Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults 
Children Children Children Children 
Hotline: 
Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Adults Children Children Children Children 
Pharyngitis is one of the most common causes of pain and discomfort in the throat. However, this symptom does not always indicate one and the same disease. It may occur with viral and bacterial infections, allergic reactions, irritation of the mucous membrane, or other pathologies of the ENT organs. That is why it is important to establish the cause of inflammation in a timely manner and choose the correct treatment tactics.
If the symptoms do not go away within several days or worsen, it is worth consulting an otolaryngologist to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the optimal treatment tactics. It is possible to schedule a consultation by phone or through the online appointment form on the website.
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx, which is accompanied by irritation, redness, and swelling of the mucous membrane. The disease may cause pain or discomfort during swallowing, a scratchy throat, and a feeling of dryness in the throat. Pharyngitis may develop both independently and be one of the manifestations of other diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Pharyngitis may differ by the duration of its course, the cause of occurrence, and the nature of changes in the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Determining the form of the disease helps the doctor establish an accurate diagnosis and select the most effective treatment.
Depending on the duration of the disease, the following are distinguished:
acute — occurs suddenly and usually lasts up to several weeks;
chronic — is characterized by a long course with periodic exacerbations and remissions.
Depending on the course and causes of the disease development, manifestations and treatment tactics may differ.
Depending on the factor that caused the inflammation, pharyngitis is distinguished as:
viral — the most common form of the disease;
bacterial — associated with a bacterial infection;
streptococcal — one of the varieties of bacterial, caused by group A streptococci;
allergic — develops as a result of contact with allergens.
Establishing the cause of the disease is important for choosing the correct treatment tactics.
Depending on the features of damage to the mucous membrane of the pharynx, pharyngitis is distinguished as:
atrophic, in which the mucous membrane becomes thinner and more vulnerable to irritation;
subatrophic, which is accompanied by initial atrophic changes in the mucous membrane;
purulent, for which the appearance of purulent discharge or plaque is characteristic;
vesicular, which manifests by the formation of small blisters on the mucous membrane of the pharynx.
Each of these forms has its own features of course and requires an individual approach to diagnosis and treatment.
If considering pharyngitis, the causes of its occurrence may be associated both with infections and with the influence of external irritants. In many cases, inflammation develops against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, but there are also other factors that may contribute to the development of the disease.
The most common causes include:
viral infections;
bacterial infections;
allergic reactions;
prolonged inhalation of dry, cold, or polluted air;
smoking or regular inhalation of tobacco smoke;
irritation of the mucous membrane by chemical substances;
decreased local immunity.
According to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most cases of sore throat are associated specifically with viral infections, while bacterial pathogens, in particular group A streptococci, occur much less often.
Sometimes chronic foci of infection in the oral cavity also contribute to the development of inflammation. For example, untreated caries may support the inflammatory process and create conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
Doctors at Oxford Medical note that the risk of developing pharyngitis increases with frequent cold-related diseases, constant irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, and the absence of timely treatment of concomitant diseases of the ENT organs.
Manifestations of the disease may differ depending on the cause of inflammation
and the individual characteristics of the body.
The most common signs of pharyngitis include:
pain, scratchiness, or burning in the throat;
discomfort or pain during swallowing;
a feeling of dryness in the pharynx;
redness of the mucous membrane of the throat.
One of the most characteristic manifestations is a sore throat. At the same time, the throat with pharyngitis may hurt constantly or only during swallowing. The intensity of pain depends on the severity of the inflammatory process.
Common symptoms of pharyngitis also include the need to frequently clear the throat, a feeling of a foreign body in the throat, and general malaise. Some patients have fever with pharyngitis, especially if the inflammation is associated with an acute infection.
Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend consulting a specialist if a sore throat persists for more than several days, worsens, or is accompanied by other symptoms that worsen well-being.
To establish the diagnosis, an otolaryngologist examines the pharynx and analyzes the patient’s complaints. In most cases, the specialist can detect the throat disease — pharyngitis already during the initial appointment, but additional examinations are sometimes necessary to determine the cause of inflammation.
If necessary, the following may be prescribed:
a complete blood count;
a throat swab to determine the infectious pathogen;
bacteriological examination of a throat swab;
additional examinations to exclude concomitant throat diseases.
Doctors at Oxford Medical note that determining the cause of inflammation is important for choosing treatment tactics. For example, with viral and bacterial forms, approaches to therapy may differ significantly.
Treatment tactics depend on the cause and form of the disease, as well as the severity of symptoms. That is why there is no universal therapy regimen — treatment is selected individually. Therapy may include:
local antiseptics in the form of sprays, rinsing solutions, or lozenges;
anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications to reduce pain and discomfort in the throat;
antipyretic agents if elevated temperature is present;
medications for moisturizing the mucous membrane of the pharynx;
according to indications — tonsil lavage in concomitant chronic tonsillitis;
as an auxiliary method for some chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract, halotherapy may be used.
Doctors at Oxford Medical note: according to the recommendations of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), most cases of acute sore throat are of viral origin and do not require the use of antibiotics.
