Is acute pharyngitis contagious?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on October 23, 2024
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Acute pharyngitis can be contagious. Generally, it can spread through the respiratory or digestive systems. If the patient shows symptoms of fever and throat pain, isolation is required. Typically, isolation lasts for 3-5 days. Acute pharyngitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, leading to symptoms in the throat as well as systemic symptoms. The patient may experience sudden high fever, with body temperature above 38°C, and severe throat pain. Other symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, itchy throat, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and a feeling of obstruction. During an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, the mucous membranes in the throat may be found to be congested and significantly swollen, with pus-like secretions present on the posterior pharyngeal wall. For treatment, an examination using an electronic laryngoscope and a routine blood test are first required. If there is an increase in white blood cells, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment and oral antibiotics are needed. If lymphocytes are elevated, symptomatic antiviral treatment is required, and recovery can generally occur within about a week. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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What should be paid attention to for acute pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in otolaryngology. The main symptoms of acute pharyngitis include sore throat, dry throat, burning sensation in the throat, and itchiness. The main pathogens often include hemolytic streptococcus or Coxsackievirus. When acute pharyngitis occurs, it is first advised to avoid exposure to smoking, alcohol, irritative and spicy foods to prevent further irritation and congestion of the throat mucosa. Additionally, maintaining oral hygiene is required to prevent bacterial proliferation. Gargling with saline water can help keep the oral cavity clean. Also, sensitive antibiotics may be used orally or intravenously to eliminate acute inflammation. (Medicine should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What is the fastest treatment for acute pharyngitis?

The treatment of acute pharyngitis mainly involves medication. First, the degree of the inflammatory response should be assessed. It is recommended to visit an otolaryngology specialist and perform an indirect laryngoscopy, as well as routine blood tests and inflammatory response protein tests, as these examinations can preliminarily determine the extent of inflammation. In terms of treatment, acute pharyngitis is generally caused by bacterial infection; oral antibiotics are usually the first choice for anti-infection treatment. Additionally, nebulization and traditional Chinese medicine can be considered for supplementary treatment. It is also necessary to follow a light diet, and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. With medication treatment, a re-evaluation is typically done after about three days to observe the recovery situation. The overall treatment period is approximately one week, but if the inflammatory response is particularly severe, it may be necessary to extend the treatment duration. (Note: Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can I eat biscuits with acute pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis is a relatively common ENT disease with various clinical symptoms. The more common symptoms include sore throat, foreign body sensation, fever, and swallowing obstruction. Regarding diet, it is generally advised to eat fewer biscuits, as biscuits are quite dry and may exacerbate the condition of pharyngitis. It is recommended to consume more vegetables and fruits, focusing on a light, soft, or semi-liquid diet. Medication treatment should also be considered. If the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be considered. If it is caused by a viral infection, antiviral medications should be considered. Nebulization therapy is also recommended, and typically, the treatment period is about one week. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can I eat chicken with acute pharyngitis?

Patients with acute pharyngitis can eat chicken, as it is a common type of meat and does not have direct side effects on the condition of acute pharyngitis, nor does it affect the treatment outcome. It also does not directly interfere with the medications used for treating acute pharyngitis. However, merely controlling diet does not significantly affect the treatment of acute pharyngitis; it requires combination with oral medications. Currently, antibiotics are commonly used, and can be combined with nebulizer therapy. During the treatment process, it is necessary to regularly review and observe the treatment effects. Most patients will gradually improve with timely treatment. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
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Does acute pharyngitis recur easily?

Relatively easy. Acute pharyngitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa, and acute pharyngitis can also be part of an upper respiratory tract infection. Clinically, the main manifestations of acute pharyngitis are pain in the throat, and severe cases may exhibit symptoms like chills and fever. We can observe that the mucous membrane of the throat is highly congested, and there may even be purulent secretions. After treating acute pharyngitis clinically, it is relatively easy for it to recur. This is because our usual diet of spicy and irritating foods, or foods that are too cold or too hot, can adversely stimulate the mucous membrane of the throat. At the same time, if we are prone to catching colds, the cold itself will affect the mucous membrane of the pharynx, thus making acute pharyngitis clinically prone to recurrence.