Acute pharyngitis
Outline Acute pharyngitis is an acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, even the submucosa and lymphtic tissues also are suffered from. It is usually resulted from the acute tonsillitis and the acute rhinitis or is frequently part of an upper respiratory tract infection
Causes 1.Viruses: Coxsakie viruses、 Adenoviruses 、Rhinoviruses and influenza viruses. 2.Bacteria: E-hemolytic Streptococci 、 Hemophilus influenzae etc. 3.Environmental factor: such as high temperature, dust, smoke and irrigate gases etc
Clinical feature Milder infections present with discomfort in the throat, some malaise and low grade fever. Pharynx in these cases is congested but there is no lymphadenopathy
Clinical feature Moderate and severe infections present with pain in throat, dysphagia, headache, malaise and high fever. Pharynx in these cases shows erythema, extrude and enlargement of tonsils and lymphoid follicles on the posterior pharyngeal wall. Very severe cases show edema of soft palate and uvula with enlargement of cervical nodes
Clinical manifestation 1.Severe pain in the throat, particularly odynophagia. The pain can refer to the ears. 2.Clinical findings are comparatively mild. 3.Mild to moderate hyperemia and edema 4.Mild enlargement of the jugulodigastric nodes might occur. 5.The leukocyte count is not elevated and might actually be depressed. 6.If no complication occurs, the period usually is one week
Diagnosis History Symtoms and signs Culture of throat swab is helpful in the diagnosis of bacterial pharyngitis. Diphtheria is cultured on special media. Swab from the a suspected case of gonococcal pharyngitis should be cultured immediately without delay
Treatment 1.Gargling with warm,diluted salt water or Dobell’s solution. 2.Analgesics:e.g.,aspirin,10 g or acetaminophen, 360 mg three times daily. 3.Antiviruses or antibiotics. 4.If possible, swab the pharynx for culture before treatment begins
Chronic pharyngitis