How to treat chronic pharyngitis?

Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Treating chronic pharyngitis is indeed a significant issue, and it's not something that can be explained in just a sentence or two. Some causes of chronic pharyngitis are direct, such as not paying attention to diet, poor sleep, or insufficient rest. Some are secondary pharyngitis, which requires active treatment of the primary disease. To address this issue fundamentally, one should first focus on a light diet, avoid smoking and alcohol, and avoid spicy and irritating foods—these are aspects to be mindful of in daily life. It's also important to pay attention to one's emotions; maintaining a calm demeanor, not rushing, avoiding getting angry easily, and not shouting are crucial. Being in a good mood is very important as it is part of actively treating the primary disease. Some primary diseases, such as chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, can cause pharyngitis. Therefore, to treat chronic pharyngitis, one should first effectively treat these primary diseases, and the chronic pharyngitis will naturally improve. Thus, the treatment of chronic pharyngitis involves a holistic, differentiated, and systematic approach.

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How is chronic pharyngitis diagnosed?

Examinations for chronic pharyngitis are mainly divided into two categories. The first is imaging endoscopy, and the second is blood tests. Imaging endoscopies include CT scans of the neck or larynx. Indirect laryngoscopy or fiber laryngoscopy are also types of endoscopic examinations. The main purpose of these exams is to assess whether there are any organic lesions in the pharyngeal and neck area, such as new growths in the pharynx or cysts and other tumorous changes. Blood tests primarily involve routine blood tests and inflammatory response proteins. The main purpose is to determine if there is an acute bacterial or viral infection and to assess the level of inflammatory response. Generally, these two types of examinations, when considered together, can definitively diagnose the condition.

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Does acute pharyngitis cause fever?

Acute pharyngitis may cause a fever, but overall, the proportion of cases that develop a fever is relatively small. This is mainly because acute pharyngitis is caused by acute bacterial infections, with a small number of patients possibly experiencing concurrent acute viral infections leading to inflammation. Generally, the common symptoms include sudden onset of sore throat which may affect breathing or swallowing, such as a feeling of obstruction or a foreign body sensation in the throat. Some patients may experience fevers, typically seen in those with more severe inflammatory responses or who have been ill for a longer time without timely treatment. Generally, the fever is mild, though a small number of patients may experience high fever. The main treatment method is anti-infection therapy, and if the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C, it can be combined with antipyretic drugs. (Please consult a professional physician for medication use, and do not medicate blindly.)

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The difference between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis

The differentiation between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis mainly involves the following aspects: First, the onset duration. Generally, acute pharyngitis has a short onset, often sudden, and typically lasts about a week; whereas chronic pharyngitis tends to have a longer duration of illness, possibly involving repeated episodes, usually lasting from one to three months or more. Second, in terms of clinical symptoms, acute pharyngitis usually presents sudden onset of throat pain, which can be relatively severe; chronic pharyngitis may involve pain, but it is generally milder and recurrent, fluctuating, with some patients experiencing a sensation of a foreign body or itchiness in the throat. Third, it can be diagnosed through laryngoscopic examination.

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Symptoms of acute pharyngitis

The symptoms of acute pharyngitis are quite numerous, mainly due to bacterial infections, which are sudden. This easily leads to sore throat, foreign body sensation, and burning sensation. Some patients may have a severe inflammatory response, causing fever, and possibly even high fever. Due to significant throat swelling and pain, some patients may also experience difficulties in normal breathing and swallowing, leading to shortness of breath and a sensation of swallowing obstruction. Overall, the treatment is primarily focused on anti-infection. In addition, consideration can be given to combining nebulization and traditional Chinese medicine for treatment. The treatment period is about one week, and a bland diet is necessary, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, with regular ENT follow-ups. (For specific medication, please take drugs under the guidance of a professional physician and do not medicate blindly.)

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What are the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis?

Chronic pharyngitis is caused by a variety of reasons; it results in congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosal tissues, along with proliferation of lymphatic follicles. Patients may experience dryness, itching, foreign body sensation, obstruction, burning sensation, and irritative cough in the throat. Severe cases may lead to bloody sputum. Common causes can include repeated acute inflammatory stimuli such as tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, or long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, spicy food intake, digestive system disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux, all of which can cause congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosal tissues, as well as lymphatic follicle proliferation. Examination with a laryngoscope can reveal significant congestion in the pharyngeal mucosa, uvula, and uvula, and lymphatic follicles can be found on the posterior pharyngeal wall, at the base of the tongue, and in the pharyngeal recesses. Treatment initially requires identifying and avoiding the cause. Nebulization inhalation can be used to alleviate local congestion and swelling, and adopting a light diet and quitting smoking and drinking can gradually lead to improvement and prevent recurrence.