Pharyngitis may sound scary, but it’s simply the medical term for a sore throat. While we’re all intuitively familiar with the symptoms of a sore throat, a deeper look at pharyngitis symptoms and causes can help you feel more at ease. If you’re currently suffering from a sore throat, however, you might be wondering what you can do about it. In this article, we will discuss treatment options for pharyngitis as well.
How Do You Know if You Have Pharyngitis?
What Is Pharyngitis?
Pharyngitis is a medical term that refers to inflammation of the pharynx (throat)- more specifically, the mucus membranes that line this delicate structure. It combines the word “pharynx,” which means throat, with the suffix “-itis,” which means inflammation. To most people, however, pharyngitis is simply known as a sore throat.
What Are the Symptoms of Pharyngitis?
- A sore, painful feeling in your throat
- Itchiness in the throat
- Dryness of the throat
- A cough
It is also common to experience a runny or sore nose, itchy eyes, and fatigue. The exact symptoms of pharyngitis depend on the cause of a particular case.
What Causes Pharyngitis?
It is important to note that pharyngitis is not a diagnosis. Instead, it is a description of a set of symptoms. Pharyngitis can be caused by a variety of underlying conditions. Most conditions that cause pharyngitis are harmless and spontaneously go away without a doctor’s help or any medication.
The causes of pharyngitis can be divided into viral infections (most common), bacterial infections, and environmental factors – for example, exposure to second-hand smoke, dust, or mold.
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of pharyngitis:
- The many viruses that cause common colds are most often responsible for pharyngitis. These include rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and coronaviruses (other than Covid-19). A common cold causes a runny nose, headache, and a low-grade fever, as well as a sore throat.
- Adenovirus can also cause a sore throat. In this case, patients can additionally suffer from conjunctivitis, better known as pink eye.
- The Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis (better known as “mono” or “the kissing disease”), can cause a sore throat and extreme fatigue that persists for months. This virus also leads to muscle aches, skin rashes, and a loss of appetite.
- Streptococcus A, C, and G (better known as “strep throat”) are bacterial infections that can cause a sore throat.
- Sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) – chlamydia and gonorrhea can both cause pharyngitis following oral sex.
- Viral infections that cause pharyngitis don’t usually require medical treatment, but bacterial pharyngitis can be treated with antibiotics after diagnosis.
Do You Need to See a Doctor About a Sore Throat?
Most cases of pharyngitis are caused by self-limiting viruses such as common colds. You’ll usually feel better in a week or so and do not always need to see a doctor. However, if your symptoms do not go away in a week, if you have swollen lymph nodes, or if you notice pus or white patches on your lymph nodes, visit a local urgent care clinic.
If you do seek medical attention for a sore throat, your doctor will:
- Perform a physical exam.
- Ask questions about your symptoms and recent activities.
- Order a throat culture and blood tests if he or she suspects that your sore throat may be caused by strep throat or another bacterial infection.
A rapid strep test (RST) is a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) that assists in diagnosing bacterial pharyngitis caused by group A streptococcus (GAS), otherwise known as strep throat.
Patients who have been suffering from a sore throat for more than a few weeks should make sure to mention the duration of their symptoms during their visit.
How Can Pharyngitis Be Treated?
Pharyngitis is usually caused by one of the many viruses that lead to symptoms we describe as the common cold. No special treatment is necessary if that’s the case with you or your loved one.
The best way to treat pharyngitis is to drink more water to keep hydrated, gargle salt water, drink chamomile or mint tea, and eat chicken soup. Your doctor might suggest taking pain relievers such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen to bring your low-grade fever down.
Bacterial pharyngitis should be treated with antibiotics. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, it is important that you complete the entire course, even if you feel better! Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that can develop when strep throat or scarlet fever isn’t properly treated.
Patients with bacterial pharyngitis can also use the same home remedies as those with viral pharyngitis to seek relief.
Urgent Care Omaha Walk-In Clinics and in Bellevue, NE
Our staff works to provide prompt, personal, and professional care for all of our patients. We strive to provide the attention patients need in as quick a time as possible. Urgent Care Clinics in Omaha & Bellevue, Nebraska has three locations in the Omaha metropolitan area. Our three walk-in clinics are:
Disclaimer
The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes as well as to provide general information and general understanding of the pertinent medical issue only, not to provide a specific diagnosis. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. By using this blog/web site you understand there is no doctor patient relationship between you and the blog/web site publisher. The information included on this site should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a licensed medical professional in your state. Neither Urgent Care Network, its subsidiaries, affiliates, assignees or successors in interest, nor any other party assume liability for loss or damage due to reliance on content of this blog/web site. If you are experiencing a severe medical issue, you should seek emergency assistance immediately.
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