pharyngitis
Sign in to savePharyngitis is inflammation of the back of the throat, known as the pharynx. It typically results in a sore throat and fever. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and a hoarse voice. Symptoms usually last 3–5 days, but can be longer depending on cause. Complications can include sinusitis and acute otitis media. Pharyngitis is a type of upper respiratory tract infection.
AI overview
Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the back of the throat that causes a sore throat and fever, often accompanied by other symptoms like cough, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes. While symptoms typically resolve in 3–5 days, the condition matters because it can sometimes lead to complications such as sinusitis or ear infections.
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Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Pharyngitis
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Acute sore throat
- Medical condition (new).image
- Pharyngitis.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Viral pharyngitis resulting in visible redness
- Medical condition (new).field
- Infectious disease, family medicine, otorhinolaryngology
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Sore throat, fever, runny nose, cough, headache, hoarse voice
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Sinusitis, acute otitis media
- Medical condition (new).duration
- 3–10 days, depending on cause
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Usually viral infection
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Based on symptoms, rapid antigen detection test, throat swab
- Medical condition (new).differential
- Epiglottitis, thyroiditis, retropharyngeal abscess
Article
16 sectionsContents
- Classification
- Cause
- Viral
- Bacterial
- Streptococcal pharyngitis
- Fusobacterium necrophorum
- Diphtheria
- Others
- Fungal
- Noninfectious
- Diagnosis
- Management
- Medications
- Alternative
- Epidemiology
- References
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the back of the throat, known as the pharynx. It typically results in a sore throat and fever. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and a hoarse voice. Symptoms usually last 3–5 days, but can be longer depending on cause. Complications can include sinusitis and acute otitis media. Pharyngitis is a type of upper respiratory tract infection.
Most cases are caused by a viral infection. Strep throat, a bacterial infection, is the cause in about 25% of children and 10% of adults. Uncommon causes include other bacteria such as gonococcus, fungi, irritants such as smoke, allergies, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Specific testing is not recommended in people who have clear symptoms of a viral infection, such as a cold. Otherwise, a rapid antigen detection test or throat swab is recommended. PCR testing has become common as it is as good as taking a throat swab but gives a faster result. Other conditions that can produce similar symptoms include epiglottitis, thyroiditis, retropharyngeal abscess, and occasionally heart disease.