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Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition

Pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis

by Jennifer Lewy

Category: Diseases and conditions

Anatomy or system affected: Pharynx, throat, tissue, tonsils, upper respiratory tract

Also known as: Sore throat, throat infection

Definition

Pharyngitis is the swelling and inflammation of the pharynx. The pharynx is the back of the throat, including the back of the tongue. Tonsillopharyngitis is the swelling of the pharynx and the tonsils. The tonsils are soft tissue that make up part of the throat’s immune defenses. Both pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis are commonly called a sore throat. Sore throats are easily treated.

Causes

Pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis can be caused by infection with a virus, such as the viruses that cause influenza (the flu) and the common cold; infection with bacteria, such as the bacteria that cause strep throat; mucus from sinuses that drains into the throat; smoking; breathing polluted air; drinking alcoholic beverages; hay fever or other allergies; acid reflux from the stomach; allergies; food debris collecting in small pockets in the tonsils; and infectious mononucleosis.

Risk Factors

Almost every person will get a sore throat some time in his or her life, but the following risk factors increase the chance of getting a sore throat: age (children, teenagers, and people age sixty-five years and older); exposure to someone with a sore throat or any other infection involving the throat, nose, or ears; situations that cause stress, such as traveling, working, or living in close contact with others; exposure to cigarette smoke, toxic fumes, industrial smoke, and other air pollutants; having medical conditions that affect the immune system; stress; and hay fever or other allergies.

Symptoms

The symptoms depend on the cause of the condition but generally include a sore throat, pain or difficulty when swallowing, difficulty breathing, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.

Screening and Diagnosis

A doctor will perform a physical exam and will look closely at the mouth, throat, nose, ears, and the lymph nodes in the neck. This physical exam may include using a small instrument to look inside the nose, ears, and mouth; gently touching the lymph nodes (glands) in the neck to check for swelling; and taking one’s temperature. The doctor will ask about any recent exposure to someone with strep throat or any other infection of the throat, nose, or ears. Other tests include rapid strep test or throat culture using a cotton swab to touch the back of the throat, blood tests to identify conditions that may be causing the sore throat, and a mono spot test (if mononucleosis is suspected).

Treatment and Therapy

Treatment depends on the cause of the sore throat and includes medications such as antibiotics for strep throat; drugs to reduce sore throat pain, including ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin. Aspirin, however, is not recommended for children or teens with a current or recent viral infection because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. One should consult a doctor about medicines that are safe for children.

Other treatment options include a numbing throat spray for pain control; decongestants and antihistamines to relieve nasal congestion and runny nose, vitamin C (if recommended by the doctor), throat lozenges, and corticosteroids (used in combination with antibiotics for severe cases).

One should also drink increased amounts of water; gargle with warm salt-water several times a day; drink warm liquids (tea or broth) or cool liquids; avoid irritants that might affect the throat, such as smoke from cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and cold air; and avoid drinking alcohol.

Prevention and Outcomes

To reduce the chance of getting a sore throat, one should wash hands frequently, especially after blowing one’s nose or after caring for a child with a sore throat. If someone at home has a sore throat, their eating utensils and drinking glasses should be kept separate from those of other family members. These objects should be washed in hot, soapy water. One should also wash the toys of infected toddlers who have been sucking on their toys.

Furthermore, one should immediately dispose of used tissues and then wash hands. Persons with hay fever or another respiratory allergy should consult a doctor and should avoid substances that cause the allergy or allergies.

Further Reading

1 

EBSCO Publishing. DynaMed: Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Available through http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed.

2 

Ferrari, Mario. PDxMD Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders. Philadelphia: PDxMD, 2003.

3 

Hayward, G., et al. “Corticosteroids for Pain Relief in Sore Throat: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” British Medical Journal 339 (2009).

4 

National Library of Medicine. “Pharyngitis.” Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000655.htm.

5 

Perkins, A. “An Approach to Diagnosing the Acute Sore Throat.” American Family Physician 55 (1997): 131-138, 141-142.

6 

Vincent, M. T., N. Celestin, and A. N. Hussain. “Pharyngitis.” American Family Physician 69 (2004): 1465-1470.

Web Sites of Interest

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://www.healthychildren.org

Canadian Society of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery

http://www.entcanada.org

Clean Hands Coalition

http://www.cleanhandscoalition.org

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

http://www.niaid.nih.gov

Public Health Agency of Canada

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

See also: Adenovirus infections; Common cold; Coxsackie virus infections; Cytomegalovirus infection; Epstein-Barr virus infection; Fever; Herpes simplex infection; Herpesvirus infections; HIV; Hygiene; Infection; Inflammation; Influenza; Laryngitis; Mononucleosis; Nasopharyngeal infections; Orthomyxoviridae; Parotitis; Parvovirus infections; Respiratory syncytial virus infections; Rhinovirus infections; Saliva and infectious disease; Strep throat; Streptococcal infections; Thrush; Viral infections; Viral pharyngitis; Viral upper respiratory infections.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Lewy, Jennifer. "Pharyngitis And Tonsillopharyngitis." Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition, edited by H. Bradford Hawley, Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Infect2e_0427.
APA 7th
Lewy, J. (2020). Pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis. In H. B. Hawley (Ed.), Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Lewy, Jennifer. "Pharyngitis And Tonsillopharyngitis." Edited by H. Bradford Hawley. Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2025. online.salempress.com.