What do Doctors call this Condition?

Pharyngitis

What is this Condition?

The most common throat disorder, sore throat is an acute or chronic inflammation of the pharynx, the passage between the mouth cavity and the esophagus. It’s widespread among adults who live or work in dusty or very dry environments, use their voices excessively, habitually use tobacco or alcohol, or suffer from chronic sinus infection, persistent coughs, or allergies.

What Causes it?

Sore throat is usually caused by a virus. The most common bacterial cause is group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Other common causes include Mycoplasma and Chlamydia.

What are its Symptoms?

The person has a sore throat and slight difficulty in swallowing. Swallowing saliva is usually more painful than swallowing food. Sore throat may also cause the sensation of a lump in the throat as well as a constant, aggravating urge to swallow. Other symptoms may include mild fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a runny nose. A sore throat usually subsides in 3 to 10 days.

How is it Diagnosed?

Physical exam of the pharynx reveals generalized redness and inflammation. Bacterial sore throat usually produces a large amount of drainage.

A throat culture may be performed to identifY bacterial organisms that may be the cause of the inflammation.

How is it Treated?

Treatment of acute viral sore throat is usually symptomatic, and consists mainly of rest, warm saline gargles, throat lozenges containing a mild anesthetic, plenty of fluids, and analgesics as needed. If the person can’t swallow fluids, he or she may have to go into the hospital for intravenous hydration.

The doctor will treat suspected bacterial sore throat with penicillin or another broad-spectrum antibiotic. The person will begin receiving antibiotic therapy while waiting for results of the throat culture. If the culture is positive (or if bacterial infection is suspected despite negative culture results), penicillin therapy will be continued for 10 days. Continued antibiotic therapy helps to prevent acute rheumatic fever.

Chronic sore throat requires the same supportive measures as acute sore throat but with greater emphasis on eliminating the underlying cause, such as an allergen. Preventive measures include providing room humidity and avoiding excessive air conditioner use. In addition, the person should be urged to stop smoking.