Pharyngitis
Definition:
Pharyngitis is a sore throat caused by
inflammation of the back of the throat. It is one of the most common reasons
for visits to family physician. Your throat may be scratchy and swallowing can
be painful. Usually a sore throat is the sign of another illness, such as cold
or the flu. unless you have a bacterial infection, taking antibiotics doesn't
help a sore throat. In fact, most sore throats go away in a week or less.
Signs and symptoms
:
The symptoms that
accompany a sore throat can vary, depending on what the underlying illness is.
Sore throat with
cold:
-sneezing
-cough
-a low fever less
than 102°F
-mild headache
Sore throat with
flu:
-fatigue
-body aches
-chills
-fever higher than
102°F
Sore throat with
mononucleosis :
-enlarged lymph nodes
in neck and armpits
-swollen tonsils
-headache
-loss of appetite
-swollen spleen
-liver
inflammation
Causes:
Most sore throats are caused by viruses,
although a few are due to bacterial infections. You can breathe in bacteria or
a virus that are spread in the air when someone sneezes or coughs, or you can
transfer the organisms to your mouth or nose by touching a surface with germs
on them. Viruses that can cause sore
throat include the common cold,the flu, and mononucleosis. Bacteria like group A streptococcus can also
cause pharyngitis.
Pathophysiology:
Due to various
etiological factors, the client will manifest enlarged cervical node. The
bacterial invasion leads to increased WBC count. The client will soon manifest
fever, general malaise, anorexia, moderate throat pain. The fever will rise
upto 104°C.
Risk factors :
Risk factors for
pharyngitis include:
-cold and flu
seasons
-having close
contact with someone who has a sore throat or cold
-smoking or
exposure to secondhand smoke
-frequent sinus
infections
-allergies
-daycare
attendance
-northern European
ancestry
Diagnosis :
Your doctor will
check your temperature and examine your throat, sinuses, ears, nose, lungs, and
neck, including feeling for swollen lymph nodes that may indicate strep
throat. He or she may take a throat
culture or do a rapid strep test by taking a swab from your throat. A blood
test may be done to check for mononucleosis.
Preventive care :
-avoid kissing or sharing cups and eating
utensils with anyone who has a sore throat, a cold, flu, mononucleosis, or
bacterial infection.
-wash your hands
frequently.
-dont smoke, and avoid
exposure to secondhand smoke.
-Use a humidifier
if the air in your home is dry.
Treatment approach
:
If your doctor suspects that you have a sore
throat caused by bacteria, he or she will Prescribe an antibiotic. But if your
sore throat is caused by a virus, there is no medicine that will cure it.. It
will go away on its own. Cool air and humidity are suggested to relieve
symptoms. In the meantime, your doctor may recommend gargling with salt water
and taking an over the counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or
ibuprofen. Children under 18 should not take aspirin as a pain reliever,
because of the risk of a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
Lifestyle :
-rest
-drink lots of
fluids.water and warm broths are better than soft drinks
-avoid drinking
alcohol
-gargle several
times per day with 1/2 tsp. Of salt in a glass of warm water
-try throat
lozenges
Medications :
Penicillin,
erythromycin is most commonly prescribed.
Nutrition and
dietary supplements :
-warm liquids,such
as soup or broth... Soup and warm liquids can help soothe a sore throat and
loosen mucus, which in turn helps ease congestion from a cold.
-probiotics... So
called "good" bacteria or politics help prevent infections in the
intestines, and there is preliminary evidence that they might help prevent
colds, too..
-honey...honey is
a traditionally remedy for sore throat and cough
-vitamin C....
Despite the popular belief that vitamin C can cure the common cold, the
scientific evidence hasn't found that to be true. Only a small reduction in the
duration of a cold has been found when some people take vitamin C supplements
regularly
-zinc... Your body
needs zinc for its immune system to function properly, so it has long been
thought that zinc could help protect against catching a cold. But the evidence
has been decidedly mixed, with some studies finding a benefit from zinc
lozenges and others showing no effect...
Prognosis and
complications :
-scarlet fever,
which can cause fever and a particular type of rash.
-rheumatic fever,
which can cause joint inflammation or damage your heart valves
-glomerulonephritis
-infection in the
bloodstream
-shock
-respiratory
arrest, particularly among children with croup
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