Features of treatment of different forms:
| Type of pharyngitis | Features of treatment |
| Viral | Local antiseptics, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agents, and medications for moisturizing the mucous membrane of the throat are usually prescribed. If necessary, antipyretic medications are used. |
| Bacterial | In addition to local treatment, the doctor may prescribe antibacterial therapy. The choice of antibiotic depends on the infectious pathogen. |
| Streptococcal | The basis of treatment consists of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, as well as local antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents. |
| Allergic | Treatment is aimed at eliminating contact with the allergen. Antihistamines and local anti-inflammatory agents may be used. |
| Chronic | Eliminating the causes that maintain inflammation is important. If necessary, treatment of chronic foci of infection, diseases of the nose and tonsils is carried out. |
| Atrophic and subatrophic | Agents for moisturizing and softening the mucous membrane, medications for its restoration, as well as physiotherapeutic procedures according to indications are used. |
Pharyngitis: Complications
In most cases, pharyngitis responds well to treatment and passes without consequences. However, in the absence of timely therapy or with a severe course of the disease, complications may develop. The risk of complications is higher with bacterial forms of the disease, especially if the patient does not consult a doctor or does not follow the prescribed treatment.
Possible complications are:
spread of infection to neighboring ENT organs;
laryngitis — inflammation of the larynx;
tonsillitis — inflammation of the tonsils;
sinusitis — inflammation of the paranasal sinuses;
inflammation of lymph nodes in the neck area;
formation of purulent foci, in particular abscesses in the throat area.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), untreated streptococcal pharyngitis in rare cases may lead to the development of such complications as rheumatism and some other inflammatory diseases.
Doctors at Oxford Medical recommend not carrying the disease “on one’s feet” and not interrupting treatment immediately after improvement in well-being. This helps reduce the risk of complications and contributes to full recovery.
It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of developing pharyngitis, but following simple recommendations helps reduce the likelihood of inflammation of the pharynx and its repeated occurrence.
For prevention, it is recommended to:
treat acute respiratory and ENT diseases in a timely manner;
maintain sufficient air humidity in the room;
avoid hypothermia;
give up smoking and minimize inhalation of tobacco smoke;
follow hand hygiene rules during the period of seasonal spread of infections;
strengthen immunity with the help of a balanced diet, physical activity, and proper sleep.
Special attention to prevention should be paid to people with chronic diseases of the ENT organs and those who often have infections of the upper respiratory tract.
The cost of treating pharyngitis depends primarily on the cause of the inflammation. With viral forms of the disease, a consultation with an otolaryngologist and medication therapy are usually sufficient. If the inflammation has a bacterial origin or is accompanied by other diseases of the ENT organs, the scope of diagnostics and treatment may be greater.
After the consultation and examination, the doctor will create an individual treatment plan and provide guidance regarding the cost of medical services. You can review the prices for doctors’ consultations in advance here. To schedule an appointment with an otolaryngologist, leave a request through the online appointment form or call the contact center.
The information is for informational purposes and does not replace a doctor’s consultation.
Sources:
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx, which is usually accompanied by pain and scratchiness in the throat. Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx and more often manifests as hoarseness of the voice or its temporary loss.
Contagiousness depends on the cause of the disease. Viral and bacterial ones may be transmitted from person to person, while allergic or irritant ones are not contagious.
No. It is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, while tonsillitis (acute tonsillitis) is inflammation of the palatine tonsils. At the same time, these diseases may have similar symptoms and sometimes occur simultaneously.
Yes, it can. The absence of elevated temperature is often observed with a mild course of the disease, allergic or chronic forms of inflammation of the pharynx.
In acute disease, sore throat usually persists from several days to 1-2 weeks. If symptoms last longer or intensify, it is worth consulting a doctor.
This disease itself rarely leads to loss of smell. However, with viral infections that simultaneously affect the nose and throat, temporary worsening or loss of smell is possible.
With pharyngitis, the mucous membrane of the pharynx becomes inflamed, and with tonsillitis — the palatine tonsils. Enlargement of the tonsils, plaque on them and pronounced pain during swallowing are more characteristic of tonsillitis.
In the early stages, some symptoms may be similar, therefore it is impossible to establish a diagnosis independently. If sore throat, hoarseness or discomfort persist for a long time, consultation with an otolaryngologist and diagnostics are necessary.
Gargling with a soda solution is sometimes used to temporarily reduce discomfort in the throat. However, this method does not replace treatment prescribed by a doctor and is not suitable in all cases.
Smoking irritates the mucous membrane of the pharynx and can intensify inflammation. During the disease, it is recommended to give up smoking in order to promote faster recovery of the mucous membrane and reduce the risk of complications.
Accurate diagnostics. The otolaryngology department is equipped with equipment from leading manufacturers of medical technology, which allows accurate assessment of the condition of ENT organs.
Experienced doctors. Consultations are conducted by specialists with many years of experience who work according to modern clinical recommendations.
Comfortable appointment. At Oxford Medical, an ENT specialist provides consultations in Kyiv and Irpin, which makes it possible to choose a convenient location and the optimal time for a visit.
Modern inpatient department. Surgical treatment is carried out in the modern surgical inpatient department of the private clinic Oxford Medical.
4.88 
10+ 
10+ Years of experience 
4.85 14+ 14+ Years of experience 
Kyiv, Oleksandra Olesia St., 2 
4.75 22+ 22+ Years of experience Kyiv, Oleksandra Olesia St., 2 Kyiv, Vasyl Lypkivskoho St., 38 
4.82 35+ 35+ Years of experience m. Irpin vul. University, 2/1, building 3 
in the clinic 
online 
Hello!
