This document defines acute pharyngitis (sore throat) as a sudden painful inflammation of the pharynx caused by viral or bacterial infections. Common symptoms include pain when swallowing, fever, redness and swelling in the throat. Diagnosis involves a physical exam, culture tests, and rapid strep tests. Treatment focuses on antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and a soft diet. Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent throat inflammation characterized by multiple white growths on the tonsils or throat, often in people exposed to irritants like dust, voice overuse, smoking or drinking. Medical management aims to relieve symptoms and correct infections through medications, surgery and lifestyle changes.

1. Mr. Manikandan.T,
RN., RM., M.Sc(N)., D.C.A .,(Ph.D)
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing,
VMCON, Puducherry.

2. DEFINITION
• Inflammation of the pharynx

3. Acute pharyngitis (Sore Throat):
is a sudden painful inflammation of the
pharynx, the back portion of the throat that
includes the posterior third of the tongue, soft
palate, and tonsils.

4. Causes
• environmental exposure to viral agents - adenovirus, influenza virus,
Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus
• Bacterial infection - Ten percent of adults with pharyngitis have group A
beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), which is commonly referred to
as group A streptococcus (GAS) or streptococcal pharyngitis.
• When GAS causes acute pharyngitis, the condition is known as strep
throat
• Other bacterias - Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, H.
influenzae type B
• Poorly ventilated rooms,
• viral pharyngitis peaks during winter and early spring
• Viral pharyngitis spreads easily in the droplets of coughs and sneezes
• unclean hands that have been exposed to the contaminated fluids.

5. CLINICAL FEATURES
• Pain – Body, swallowing
• Dry cough
• Fever
• Vasodilation
• Edema
• Redness and swelling in the tonsillar pillars,
uvula, and soft palate.
• A creamy exudate may be present in the tonsillar
pillars
• Lymph node enlargement

6. DIAGNOSIS
• H.C
• P/E
• Culture
• Blood investigation
• Rapid streptococcal antigen test [RSAT]

7. Treatment
• Antibiotics – Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily – 5-7
days
• Once-daily azithromycin may be given for only 3
days due to its long half-life.
• A 5- or 10-day course of cephalosporin may be
prescribed. Five-day administration of
cefpodoxime and cefuroxime has also been
successful in producing bacteriologic cures.
• Anti inflammatory -ibuprofen
• Pottasium permonganate gargles
• Soft, bland and warm diet

8. Nutritional Therapy
• A liquid or soft diet.
• Cool beverages, warm liquids, and flavored frozen
desserts such as Popsicles are often soothing.
Occasionally, the throat is so sore that liquids
cannot be taken in adequate amounts by mouth.
• In severe situations, intravenous (IV) fluids may
be needed.
• Otherwise, the patient is encouraged to drink as
much fluid as possible (at least 2 to 3 L per day).

9. CHRONIC PHARYNGITIS
• Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent
inflammation of the pharynx. Charecterised by
multiple, white elongated keratinized
epithelial outgrowths project from the surface
of tonsil, base of tongue or posterior
pharyngeal wall.

10. • It is common in adults who work in dusty
surroundings, use their voice to excess, suffer
from chronic cough
• Habitually use alcohol and tobacco.

11. TYPES OF CHRONIC PHARYNGITIS:
• Hypertrophic: characterized by general
thickening and congestion of the pharyngeal
mucous membrane
• Atrophic: probably a late stage of the first type
(the membrane is thin, whitish, glistening, and
at times wrinkled)
• Chronic granular (“clergyman’s sore throat”),
characterized by numerous swollen lymph
follicles on the pharyngeal wall

12. Clinical Manifestations
• Foreign body sensation
• Constant sense of irritation or fullness in the
throat, mucus that collects in the throat and
can be expelled by coughing, and difficulty
swallowing.
• A sore throat that is worse with swallowing in
the absence of pharyngitis suggests the
possibility of thyroiditis.

13. Medical Management
• Relieving symptoms- avoiding exposure to irritants,
and correcting any upper Respiratory infection
• Nasal congestion may be relieved by short-term use of
nasal sprays or medications containing ephedrine
sulfate(Kondon’s Nasal) or phenylephrine
hydrochloride (Neo-Synephrine).
• For allergy, one of the antihistamine decongestant
medications, such as Pseudoephedrine(Sudafed) or
brompheniramine/pseudoephedrine, is prescribed
orally every 4 to 6 hours.
• Aspirin or acetaminophen is recommended for its anti-
inflammatory and analgesic properties.
• For adults with chronic pharyngitis, tonsillectomy is an
effective option