How to completely cure chronic pharyngitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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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.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Is acute pharyngitis serious?

Acute pharyngitis is a relatively common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease. Whether it is severe or not depends on the extent of the inflammatory response. Generally, most patients are not too severe, mainly because it is caused by an acute bacterial or viral infection. In clinical practice, bacterial infections are more common. The main symptom is sudden throat pain. If the inflammatory response is more severe, it can cause more serious pharyngitis, which may affect swallowing and breathing, and cause edema in the mucous membrane of the throat. If it is particularly severe, fever may also occur. It is necessary to visit the ENT department to check the specific extent of infection and inflammation in the throat, conduct a routine blood test, and make a more accurate comprehensive assessment.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of Chronic Pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is a very common disease in otolaryngology, and the symptoms described by patients at the time of consultation are also diverse. The most common symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, and a foreign body sensation in the throat. Many people describe that they can neither cough it out nor swallow it down. Others say there is a feeling of obstruction when swallowing. This sensation of obstruction when swallowing refers to the feeling of blockage when simply swallowing saliva, but there is no problem with eating or drinking water, which is also called a feeling of obstruction during dry swallowing. Some people also experience notable pain, especially during acute episodes of chronic pharyngitis. Additionally, some experience nausea or retching while brushing their teeth in the morning, among other symptoms. Furthermore, pharyngitis often accompanies other primary diseases or symptoms, such as post-nasal drip, vomiting white sticky phlegm, and some people experiencing snoring during sleep, all of which are direct or indirect symptoms of pharyngitis.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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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.