Table of contents:

Factors that increase the risk of acute pharyngitis
Viral infections
Bacterial infections

Acute ph aryngitis is a condition that affects both children and adults. Among the most common causes of pharyngitis are viruses, which cause about 80% of cases in children and more than 90% in adults. Bacterial infections, which can also cause acute pharyngitis, account for a small proportion of all cases. The highest number of patients diagnosed with pharyngitis is recorded at the beginning of the autumn season. The number of cases decreases in spring and summer.

Factors that increase the risk of acute pharyngitis

Factors that increase the risk of developing pharyngitis include cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, breathing through the mouth, nutritional deficiencies and even... untreated teeth, which results in the proliferation of bacteria that cause purulent inflammation within the mouth.

Viral infections

Viralinfections are transmitted by the droplet route through direct contact with a sick person. The incubation of the disease lasts from 1 to 6 days, which means that symptoms can appear up to a week after contact with the sick person. Interestingly, it has been proven that the highest capacity of viruses to infect is 1-2 days before symptoms appear. A viral infection is characterised not only by a severe sore throat, but headaches, joint pains, muscle pains, runny nose, cough and sometimes conjunctivitis also appear. Viral infections are not treated with antibiotics - rest, plenty of fluids are recommended to prevent dehydration. It is advisable to use painkillers containing, for example, ibuprofen. Preparations containing choline or benzidamine have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. It is also worth stocking up on products containing e.g. xylometazoline, which help to shrink irritated nasal mucosa. Home remedies for the treatment of viral infections include coltsfoot leaf extract, infusions of mallow blossoms and syrup made from rhododendron root. Remember to consult your doctor or pharmacist before using natural remedies.

Sorethroat, photo: panthermedia

Bacterial infection

Thebacteria that cause acute pharyngitis are most often streptococci , such as the well-known Streptococcus pyogenes , which causes streptococcal tonsillitis, characterised by a purulent discharge appearing, among other things, on the palatal tonsils. The infection, similar to a viral infection, is transmitted by droplets - with saliva, nasal secretions, or simply by coughing or sneezing. Importantly, the person carrying the bacteria can also become infected, as the incubation period is about 4 days after contact with the source of the bacteria! Therefore, it is extremely important to avoid people who have just contracted the disease - this is especially important for children and immuno-compromised people. Treatment of bacterial infections is based on the use of antibiotics. Importantly, even though the unpleasant symptoms of the illness have subsided, a whole pack of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor should be chosen. The symptoms of a bacterial infection are characterised by a sudden onset of symptoms, a high fever, a very strong sore throat. In the case of a bacterial infection, there is no cough or runny nose. Antibiotic therapy in the treatment of bacterial infections is important, because an untreated infection can progress to the formation of abscesses or infect other organs, such as the heart. Complications of untreated viral infections include pneumonia, meningitis, rheumatic fever and acute streptococcal nephritis.

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Acute pharyngitis - symptoms and treatments

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