Pharyngitis history and symptoms

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]

Pharyngitis is a very common inflammatory condition of the pharynx accompanied by a sore throat and occasionally difficulty with swallowing. When a patient presents with a sore throat, the physician must consider a wide range of illnesses. Infectious causes range from generally benign viruses to Group A streptococcus. The signs and symptoms of group A streptococcus and non-streptococcal pharyngitis overlap so broadly that accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical grounds alone is usually impossible. Inflammatory presentations may be the result of an allergy, reflux disease, or rarely, neoplasm or Kawasaki disease. The optimal approach for differentiating among various causes of pharyngitis requires a problem-focused history, a physical examination, and appropriate laboratory testing.

The main symptom is a sore throat and occasionally difficulty with swallowing.^[1] When a patient presents with sore throat, the physician must consider a wide range of illnesses. Infectious causes range from generally benign viruses to Group A streptococcus. The signs and symptoms of group A streptococcus and non-streptococcal pharyngitis overlap so broadly that accurate diagnosis on the basis of clinical grounds alone is usually impossible.^[2] Other symptoms may include:

• Coryza
• Conjunctivitis
• Malaise or fatigue
• Hoarseness
• Low-grade fever

Patients with bacterial pharyngitis generally do not have rhinorrhea, cough, or conjunctivitis.^[3]

• Sudden onset of sore throat
• Pain on swallowing
• Fever
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting