper sections).

In addition to the main causes, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing pharyngitis ² :

• prolonged exposure to conditions of high humidity and cold;
• weakened immunity;
• the presence of caries, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis;
• diabetes mellitus;
• uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops.

Symptoms

Acute pharyngitis manifests itself with quite specific and pronounced symptoms, which allow the disease to be confirmed even without additional examination ³ . Patients note:

• general malaise and an increase in body temperature over 37 °C, especially if inflammation of the pharynx develops against the background of acute respiratory viral infection;
• moderate or severe pain in the throat, especially noticeable when talking and swallowing;
• a tickling, scratchy feeling in the throat that makes you want to cough.

When examining the throat, you can see:

• swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, with or without inflammation of the tonsils;
• blisters or ulcers on the mucous membrane if the disease is caused by a herpes infection;
• granularity of the posterior pharyngeal wall – uneven, bumpy mucosa (due to an increase in small lymphoid nodules scattered over the entire surface of the pharynx).

Plaques are usually absent in pharyngitis. They usually appear in the fungal form of inflammation in the form of cheesy accumulations of white or yellow color.

Chronic pharyngitis proceeds differently, its symptoms depend on the nature of the inflammatory process:

• in the catarrhal form, the symptoms resemble acute inflammation, but are expressed to a lesser degree, and during the period of remission, nothing bothers the person;
• with hypertrophic pharyngitis, a sore throat and dry cough predominate;
• In the atrophic form of the disease, dryness and burning in the throat come to the fore.

When examining the throat during an exacerbation, characteristic signs are noticeable in the form of swelling and redness of the mucous membrane, granularity of the back wall of the pharynx ^7,8 .

Diagnostics

If symptoms of acute or chronic pharyngitis appear, you should contact a therapist or otolaryngologist. The doctor can make a diagnosis based on the survey data and examination of the throat. The doctor prescribes additional examination to clarify the cause of the disease and exclude complications:

• general blood test;
• general urine analysis;
• bacteriological and PCR examination of a throat swab;
• diphtheria test ^1,9,10 .

Treatment

Treatment of acute pharyngitis can begin with non-drug methods , which, in the case of a mild course of the disease, allow you to completely eliminate unpleasant symptoms:

• physical and vocal rest;
• light diet – dairy and vegetable, with liquid and semi-liquid dishes at room temperature;
• drink plenty of fluids;
• quitting smoking and drinking alcohol;
• humidified air in the room;
• gargling ^1.9

Systemic antibiotics are not recommended even if the bacterial origin of the disease is confirmed.

Treatment of chronic pharyngitis is carried out during the period of exacerbation. The same methods and drugs are used as in the acute form of the disease ¹¹ .

Complications of pharyngitis include:

• paratonsillar, parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal abscesses,
• purulent lymphadenitis;
• acute rheumatic fever,
• rheumatic heart disease,
• poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis,
• streptococcal toxic shock syndrome,
• PANDAS syndrome ¹ .

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis for pharyngitis is favorable in most cases. The acute form usually ends in complete recovery, but sometimes the disease becomes chronic. To avoid this, you need to see a doctor in a timely manner and follow his instructions.

The following recommendations will help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease:

• maintain your immunity with proper nutrition, hardening and walks in the fresh air;
• Avoid stress if possible;
• try to avoid contact with people who have symptoms of acute respiratory viral infection;
• Get vaccinated annually;
• Maintain personal hygiene, wash your hands and face more often ^1,11 .

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