Pharyngitis, which is a common disease in society, is inflammation of the pharynx as a result of infection in the pharynx. It can be said that this disease, which manifests itself with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and weakness, may be caused by viruses or bacteria, and that this disease is contagious. As with other viral diseases such as influenza, its incidence increases in the winter months due to the decrease in body resistance due to cold. This disease, which is not difficult to diagnose, is not difficult to treat, either.
Pharyngitis can be classified as acute and chronic according to the course of the disease.
What is Acute Pharyngitis?
It is an inflammation that usually occurs as a result of infections caused by microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. Apart from viral or bacterial causes, it can rarely be seen as a result of irritation of the pharynx, called the pharynx, with hot or potentially harmful substances.
If pharyngitis is caused by viruses or bacteria, it is an infectious disease. Like other infectious respiratory diseases, this disease can be transmitted to many people, especially in crowded places such as schools, hospitals, shopping centers, as it is transmitted by coughing, sneezing and contact with the surface where droplets are located.
Influenza viruses and herpes viruses are often seen as the cause of pharyngitis, while beta-hemolytic streptococci are generally known to be the causative agent of the disease.
Along with acute pharyngitis, other upper respiratory tract diseases such as sinusitis and bronchitis are among the common diseases. In addition, pharyngitis can be seen in the early stages of diseases such as measles, typhoid fever and smallpox.
Since acute pharyngitis is usually caused by viruses, recovery is observed in the patient in 3-7 days. In pharyngitis due to irritation, the recovery time may vary depending on the nature of the irritation. In bacterial pharyngitis, faster results can be obtained with antibiotic treatment.
What is Chronic Pharyngitis?
Chronic pharyngitis is a disease that usually occurs as a result of a person’s lifestyle and habits. Rarely, other chronic diseases that the person has can cause chronic pharyngitis. Diseases that can irritate the throat such as reflux and some rheumatic diseases are also among the causes of chronic pharyngitis. Therefore, pharyngitis caused by viruses and bacteria is acute and heals when the virus or bacteria leaves the body; Thus, acute pharyngitis does not turn into chronic pharyngitis.
The most important feature of chronic pharyngitis is the continuous and recurrent manifestation of the disease. Constant discomfort and inflammation in the throat are the most prominent complaints of chronic pharyngitis patients.
Classification of Pharyngitis According to Anatomical Region
Pharyngitis, which is classified as acute and chronic according to the course of the disease, can also be classified according to the anatomical region where it occurs.
Nasopharyngitis: Nasopharyngitis, which is the inflammation of the area where the nasal passages and pharynx meet, is a common disease in both children and adults. The disease can be easily detected during a physical examination by the doctor. If the source of the disease, which manifests itself with swelling and redness, is bacteria, antibiotic treatment is applied.
Tonsillitis: This disease, also called tonsillitis, is a common infectious disease especially in children. In addition to the physical examination, tests for the detection of bacteria can also be performed for the detection of the disease, which is usually caused by bacteria. It is classified as acute, chronic and recurrent according to its course.
Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx, where the vocal cords are also located. Since the disease occurs in the area where the vocal cords are located, hoarseness causes the voice to sound different. Cough is also a common symptom. The cause of the disease is mostly viruses. Early treatment is of great importance, as the treatment will be difficult if the disease does not last for a long time or progresses.
Pharyngitis Symptoms
In general, the question of what are the symptoms of pharyngitis can be answered as pain in the throat, swelling, burning sensation, difficulty in swallowing, cough and fever. These are the most common symptoms. In addition, nasal discharge, a feeling of dryness in the throat, itching can be seen. At the same time, these symptoms may be accompanied by weakness, fatigue and joint pain.
Lymph nodes in the throat may swell as a result of pharyngitis, and these swollen glands may press on the vocal cords, causing hoarseness or a different sound.
Symptoms such as fever and fatigue are common symptoms in chronic pharyngitis; The discomforts in the throat are milder but do not go away and are repetitive. It can be said that the disease manifests itself with symptoms such as dryness in the throat, burning, cough, difficulty in swallowing.
Pharyngitis Causes
Pharyngitis can have many different causes. In general, viral, bacterial, fungal, environmental and personal causes can be counted among the causes of pharyngitis.
Viral Causes: manifested by swelling, fever and pain
n pharyngitis is usually caused by viruses. As it can develop alone, viral pharyngitis can be seen especially due to viruses that cause flu and colds. If there is an epidemic influenza virus, the possibility that the source of pharyngitis may be viral should be considered, taking into account other symptoms.
Bacterial Causes: Various bacteria can cause pharyngitis, the most important of which is a type of streptococcus bacteria, also known as beta microbes. Beta test is done to detect this bacterium. However, it should be noted that other bacteria can also cause pharyngitis.
