Pharyngitis Dubai | 27 January 2022
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx, which is in the back of the throat. It’s most often referred to simply as “sore throat.” Pharyngitis can also cause scratchiness in the throat and difficulty swallowing.
Causes of pharyngitis
There are numerous viral and bacterial agents that can cause pharyngitis. They include:
– measles
– adenovirus, which is one of the causes of the common cold
– chickenpox
– croup, which is a childhood illness distinguished by a barking cough
– whooping cough
– group A streptococcus
Viruses are the most common cause of sore throats. Pharyngitis is most commonly caused by viral infections such as the common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis. Viral infections don’t respond to antibiotics, and treatment is only necessary to help relieve symptoms.
Less commonly, pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections require antibiotics. The most common bacterial infection of the throat is strep throat, which is caused by group A streptococcus. Rare causes of bacterial pharyngitis include gonorrhea, chlamydia, and corynebacterium.
What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?
The incubation period is typically two to five days. Symptoms that accompany pharyngitis vary depending on the underlying condition. In addition to a sore, dry, or scratchy throat, a cold or flu may cause:
– sneezing
– runny nose
– headache
– cough
– fatigue
– body aches
– chills
– fever (a low-grade fever with a cold and higher-grade fever with the flu)
In addition to a sore throat, the symptoms of mononucleosis include:
– swollen lymph nodes
– severe fatigue
– fever
– muscle aches
– general malaise
– loss of appetite
– rash
Strep throat, another type of pharyngitis, can also cause:
– difficulty in swallowing
– red throat with white or gray patches
– swollen lymph nodes
– fever
– chills
– loss of appetite
– nausea
– unusual taste in the mouth
– general malaise
How is pharyngitis diagnosed?
Physical exam
If you’re experiencing symptoms of pharyngitis, Dr. Barbara Karin Vela will look at your throat. She’ll check for any white or gray patches, swelling, and redness. She may also look in your ears and nose. To check for swollen lymph nodes, she will feel the sides of your neck.
Throat culture
If Dr. Barbara Karin Vela suspects that you have strep throat, she will likely take a throat culture. This involves using a cotton swab to take a sample of the secretions from your throat. This test will tell her within a few minutes if the test is positive for streptococcus. In some cases, the swab is sent to a lab for further testing and results are not available for at least 24-48 hours.
Blood tests
If Dr. Barbara Karin Vela suspects another cause of your pharyngitis, they may order blood work. A small sample of blood from your arm or hand is drawn and then sent to a lab for testing. This test can determine whether you have mononucleosis. A complete blood count (CBC) test may be done to determine if you have another type of infection.
Dr Barbara Karin Vela is an International Member of Royal College Of General Practitioners, UK
Pharyngitis Dubai | 27 January 2022