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Acute pharyngitis
How many days does acute pharyngitis take to get better?
Acute pharyngitis generally begins to improve after about a week. Acute pharyngitis is a condition of the throat caused by viral or bacterial infection due to lowered immunity and resistance. Patients may experience sudden high fever with temperature above 38.5°C, severe throat pain predominately during swallowing. Additionally, symptoms such as dry throat, itchy throat, and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat may occur. Upon examination, swollen and congested soft palate and uvula can be observed, with dot-like pus plugs found on the surface and yellow secretions on the posterior pharyngeal wall. In terms of treatment, patients first need to undergo routine blood tests. If there is an increase in white blood cells, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment with oral antibiotics is required. If lymphocytes are elevated, symptomatic antiviral treatment is needed, along with nebulization inhalation and a light diet. The condition generally begins to improve gradually after a week. (Note: The use of medication should be carried out under the guidance of a professional physician.)
How long does acute pharyngitis take to heal?
Acute pharyngitis generally heals within seven to ten days. Acute pharyngitis is caused by a viral infection due to lowered immunity and resistance. Patients may experience sudden high fever, severe sore throat, and symptoms such as dry throat, itchy throat, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and a feeling of obstruction. Examination may reveal swelling and congestion of the soft palate and uvula, and yellow secretions on the posterior pharyngeal wall. In terms of treatment, acute pharyngitis is a viral infection and generally does not require oral antibiotic treatment. Patients can use nebulized inhalation which is effective in reducing congestion and edema of the throat. A bland diet, abstaining from smoking and alcohol, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, drinking more water, and resting more can generally lead to gradual improvement within a week. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can you smoke with acute pharyngitis?
Acute pharyngitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucosal tissue, and local lymphatic tissue. Initially, it is a viral infection or a mixed infection of viruses and bacteria; in later stages, when secondary infections occur, it may entirely turn into a bacterial infection. During acute pharyngitis, there is pain in the pharyngeal region, and the pharyngeal mucosa becomes congested and swollen. We must advise patients not to smoke as it further irritates and exacerbates the congestion and swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, worsening the condition of acute pharyngitis. Smoking can even cause the infection in the pharynx to spread to the lower airways, leading to tracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia; therefore, smoking should be avoided during acute pharyngitis.
The difference between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis are relatively common otolaryngological diseases, with certain differences between them. First, in terms of the onset of the disease, chronic pharyngitis has a longer duration, generally more than three months, and is recurrent; whereas acute pharyngitis typically has a sudden onset and clinically usually lasts no more than a week. There are also differences in clinical symptoms. The main manifestations of acute pharyngitis are sudden throat pain and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and some patients may also develop a fever. In contrast, chronic pharyngitis typically presents with a sensation of a foreign body and pain in the throat, which are generally not very severe and do not lead to fever. The third point is the cause of the disease. Acute pharyngitis is generally caused by acute viral or bacterial infections, leading to congestion and swelling of the mucosa in the throat. Chronic pharyngitis, on the other hand, involves non-bacterial, non-viral inflammatory responses.
Does acute pharyngitis have phlegm?
The symptoms of acute pharyngitis are numerous and can cause coughing and expectoration, as well as sore throat, foreign body sensation in the throat, fever, swallowing obstruction, and difficulty breathing. There is significant individual variation in specific symptoms. After the onset of the disease, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department, where routine blood tests and indirect laryngoscopy can be conducted to assess the severity of the condition. In terms of medication treatment, oral medications are commonly used at present, and can be combined with nebulizer therapy. During the treatment process, regular follow-ups are needed to observe the recovery of the condition. Most patients will gradually improve after timely medical treatment.
Which department should I go to for acute pharyngitis?
For acute pharyngitis, it is advisable to visit the otolaryngology department, as acute pharyngitis is primarily caused by an acute bacterial infection, mainly leading to throat pain. In severe cases, it can cause edema of the pharyngeal mucosa, affecting swallowing or breathing, and is one of the more common throat diseases. Regarding treatment, an indirect laryngoscopy should first be performed to assess the degree of inflammation in the pharyngeal mucosa, especially to determine if there are any obstructions in the throat. Additionally, routine blood tests and inflammatory protein tests should be conducted to help determine the type and extent of the inflammatory response. In terms of medication, treatment is generally dominated by antibiotics, preferably administered orally, and supplemented by nebulization and traditional Chinese medicine. Typically, the treatment period is about one week, but there are individual differences, so it is necessary to return to the otolaryngology department for follow-up to dynamically observe the recovery. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
Symptoms of acute pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is caused by a Coxsackievirus infection following a decrease in the body's immunity and resistance, leading to symptoms in the throat as well as general body symptoms. Patients will experience sudden high fever, with body temperature above 38°C, dizziness, headache, severe throat pain, primarily pain during swallowing. Additionally, patients may also experience dry throat, itching throat, a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, a sense of obstruction, a burning sensation, and irritative cough. The condition generally occurs in autumn and is more common in children. For treatment, patients should first go to the hospital for an examination using an electronic laryngoscope and complete a blood count test. If diagnosed with pharyngitis, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment should be administered. As it is generally a viral infection, symptomatic antiviral treatment can be effective. Additionally, nebulized inhalation is used to alleviate local congestion and edema. A light diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, generally leads to gradual recovery within about a week.
Is acute pharyngitis contagious?
Acute pharyngitis can be contagious. Generally, it can spread through the respiratory or digestive systems. If the patient shows symptoms of fever and throat pain, isolation is required. Typically, isolation lasts for 3-5 days. Acute pharyngitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, leading to symptoms in the throat as well as systemic symptoms. The patient may experience sudden high fever, with body temperature above 38°C, and severe throat pain. Other symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, itchy throat, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, and a feeling of obstruction. During an examination with an electronic laryngoscope, the mucous membranes in the throat may be found to be congested and significantly swollen, with pus-like secretions present on the posterior pharyngeal wall. For treatment, an examination using an electronic laryngoscope and a routine blood test are first required. If there is an increase in white blood cells, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment and oral antibiotics are needed. If lymphocytes are elevated, symptomatic antiviral treatment is required, and recovery can generally occur within about a week. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
The difference between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis
The differentiation between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis mainly involves the following aspects: First, the onset duration. Generally, acute pharyngitis has a short onset, often sudden, and typically lasts about a week; whereas chronic pharyngitis tends to have a longer duration of illness, possibly involving repeated episodes, usually lasting from one to three months or more. Second, in terms of clinical symptoms, acute pharyngitis usually presents sudden onset of throat pain, which can be relatively severe; chronic pharyngitis may involve pain, but it is generally milder and recurrent, fluctuating, with some patients experiencing a sensation of a foreign body or itchiness in the throat. Third, it can be diagnosed through laryngoscopic examination.
Symptoms of acute pharyngitis
The symptoms of acute pharyngitis are multifaceted. Initially, the onset of the disease is quite sudden. The main symptoms start with dryness, heat, and liver pain, which is the most common description by patients. Furthermore, there is a sensation of a foreign object in the throat, leading to exacerbated pain when coughing. This pain is particularly noticeable during swallowing, making it difficult to even eat or swallow saliva. Additionally, this pain can radiate to the sides, commonly causing ear pain when chewing or eating, resulting in both throat and ear pain. Systemic symptoms can resemble those of a cold, such as mild fever, high body temperature, headache, loss of appetite, and general weakness.