The difference between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis.

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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The difference between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis mainly lies in the following aspects: The first is the onset time. Acute pharyngitis generally refers to a sudden inflammatory reaction of the throat, usually lasting for a short duration, about a week, and generally does not exceed a week. Conversely, chronic pharyngitis lasts longer, possibly recurring with repeated throat pain and a foreign body sensation, but the symptoms are generally not very severe, lasting about three months or more, primarily characterized by repeated occurrences. The second aspect is the symptoms, which differ in the mildness of throat pain. Chronic pharyngitis generally involves mild throat pain, and there may also be a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Acute pharyngitis, on the other hand, is mainly characterized by acute throat pain, with relatively short duration but severe symptoms. Third, it can be determined through a routine blood test. Acute pharyngitis often involves acute bacterial or viral infections, possibly with elevated white blood cells. Chronic pharyngitis generally results from non-bacterial, non-viral infections, with blood tests usually being normal. These aspects together can generally provide a basic diagnosis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can pharyngitis be cured?

There are several types of pharyngitis, and the overall approach to treatment is primarily focused on symptom control. The more common types of pharyngitis include acute pharyngitis, chronic pharyngitis, and allergic pharyngitis. During the acute phase, it is advisable to consider a complete blood count to determine whether the infection is bacterial or viral. Once the type of infection is confirmed, targeted anti-infection treatment can be administered. For example, antibiotics are used for bacterial infections, and antiviral medications are considered for viral infections. For chronic pharyngitis, treatment generally involves nebulization and the use of traditional Chinese medicines. If the condition is mild, regular check-ups may suffice without the need for long-term medication use. However, for any type of pharyngitis, treatment currently focuses on controlling symptoms, stabilizing the condition, and alleviation. It is difficult to achieve a cure or prevent recurrence completely. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, based on the specific situation.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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How to take care of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis in usual care primarily involves identifying the causes of pharyngitis and preventing these triggers for gradual improvement and to avoid recurrent attacks. Common causes observed clinically include: First, congestion in the throat caused by changes in weather, smog, and smoke irritation. Second, symptoms in the throat caused by repeated acute inflammatory irritations, such as acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute rhinitis, and sinusitis. Recurrent irritation by purulent secretions can lead to congestion and edema of the mucous membrane in the throat area. Third, long-term intake of spicy food leading to disturbances and disorders in the digestive system, commonly seen in stomach cancer, gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers. Repeated irritation by acidic reflux and gases can also cause symptoms in the throat area. Therefore, in treatment, patients should first eliminate these triggers for gradual improvement and healing.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can pharyngitis cause coughing?

Pharyngitis refers to the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx. There are many clinical causes of pharyngitis, such as allergic pharyngitis, reflux pharyngitis, and infectious pharyngitis. Regardless of the type, pharyngitis can lead to clinical symptoms such as coughing and throat clearing actions, especially intense dry coughs in allergic pharyngitis, which tend to last a long time. For infectious pharyngitis, the coughing duration is short and the coughs are less intense. Therefore, it is certain that pharyngitis can cause coughing. Clinically, different types of medication are used to treat coughs caused by different types of pharyngitis. For coughs caused by allergies, anti-allergy treatments are required, and for coughs caused by reflux pharyngitis, medications that suppress stomach acid are needed.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What department should I go to for pharyngitis?

It is recommended to visit the Department of Otorhinolaryngology for pharyngitis, as the main manifestation of pharyngitis is the inflammatory response in the pharyngeal area, which may be related to bacterial or viral infections. Additionally, it could be caused by one's lifestyle, diet, or external irritants leading to inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. Common symptoms include recurrent pain in the throat, a foreign body sensation or burning sensation in the throat, and during the acute inflammatory phase, some patients may also experience fever or have difficulties swallowing and breathing. These symptoms fall within the scope of diagnosis and treatment by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. Therefore, it is advised to visit this department for pharyngitis, and some individuals may further need to consider undergoing laryngoscopy and routine blood tests for targeted treatment.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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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.