What is Pharyngitis?

It is the swelling of the pharynx due to an infectious process of viral or bacterial origin, which can be acute or chronic, causing a sore throat, headache, high fever, swollen lymph nodes, irritation, and swallowing problems.

The pharynx is located between the tonsils and the larynx. Acute inflammation usually lasts a week and a half, while chronic pharyngitis affects patients with weak pharyngeal tissue and mucosa or in those who regularly have a depressed immune system due to disease or medical treatments.

There is greater prevalence in winter because the cold climate causes flu and various respiratory infections, causing infections at home and elsewhere.

The most common bacteria that cause pharyngitis are streptococcus pyogenes, some fungi, viruses such as herpes and flu, or it can be caused by allergic reactions to contaminants, drugs, or foods. Tobacco smoke is also another possible cause.

Signs and symptoms Pharyngitis

Symptoms vary according to the intensity of the infection and the age of the patient:

Babies:

Irritability.
Nasal congestion.
Viscous mucus.
High fever.
Insomnia.
Lack of appetite.
Snoring.
Swollen glands.
Otitis media.

Kids:

Pain and difficulty swallowing.
Swollen glands.
High fever.
Irritation of the palate and pharynx.
General discomfort.
Nasal congestion.
Snoring.

Adults:

Symptoms similar to those of the children.

When pharyngitis is due to a viral infection, it is common for another bacterial complementary infection to develop, which makes treatment more complex and recovery slower.

Diagnosis and treatment Pharyngitis

Your doctor will analyze your symptoms and medical history, and then perform a physical examination to determine if it is an acute or chronic pharyngitis, but it may request blood tests and erythrocyte sedimentation tests to corroborate the diagnosis, as well as a pharyngeal exudate to identify the pathogen that generates the infectious condition and its degree of sensitivity to different drugs.

Within the treatment plan, good nutrition and continuous hydration are essential. The medications prescribed will depend on the type of infection you have and will be supported by pain relievers and anti-inflammatories to control symptoms.

In the ABC Medical Center Internal Medicine Department, we offer you health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, from both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments

Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

topdoctors.es
mayoclinic.org
medlinesplus.gov
cun.es
clevelandclinic.org
medigraphic.com
Vidal TLA, Porto ÁG, Claro ML, et al. Fiebre periódica con estomatitis aftosa, faringitis, y adenitis. Rev Méd Electrón. 2018;40(4):1155-1162.
González HK, Varela MAC, Barrantes AGJ. Colchicina como tratamiento del síndrome de fiebre periódica, estomatitis aftosa, faringitis y adenitis cervical pediátrico (PFAPA): un estudio de caso. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(09):1-9.
Niubó CE, Valdes-Dapena M, Manrique-Suárez V, et al. Tipificación mediante electroforesis de campos pulsantes de cepas de Streptococcus beta hemolíticos presentes en un brote de faringitis en niños. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol. 2015;53(1):.
Xacur-Hernández MI, Santos-Zaldívar KP, Quintana-Gamboa AA, et al. Descripción y análisis clínicoepidemiológico de los motivos otorrinolaringológicos de ingreso en 2015 en México. Otorrinolaringología. 2020;65(3):117-129.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is Pharyngitis?

Signs and symptoms Pharyngitis

Diagnosis and treatment Pharyngitis

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Pharyngitis