"Pharyngitis is a condition that causes difficulty swallowing, a burning sensation in the throat, pain, and itching. Often occurring with a common cold, pharyngitis can also result from infections that cause a sore throat, such as coxsackie or mononucleosis."
Pharyngitis is a condition that causes difficulty swallowing, a burning sensation in the throat, pain, and itching. Often occurring with a common cold, pharyngitis can also result from infections that cause a sore throat, such as coxsackie or mononucleosis.
What is Pharyngitis?
The short answer to "What is pharyngitis?" is the inflammation of the back of the throat, called the pharynx. It is commonly known as a sore throat or throat inflammation. This condition mostly occurs in the cold winter months and tends to spread rapidly among individuals in close contact. As it can be viral or bacterial, the treatment method varies depending on the cause.
Patients with complaints such as high fever, sore throat, post-nasal drip, and difficulty swallowing should see a doctor as soon as possible. If pharyngitis progresses, it can obstruct the airway or cause an abscess to form behind the throat. It is also significant because it can lead to serious complications like rheumatic fever and kidney disease. It can be easily treated with a timely diagnosis and early medication.
What are the Symptoms of Pharyngitis?
Undoubtedly, the most important symptoms of pharyngitis are a stinging and burning sensation in the throat, difficulty swallowing, post-nasal drip, sore throat, cough, fever, dryness in the throat, itching, and a feeling of a foreign object being stuck. In addition, general symptoms like weakness, fatigue, and joint pain are also seen.
In bacterial pharyngitis, the illness is more severe. The disease can be easily detected with a throat swab test by a doctor and treated before it spreads. Therefore, it is important to seek help from a specialist immediately if one or more of the above-mentioned symptoms are present.
What Causes Pharyngitis?
The most common causes of pharyngitis are viruses. However, many microorganisms, including bacteria, can cause the disease. Some infectious diseases that occur with pharyngitis include:
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Rare bacterial causes of pharyngitis include gonorrhea, chlamydia, and corynebacterium. Frequent colds and flu increase the risk of pharyngitis. Healthcare personnel, people with allergies, those with reflux disease, and people with frequent sinusitis are particularly at risk. The likelihood of pharyngitis also increases in people who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Pharyngitis Treatment
To treat pharyngitis, the cause must first be identified. Antibiotic therapy is used to treat bacterial pharyngitis. Other medications such as gargles, sprays, and pain relievers are prescribed to alleviate the severity of symptoms. Antibiotics are not given for viral illness. When pharyngitis, which can accompany any upper respiratory infection, becomes chronic, the treatment process differs and is more challenging. In both cases, it is important to avoid smoking, constantly ventilate the environment, and avoid inhaling dust and various chemicals.
If the patient has reflux, it must be treated. Similarly, sinusitis treatment is essential for those who have frequent sinus infections. So, how do you manage reflux? It's important to elevate the head of your bed while sleeping and to stop eating 1.5 hours before bedtime. Avoiding foods that cause reflux, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, spicy and seasoned foods, and using reflux medication can be beneficial.
How to Get Relief from Pharyngitis?
In cases of viral pharyngitis, you can alleviate symptoms with some home remedies. Some practices that are good for viral pharyngitis include:
Pharyngitis in Children
Pharyngitis, which is common in children, usually occurs in the winter months. As it is a contagious disease, it spreads easily, especially among school-aged children. It is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 12. Although the symptoms of pharyngitis are weakness, sore throat, and fever, some children may also experience vomiting and abdominal pain.
