How to manage chronic pharyngitis

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 13, 2024
00:00
00:00

Chronic pharyngitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in daily life, mainly characterized by the proliferation of lymphatic follicles and mucosal congestion in the throat area. How to care for chronic pharyngitis? First, we should maintain oral hygiene by frequently rinsing after meals to prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Additionally, rinsing with light saltwater daily can clean the oral cavity and alleviate the congestion of the mucous membrane in the throat area. For patients with throat pain and those with feverish pharyngitis, appropriate medications are usually selected for treatment. Remedies like fat sea, wild chrysanthemum, and honeysuckle brewed in water also have positive effects on the treatment of chronic pharyngitis. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
1min 45sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
40sec home-news-image

How to completely cure chronic pharyngitis?

Chronic pharyngitis is a relatively common otolaryngological disease and is part of chronic diseases. Although there are many treatment methods available at present, none can achieve a complete cure, and the condition tends to recur. Generally, the treatment of chronic pharyngitis begins with a laryngoscopic examination to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. Common treatments include oral traditional Chinese medicine, and nebulizer therapy can also be considered. The treatment cycle is usually about one to two weeks. After medication, regular follow-ups are necessary to observe recovery. At the same time, a light diet is required, and spicy and irritating foods should be avoided.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is caused by a variety of reasons, leading to congestion, edema, and lymph follicle proliferation in the mucous membrane and submucosal tissue of the throat. Common causes include repeated inflammatory stimulation, intake of spicy foods, and local symptoms caused by gastric acid reflux. Patients may experience dryness, pain, itching, foreign body sensation, obstruction feeling, burning sensation, irritating dry cough, and hoarseness in the throat. In severe cases, there may even be blood in the sputum. During examination, swelling of the uvula and significant proliferation of lymph follicles can be found in areas such as the lateral pharyngeal wall, posterior pharyngeal wall, and the base of the tongue. In terms of treatment, patients need to first identify the cause, adopt a light diet, quit smoking and alcohol, exercise, avoid colds, and maintain a regular diet with post-meal physical activity for gradual improvement and to prevent recurrence.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
45sec home-news-image

How to alleviate chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is a manifestation of excessive internal heat. Therefore, we should avoid eating spicy and stimulating foods, drink more water, gargle with light saltwater, and can hold it in the mouth for five to six minutes before spitting it out. Pay attention to oral hygiene, avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late. Consuming bitter melon, mustard greens, white radish, or drinking teas made from kuding tea, chrysanthemum, and banlangen can help alleviate chronic pharyngitis. If these measures do not improve symptoms, under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist, taking some heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines orally can also achieve relief and treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
35sec home-news-image

Is chronic pharyngitis contagious?

Chronic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa. This inflammatory condition may evolve from an acute infection, be allergic in nature, or stem from esophageal acid reflux. It is important to note that this type of chronic inflammation is not contagious; it does not spread, so no isolation measures are needed. Thus, it is important to focus on active treatment and consume plenty of water to prevent the worsening of chronic pharyngitis or frequent recurrent episodes, which could exacerbate the condition.