Pronounced: Fare-en-JY-tis /TAHN-sill-oh-fare-en-JY-tis
Pharyngitis is the swelling and inflammation of the pharynx. The pharynx is the back of the throat, including the back of the tongue. Tonsillopharyngitis is the swelling of the pharynx and the tonsils. The tonsils are soft tissue that make up part of the throat's immune defenses. Both pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis are commonly called a sore throat. Sore throats can easily be treated. If you have a sore throat for more than two days, contact your doctor.
Many things can cause pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis. Causes include:
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:
Your symptoms depend on the cause of the condition. If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to pharyngitis or tonsillopharyngitis. These symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your doctor.
Symptoms include:
The doctor will perform a physical exam, looking closely at your mouth, throat, nose, ears, and the lymph nodes in your neck.
Treatment depends on the cause of the sore throat. Treatment options include:
Here are ways to reduce your chance of getting a sore throat:
RESOURCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Society of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
http://www.csohns.com/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References:
Brink AJ, Cotton MF, Feldman C, et al. Working Group of the Infectious Diseases Society of South Africa. Guideline for the management of upper respiratory tract infections. S Afr Med J . 2004;94:475-83.
Perkins A. An approach to diagnosing the acute sore throat. Am Fam Physician . 1997;55:131-138,141-142.
Pharyngitis. Medline Plus, National Library of Medicine website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000655.htm . Updated October 29, 2007. Accessed June 15, 2008.
Pharyngitis. University of Maryland Medical Center website. Available at: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsConditions/Pharyngitiscc.html . Reviewed June 1, 2003. Accessed June 15, 2008.
Sore throat. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00526 . Updated October 1, 2007. Accessed June 15, 2008.
Streptococcal pharyngitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamicmedical.com/dynamed.nsf?opendatabase . Accessed August 11, 2005.
Vincent MT, Celestin N, Hussain AN. Pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician . 2004;69:1465-1470.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Elie Edmond Rebeiz, MD, FACS
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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