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Chronic pharyngitis
Chronic pharyngitis is classified into several types.
Chronic pharyngitis, based on pathological conditions, is divided into three types. The first type is chronic simple pharyngitis, which is also the most common type we usually refer to. It mainly involves chronic congestion of the pharyngeal mucosa and hyperplasia of lymphatic follicles on the posterior pharyngeal wall. The second type is chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis, which can be observed during examination as congested and thickened pharyngeal mucosa with proliferating lymphatic tissue, appearing rather thick. The third type is atrophic and dry pharyngitis, which is relatively rare in clinical cases and often accompanies atrophic rhinitis. A primary symptom is dryness in the throat because the pathological changes mainly involve a decrease in the secretory function of the glandular tissues in the pharynx, resulting in reduced secretions and the mucosa becoming atrophic and thin. Based on the different causes of the condition, it can also be divided into several types. One type is simple pharyngitis, also referred to as chronic simple pharyngitis, related to smoking, drinking, air pollution, and excessive talking. Another type is reflux pharyngitis, which is now also a disease with a relatively high incidence rate, mainly caused by gastroesophageal reflux leading to chronic inflammation of the stomach and damage to the mucous membrane of the pharynx and throat, known as reflux pharyngitis. Additionally, some cases are secondary to rhinitis and sinusitis, due to the long-term discomfort in the throat caused by the backflow of nasal discharge, leading to chronic inflammatory responses; this is also a type of secondary pharyngitis.
The differences between chronic pharyngitis and acute pharyngitis
There is a fundamental difference between the two; chronic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, while acute pharyngitis is an acute inflammatory disease. Furthermore, the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are not very prominent in clinical settings, presenting only as a foreign body sensation or other discomforts. In contrast, the symptoms of acute pharyngitis are quite significant, such as sore throat, and may even include systemic symptoms like chills and fever. Thirdly, during examination of chronic pharyngitis, one can observe congestion of the pharyngeal mucosa, which is a type of chronic congestion. However, the congestion in acute inflammation is acute and very pronounced. There are also significant differences in treatment. For chronic inflammation, the clinical approach mainly involves administering heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines, and sometimes no medication is used at all; just focus on hydrating locally without the need for any special medication. In contrast, acute pharyngitis requires medication to manage the acute inflammatory symptoms. In summary, there are fundamental differences between chronic and acute pharyngitis, whether it is in symptoms, treatment, or the pathological state of the mucosa.
How to completely cure chronic pharyngitis?
Chronic pharyngitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease, and it is still difficult to achieve a complete cure at present. There are various treatment methods, among which oral Chinese patent medicine and nebulization treatment are commonly used. It is also advised to regulate the diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, and regularly re-examine the throat with a laryngoscope to observe changes in the condition. However, with the existing medical procedures and treatment plans, it is still hard to completely cure and can be recurrent. Overall, chronic pharyngitis does not pose a significant risk to overall health. It mainly causes discomfort in the throat area, but most cases can be controlled and alleviated with standardized treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)