NSAIDs, such asibuprofen, can be used to help with the pain.[2] Numbing medication, such as topicallidocaine, may also help.[4] Strep throat is typically treated withantibiotics, such as eitherpenicillin oramoxicillin.[2] It is unclear whethersteroids are useful in acute pharyngitis, other than possibly in severe cases. A recent (2020) review found that when used in combination with antibiotics, they moderately reduced pain and the likelihood of resolution.[9][10]
About 7.5% of people have a sore throat in any 3-month period.[5] Two or three episodes in a year are not uncommon.[1] This resulted in 15 million physician visits in the United States in 2007.[4] Pharyngitis is the most common cause of a sore throat.[11] The word comes from theGreek wordpharynx meaning "throat" and the suffix-itis meaning "inflammation".[12][13]
Tonsillitis is a subtype of pharyngitis.[14] If the inflammation includes both thetonsils and other parts of the throat, it may be calledpharyngotonsillitis ortonsillopharyngitis.[15] Another subclassification isnasopharyngitis (the common cold).[16]
Clergyman's sore throat orclergyman's throat is an archaic term formerly used for chronic pharyngitis associated with overuse of the voice as in public speaking. It was sometimes calleddysphonia clericorum or chronicfolliculitis sore throat.[17]
These comprise about 40–80% of all infectious cases and can be a feature of many different types of viral infections.[11][18]
Adenovirus is the most common of the viral causes. Typically, the degree of necklymph node enlargement is modest, and the throat often does not appear red, although it is painful.
The familyOrthomyxoviridae which causesinfluenza presents with rapid-onset high temperature, headache, and generalized ache. A sore throat may be associated.
Streptococcal pharyngitis or strep throat is caused by agroup A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS).[20] It is the most common bacterial cause of cases of pharyngitis (15–30%).[19] Common symptoms includefever,sore throat, and large lymph nodes. It is a contagious infection that is spread by close contact with an infected individual. A definitive diagnosis is made based on the results of athroat culture.Antibiotics are useful to both prevent complications (such asrheumatic fever) and speed recovery.[21]
Diphtheria is a potentially life-threatening upper respiratory infection caused byCorynebacterium diphtheriae, which has been largely eradicated in developed nations since the introduction of childhoodvaccination programs, but is still reported in theThird World and increasingly in some areas inEastern Europe. Antibiotics are effective in the early stages, but recovery is generally slow.[citation needed]
Pharyngitis may also be caused by mechanical, chemical, or thermal irritation, for example, cold air oracid reflux. Some medications may produce pharyngitis, such aspramipexole andantipsychotics.[27][28]
Differentiating a viral and a bacterial cause of a sore throat based on symptoms alone is difficult.[29] Thus, a throat swab often is done to rule out a bacterial cause.[30]
The modifiedCentor criteria may be used to determine the management of people with pharyngitis. Based on five clinical criteria, it indicates the probability of a streptococcal infection.[21]
Steroids (such asdexamethasone) may be useful for severe pharyngitis.[32][10] Their general use, however, is poorly supported.[9]
Viscouslidocaine relieves pain by numbing the mucous membranes.[33]
Antibiotics are useful if a bacterial infection is the cause of the sore throat.[34][35] For viral infections, antibiotics have no effect. In the United States, they are used in 25% of people before a bacterial infection has been detected.[36]
Garglingsalt water is often suggested, but there is no evidence to support or discourage this practice.[4]Alternative medicines are promoted and used for the treatment of sore throats.[37] However, they are poorly supported by evidence.[37]
Acute pharyngitis is the most common cause of asore throat and, together with cough, it is diagnosed in more than 1.9 million people a year in the United States.[11]
^abcdefghijklmnopqrsHildreth, AF; Takhar, S; Clark, MA; Hatten, B (September 2015). "Evidence-Based Evaluation And Management Of Patients With Pharyngitis In The Emergency Department".Emergency Medicine Practice.17 (9):1–16, quiz 16–7.PMID26276908.
^Rafei K, Lichenstein R (2006). "Airway Infectious Disease Emergencies".Pediatric Clinics of North America.53 (2):215–242.doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2005.10.001.PMID16574523.
^Harvard Medical School."Sore Throat (Pharyngitis)".Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved3 December 2019.
^Urkin, J; Allenbogen, M; Friger, M; Vinker, S; Reuveni, H; Elahayani, A (November 2013). "Acute pharyngitis: low adherence to guidelines highlights need for greater flexibility in managing paediatric cases".Acta Paediatrica.102 (11):1075–80.doi:10.1111/apa.12364.PMID23879261.S2CID24465793.
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