American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [401]
Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is acute inflammation of the throat (pharynx). It is similar to tonsillitis (see previous article) and caused by the same bacteria and viruses but tends to be less severe. Pharyngitis is a common symptom of a cold or the flu and is often the first symptom of mononucleosis (see page 935). Pharyngitis can also be caused by substances (such as alcohol, tobacco, or hot beverages) that irritate or burn the lining of the throat. People who have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; see page 750) often have chronic pharyngitis.
Symptoms
If you have pharyngitis, your throat is red and very sore, and swallowing is painful. You may have white patches of pus on your throat, a fever, swollen lymph nodes, or an earache. In rare cases, a person may have difficulty breathing. See your doctor if your sore throat lasts longer than a few days or if the pain is severe.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may take a sample of secretions from your throat to test it for the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms to rule out strep throat. The sample (culture) is grown in a laboratory and examined under a microscope. Growing bacteria in a culture can take up to 2 days.
Treatment
Pharyngitis usually clears up on its own. Gargling with warm salted water, sucking on mild throat lozenges, and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can temporarily ease the pain in your throat. Don’t smoke, and don’t eat or drink anything that could irritate your throat. If the pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box). The larynx is the organ at the top of the trachea (windpipe) that contains the vocal cords. Laryngitis is usually caused by a virus (such as a cold), but it also can result from exposure to an allergen (an allergy-causing substance) or irritants such as tobacco smoke or alcohol, from overusing the voice, or from violently clearing the throat or coughing. Occasional, uncomplicated bouts of laryngitis are not serious, but recurring episodes can lead to persistent hoarseness or abnormal growths on the vocal cords (see page 637).
Symptoms
The main symptom of laryngitis is a distorted or cracking voice or a complete loss of voice. The inflammation causes the vocal cords to swell, distorting their normal sound, usually for no more than 2 or 3 days. Speaking may be painful, and sometimes a person with laryngitis has a fever. In children, the opening of the larynx is narrow, and inflammation can cause difficulty breathing. See your doctor if symptoms persist for more than 4 or 5 days or if you cough up phlegm.
Diagnosis
If, after examining your larynx, your doctor finds no sign of inflammation, he or she will recommend that you have more tests; you could have a polyp, nodule, or tumor on your larynx.
Treatment
If you have laryngitis, rest your voice as much as you can and drink plenty of water. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes, because alcohol and smoke can irritate the larynx. Do not whisper; whispering strains the larynx and vocal cords. Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in both children and adults and is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia (see page 660) and bronchiolitis (see page 421) in infants and young children.
Most children contract an RSV infection by the time they are 2 years old and have no problems. However, children who were born prematurely, are younger than 6 months old, or have chronic lung, heart, or immune system disorders are at increased