Pharyngitis electrocardiogram

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Venkata Sivakrishna Kumar Pulivarthi M.B.B.S [2]

There are no specific EKG findings associated with pharyngitis, but the complications of pharyngitis may be associate with cardiac rhythm abnormalities.

ECG changes depend on the structures involved and the extent of cardiac damage. The following ECG changes may be noted in patients with rheumatic fever:^[1]

• Sinus tachycardia or bradycardia depending on vagal tone
• Prolongation of PR interval
• Variable degree of AV conduction block

• P mitrale secondary to mitral valve abnormalities

• Mitral valve abnormalities which may lead to development of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation

• T-wave inversions which may be noted in leads I, II, and IV suggestive of pericardial involvement

• ST segment elevation may also be present in leads II, III,aVF and V₄ to V₆ in patients with acute pericarditis

ECG in patients with diphtheria can be normal. However, in patients with diphtheria myocarditis, a wide range of abnormalities related to conduction and rhythm may be seen. Some of the ECG findings in diphtheria myocarditis include:^[3][4][5]

• Prolonged PR or QT intervals
• Alterations in the ST segment, which can be elevation or depression
• Alterations in the T wave
• Atrioventricular block (AV block)
• Bundle branch block (BBB)
• Hemiblock
• Sinus bradycardia
• Arrythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (VT)