Unlike viral pharyngitis, antibiotics are used in the treatment process. However, antibiotics must be used with the advice of a doctor and in the recommended time and amount.
The transmission of viruses of bacterial origin is very fast and easy. For this reason, it is recommended to stay away from closed and crowded environments, especially in winter.
Fungal Causes: Among the rare causes of pharyngitis, fungi can be counted.
Personal and Environmental Causes: Personal and environmental reasons should also be considered when making the diagnosis, especially in the case of chronic pharyngitis. Among these reasons, it can be said that besides harmful habits such as smoking, the environment is also important. Being in areas where dirt and dust is intense and working without a mask in environments that are not suitable for work are the most important reasons. Another situation that is affected by working conditions is professions that require a lot of talk.
Nutrition can also affect pharyngitis, for example, consuming bitter and spicy foods that can irritate the throat, and excessively hot or cold foods can increase the risk of pharyngitis.
One of the most important personal reasons that may cause pharyngitis are structural problems that prevent the person from breathing easily through his nose, and viral, bacterial infections, and allergic conditions that cause nasal congestion. The salivary secretion contains a liquid defense system that prevents the microbes in the mouth and throat from causing disease. When this system is damaged, teeth, gums and throat problems occur more easily. Surgical resolution of the problems is important in terms of recurrence of pharyngitis complaints.
Pharyngitis Diagnostic Methods
While some types of pharyngitis can be detected on physical examination, some types of pharyngitis may require some tests in addition to the physical examination. In general, when symptoms such as sore throat, fever, weakness, and difficulty swallowing are observed, the first disease that comes to mind is pharyngitis. In such cases, the diagnosis can be made by performing a detailed patient history, physical examination and, if necessary, tests.
In order to distinguish whether the disease is especially of bacterial origin, the doctor may order some tests to detect the source of the disease, such as beta testing. These methods help determine the appropriate treatment method, as it provides an understanding of whether the disease is viral or bacterial.
If there is another disease underlying the pharyngitis or if the pharyngitis has been accompanied by another disease, additional diagnostic methods can be used for the diagnosis of these diseases.
Pharyngitis Treatment
For the treatment of pharyngitis, there are simple supportive methods that the person can apply, and the treatment recommended by the doctor should be applied without interruption.
In the treatment of pharyngitis, the source of the disease should be determined first. If the disease is of viral origin, a treatment for the symptoms (for example, giving pain medication if there is a sore throat) is applied, while antibiotic treatment can be applied if it is caused by bacteria. In addition, in cases arising from personal and environmental reasons, elimination of this cause should be the first step in treatment.
In addition to all these, there are some points that patients should pay attention to in order to support the treatment in general. Increasing the amount of fluid consumption will keep the throat moist and provide relief for the patient. Especially since chronic pharyngitis is thought to be caused by lifestyle, habits that harm the throat, such as smoking, should be completely abandoned and eating and drinking habits should be reviewed. If it is determined that chronic pharyngitis is caused by reasons such as allergens or being in an environment that is not suitable for throat health, these should also be eliminated.
If those who have a profession such as teaching have to talk constantly, if they have chronic pharyngitis caused by this, talking in a way that does not irritate the throat, avoiding shouting, interrupting their speech frequently and drinking water while talking are among the things that can be done to relieve the throat.
gets. Such changes in lifestyle will provide great benefits in terms of both the health and quality of life of the person.
What Is Good For Pharyngitis?
In pharyngitis, the symptoms can be alleviated by methods that can be applied at home. Among these, consuming plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water, taking nutritious foods that will strengthen the immune system, and drinking warm herbal teas or soups are the first supportive methods that come to mind. Care should be taken to regulate the temperature of the liquids consumed during the illness well and not to be too hot or cold. If these are paid attention to at normal times, pharyngitis that may develop due to irritation can be prevented.
The environment in which pharyngitis patients are located is very important. In dry weather, the throat may dry out due to lack of moisture during breathing. Therefore, a humid and warm environment must be created. The humidity of the room can be adjusted by keeping a device measuring humidity in the room. Air humidifiers can also be used in the rooms of the patients. In addition to dry air, it is necessary to avoid environments where dust, dirt, cigarette smoke, chemical particles or allergens may be present depending on the patient’s allergy status.
There are also some precautions that can be taken before the disease occurs. Since pharyngitis is a contagious disease, it is seen that the incidence of the disease increases with the increase in the time spent indoors, especially in winter. In this respect, attention should be paid to personal hygiene and cleaning, as the risk of epidemics is higher in crowded places. You should stay less in closed environments, and if it is necessary to stay in these environments, attention should be paid to frequent ventilation of these places. Outbreaks can be prevented by isolating sick individuals from society.