Typically, according to Medspring Urgent Care,
a sore throat is caused by one of these culprits:
· One of many cold
viruses.
·
Flu.
·
Mono.
·
Coxsackie virus.
Unless your pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial
infection, like strep throat, pharyngitis is a viral infection and is not
treated with antibiotics. Seeking medical attention depends on the
severity of your symptoms and risk factors; the more discomfort you are
experiencing, the wiser it is to promptly pay your doctor a visit. For
more details, visit this website: https://medspring.com/treatments/pharyngitis-sore-throat
.
According to the American Family Physician, pharyngitis is one
of the most common conditions encountered by the family physician. The
optimal approach for differentiating among various causes of pharyngitis
requires a problem-focused history, a physical examination, and appropriate
laboratory testing. Identifying the cause of pharyngitis, especially group A
beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), is important to prevent potential
life-threatening complications. More detailed information about testing
for pharyngitis is located at this website: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0315/p1465.html
.
In the majority of cases, pharyngitis
will disappear within a week, though can last longer. Treatment will usually focus on managing the symptoms,
according to Ada Health. However, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat the
bacterial form of the condition. Generally, it is a non-serious condition,
though in some instances it can cause severe symptoms or a serious infection.
Antibiotics
are ineffective against viral pharyngitis, though, they may be prescribed for
those with a bacterial infection. Doctors are often reluctant to prescribe
antibiotics for bacterial pharyngitis due to the fact that they are not always
effective and may cause side-effects. To decide if an individual should be
prescribed antibiotics, doctors will sometimes use a test known as the Centor
score. Physicians will look for:
·
Pus
on the tonsils.
·
Painful
or tender glands on the neck.
·
The
absence of a cough.
·
Fever.
If three or
more of these features are present, a doctor will often prescribe a delayed
prescription, whereby antibiotics will be prescribed for two or three days in
the future, to be used if symptoms have not disappeared or have gotten worse.
You can find much more information about symptoms and treatment at this site: https://ada.com/conditions/acute-pharyngitis/
.
According
to Infectious Disease Advisor, there
is no single vaccine that prevents pharyngitis, since it can be caused by many
different bacteria and viruses. Influenza vaccine may prevent some community
causes of pharyngitis. Prophylactic drug treatment is not recommended.
Avoidance of direct contact with infected patients is key to
preventing pharyngitis. For a very clinical overview, read this material.
However, consult a physician since this website is primarily for medical professionals: https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/infectious-diseases/pharyngitis/ .
Additionally,
according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, pharyngitis and tonsillitis are infections that
cause inflammation. If the tonsils are affected, it is called tonsillitis. If
the throat is affected, it is called pharyngitis. If you have both, it’s called
pharyngotonsillitis. These infections are spread by close contact with others.
Most cases happen during the winter or colder months.
Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based
on:
- How old you are
- His or her overall health and
medical history
- How sick you are
- How well you can handle
specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
- How long the condition is
expected to last
- Your opinion or preference
Most cases of pharyngitis and tonsillitis will run their
course without any complications. But, if the disease is caused by strep, rare
complications, including rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, and kidney
disease can happen. Treatment with antibiotics can prevent these complications. If a
sore throat is severe and includes trouble swallowing, drooling, or neck
swelling, see a healthcare provider right away. More details are
available at this site: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pharyngitis-and-tonsillitis
.
Sore
throats are usually a nuisance, and they make you feel under the weather as
long as you have one. However, in some cases, you should visit a medical practitioner
if the symptoms seem out of the ordinary or last longer than normal. If your
immune system is compromised, or your age or other underlying health factors
are problematic, then go to your doctor to make sure you don’t have other issues
beyond pharyngitis.
Until next
time.
