Chronic pharyngitis?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on May 08, 2025
00:00
00:00

Chronic pharyngitis is a relatively common otolaryngology disease with many clinical symptoms. The most common symptoms are a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, throat pain, and possibly accompanied by swallowing obstruction and difficulty breathing. A laryngoscopy can be conducted to assess the extent of the inflammation. Most patients can consider oral medication, primarily traditional Chinese medicine, combined with nebulization. In terms of diet, it is recommended to eat lightly and avoid spicy and irritating foods, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Furthermore, regular follow-ups are necessary to observe changes in the condition. Currently, it is still difficult to completely cure, and the main focus is on controlling and alleviating symptoms. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
50sec home-news-image

Is acute pharyngitis contagious?

Acute pharyngitis is an acute infectious inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosal tissue, and local lymphatic tissue. Acute pharyngitis can occur independently or as part of an upper respiratory tract infection. In its early stages, acute pharyngitis is primarily a viral infection, or a mixed infection of viruses and bacteria. In the later stages of acute pharyngitis, bacterial infection often occurs secondarily. Acute pharyngitis is contagious and tends to occur mainly in winter or spring. The contagion is not by reverse transmission but is generally infectious. Wearing masks or avoiding close contact can generally prevent it, and special isolation measures are usually unnecessary for prevention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 4sec home-news-image

How to treat acute pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis is caused by viral or bacterial infections following a decrease in the body's immunity and resistance. Patients will experience sudden high fever with body temperature above 38°C, severe throat pain, and may also have symptoms of dry throat, itchy throat, foreign body sensation in the throat, obstruction, breathing difficulties, and hoarseness. Upon examination, congestion and swelling of the soft palate and uvula can be observed, and yellow secretions may be found on the throat wall. In terms of treatment, patients should first go to the hospital for a routine blood test, which generally indicates a bacterial infection. Patients can take oral cephalosporin antibiotics, which are effective. Treatment also involves nebulizer inhalation to alleviate throat congestion and swelling. A light diet, quitting smoking, and abstaining from alcohol can contribute to gradual improvement and recovery within about a week. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Does pharyngitis spread?

Pharyngitis refers to the acute and chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosal tissue, and local lymphatic tissue. Clinically, it mainly presents as a sore throat or a foreign body sensation in the throat, among other discomforts. Acute pharyngitis should be noted for its certain contagiousness, primarily due to viral infections, bacterial infections, or a combination of both, thus it is contagious. Appropriate precautions such as isolation measures, like wearing masks, should be considered. As for chronic pharyngitis, it is not contagious, so special isolation measures are not necessary. Regarding pharyngitis accompanying other diseases, such as reflux pharyngitis which may also involve Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach, some literature reports suggest that Helicobacter pylori can be contagious during chronic pharyngitis, but this has not been fully confirmed and is only based on some reports. In summary, acute pharyngitis is confirmed to be contagious, while chronic pharyngitis is currently not contagious.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
55sec home-news-image

How long will it take for pharyngitis to heal?

Pharyngitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in daily life, divided into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. Patients with acute pharyngitis experience sudden onset, often due to bacterial infection, or triggered by exposure to cold or a cold. The patient's throat will exhibit acute congestion and inflammation, with symptoms primarily including sore throat, dry throat, and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Usually, after symptomatic treatments such as anti-inflammation, throat clearing, and unblocking orifices, the patient's symptoms can generally be relieved within 5-7 days. On the other hand, patients with chronic pharyngitis are mainly treated through daily protection, avoiding excessive use of the voice, and a comprehensive treatment method that includes quitting smoking and alcohol.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

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.