PHARYNGITIS DUBAI

Pharyngitis Dubai 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.

Pharyngitis-induced sore throat is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits. More cases of pharyngitis occur during the colder months of the year. It’s also one of the most common reasons why people stay home from work.

In order to properly treat a sore throat, it’s important to identify its cause. Pharyngitis may be caused by bacterial or viral infections.

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, 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.

Frequent exposure to colds and flus can increase your risk for pharyngitis. This is especially true for people with jobs in healthcare, allergies, and frequent sinus infections. Exposure to secondhand smoke may also raise your risk.

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL 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 a 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 grey patches.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Fever.
  • Chills.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Nausea.
  • Unusual taste in the mouth.
  • General malaise

The length of the contagious period will also depend on your underlying condition. If you have a viral infection, you will be contagious until your fever runs its course. If you have strep throat, you may be contagious from the onset until you’ve spent 24 hours on antibiotics.

The common cold usually lasts less than 10 days. Symptoms, including fever, may peak around three to five days. If pharyngitis is associated with a cold virus, you can expect your symptoms to last this duration of time.

HOW IS PHARYNGITIS DIAGNOSED?

Physical Exam

If you’re experiencing symptoms of pharyngitis, Dr Barbara Karin Vela will look at your throat. They’ll check for any white or grey 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. She is able to do a rapid strep test in the office. 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 hours.

Blood Tests

If Dr Barbara Karin Vela suspects another cause of your pharyngitis, she 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.

PHARYNGITIS PREVENTION

Maintaining proper hygiene can prevent many cases of pharyngitis.

To prevent pharyngitis:

  • Avoid sharing food, drinks, and eating utensils.
  • Avoid individuals who are sick.
  • Wash your hands often, especially before eating and after coughing or sneezing.
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available.
  • Avoid smoking and inhaling secondhand smoke.

 

 

PHARYNGITIS OUTLOOK

Most cases of pharyngitis can be successfully treated at home. However, there are some symptoms that require a doctor’s visit for further evaluation.

You should see Dr. Barbara Karin Vela if:

  • You have had a sore throat for more than a week.
  • You have a fever greater than 100.4°F.
  • Your lymph nodes are swollen.
  • You develop a new rash.
  • Your symptoms do not improve after completing your full course of antibiotics.
  • Your symptoms return after completing your course of antibiotics.

WHEN YOU NEED ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, like strep throat. They won’t treat viral infections.

You need to treat a strep throat with antibiotics to prevent more serious complications like pneumonia, bronchitis, and rheumatic fever. Antibiotics can reduce sore throat pain by about one day, and lower the risk of rheumatic fever by more than two-thirds.

Dr Barbara Karin Vela usually prescribes a course of antibiotics lasting about 10 days (10Trusted Source). It’s important to take all of the medication in the bottle, even if you start to feel better. Stopping an antibiotic too early can leave some bacteria alive, which can make you sick again.

FINAL NOTE

Viral and bacterial infections, as well as irritants and injuries, cause the majority of sore throats. Most sore throats get better in a few days without treatment.

Rest, warm liquids, saltwater gargles, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help soothe the pain of a sore throat at home.

Strep throat and other bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Your doctor can use a swab test to find out if you have strep.

See Dr Barbara Karin Vela for more severe symptoms, like trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or a stiff neck.

SOME PHARYNGITIS TERMS WORTH KNOWING

Acute Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis, or acute pharyngitis, colloquially sometimes called cobblestone throat, is an inflammation of the back of the throat, otherwise known as the pharynx. The condition generally causes pain and a sensation of scratchiness in the region of the throat, as well as difficulty swallowing.

Bacterial Pharyngitis

In bacterial pharyngitis, bacteria invade the mucosal tissues of the pharynx directly. Extracellular factors such as proteases facilitate the tissue invasion and cause the inflammation that elicits swelling, exudates, fever, and pain with swallowing.

Chronic Pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent sore throat that lingers for a few weeks or returns frequently. This may be caused by infection, environmental pollutants, allergies or acid reflux. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause.

Exudative Pharyngitis

When the pharynx becomes inflamed, it can cause the tonsils to become inflamed and, in response, they can produce tonsillar exudate. The resulting exudate is usually clear in color. Viral pharyngitis may be caused by several different viruses, including rhinovirus, influenza, adenovirus, and coronavirus.

Granular Pharyngitis

Granular pharyngitis occurs because of chronic irritation to the pharynx. It is commonly seen in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, smokers, and nowadays, one of the most common cause for granular pharyngitis is laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder.

Pharyngitis Acuta

Pharyngitis is a type of inflammation caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. It may be classified as acute or chronic. Acute pharyngitis may be catarrhal, purulent, or ulcerative, depending on the causative agent and the immune capacity of the affected individual.

Posterior Pharynx

Based on its anterior relations, the pharynx consists of three regions:

  1. Nasopharynx – posterior to the nasal cavity
  2. Oropharynx – posterior to the oral cavity
  3. Laryngopharynx – posterior to the larynx

There are six pharynx muscles in total that can be divided into two groups:

Pharyngeal Constrictors:

  1. Superior
  2. Middle
  3. Inferior

Longitudinal Muscles:

  1. Palatopharyngeus
  2. Salpingopharyngeus
  3. Stylopharyngeus

Strep Pharyngitis

Group A strep pharyngitis is most commonly spread through direct person-to-person transmission. Typically transmission occurs through saliva or nasal secretions from an infected person. People with group A strep pharyngitis are much more likely to transmit the bacteria to others than asymptomatic pharyngeal carriers.

Streptococcal Pharyngitis:

Streptococcal pharyngitis, also known as strep throat, or Bacterial tonsillitis is an infection of the back of the throat including the tonsils caused by group A streptococcus (GAS). Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, red tonsils (tonsilitis), and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Viral Pharyngitis:

About 50% to 80% of pharyngitis, or sore throat, symptoms are viral in origin and include a variety of viral pathogens.

Dr Barbara Karin Vela is an International Member of Royal College Of General Practitioners, UK