Pharyngitis is a type of inflammation of pharynx, caused by an upper respiratory tract infection.
Classification:
It may be classified as
- acute
- or chronic.
- Acute pharyngitis may be catarrhal, purulent or ulcerative, depending on the causative agent and the immune capacity of the affected individual.
- Chronic pharyngitis may be catarrhal, hypertrophic or atrophic.
- Tonsillitis is a subtype of pharyngitis. If the inflammation includes both the tonsils and other parts of the throat, it may be called pharyngotonsillitis.
Signs and symptoms:
The signs and symptoms of acute pharyngitis include:
- A fiery-red pharyngeal membrane and tonsils.
- Lymphoid follicles that are swollen and flecked with white-purple exudate.
- enlarged and tender cervical nodes and no cough.
- High fever (with or without chills).
- Malaise and sore throat also may be present.
- Patients with GAS pharyngitis exhibit vomiting, anorexia, and a scarlatina-form rash with urticaria known as scarlet fever.
- Tonsils appear swollen and erythematous.
- Hoarseness.
- Bad breath is common.
The patient with chronic pharyngitis complain of:
- Constant Sense of irritation or fullness in the throat.
- Mucus collects in the throat and can be expelled by coughing.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Pay progress to Thyroiditis.
