Causes
Many things can cause pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis. Causes include:
- Infection with a virus, such as the viruses that cause influenza (the flu) and the common cold
- Infection with bacteria, such as the bacteria that cause strep throat
- Mucus from your sinuses that drains into your throat
- Smoking
- Breathing polluted air
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Hay fever or other allergies
- Acid reflux from the stomach
- Allergies
- Food debris collecting in small pockets in the tonsils
- Infectious mononucleosis
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Almost everyone will get a sore throat. These risk factors increase your chance of getting a sore throat:
- Age: children and teens, and people aged 65 or older
- Exposure to someone with a sore throat or any other infection involving the throat, nose, or ears
- Situations that cause stress, such as traveling, working, or living in close contact with people
- Exposure to cigarette smoke, toxic fumes, industrial smoke, and other air pollutants
- Having other medical conditions that affect your immune system, such as AIDS or cancer
- Stress
- Hay fever or other allergies
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