How long does acute pharyngitis take to heal on its own?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Acute pharyngitis usually heals on its own in about 10 days under normal circumstances.

Acute pharyngitis is caused by viral or bacterial infection following weakened immunity and resistance. Symptoms include sudden onset of high fever with temperatures above 38.5°C, severe throat pain, hoarse voice, and a barking cough. In severe cases, the patient may experience suffocation and even death. Acute pharyngitis is more common in children, whose throat mucosa is relatively loose, making it especially prone to swelling during inflammatory infections.

In treatment, the patient first needs a routine blood test. If there is an increase in white blood cells, it suggests a bacterial infection, and oral antibiotics are required. If lymphocytes are increased, it indicates a viral infection, and the patient can be treated with oral ribavirin granules, which are effective.

(The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How to maintain throat health in daily life?

Pharyngitis primarily refers to the acute or chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane in our throat. For the care of pharyngitis, we should pay attention to the following points: First, we need to be mindful of our diet, which should be light, nutritious, and easy to digest. We must avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as cigarettes, alcohol, and chili peppers. Second, we should engage in appropriate physical exercise to strengthen our constitution and avoid frequent upper respiratory infections. These conditions can prevent our pharyngitis from being effectively treated, or even cured. Thirdly, we should be cautious with certain special foods. For example, if our pharyngitis is caused by allergies, then we should minimize or avoid foods that can trigger allergies, such as fish, shrimp, and seafood. In conclusion, it is crucial to actively treat pharyngitis while also looking after oneself.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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What to drink for pharyngitis

Pharyngitis can usually be prevented and treated with honeysuckle tea or monk fruit tea, with good results. Generally, pharyngitis is caused by repeated acute inflammation, long-term intake of spicy foods, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and acidic irritation leading to congestion, edema, and lymph follicle proliferation in the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosal tissues. Symptoms include dry throat, sore throat, itchy throat, foreign body sensation in the throat, obstruction sensation, burning sensation, irritative cough, hoarseness, and difficulty swallowing. Severe cases may also lead to blood in the sputum. Upon examination, noticeable congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa can be found, particularly in the uvula and soft palate. Lymph follicle proliferation can be seen on the posterior pharyngeal wall and pharyngeal recesses, with significant congestion in both vocal cords, though they may not close completely. For treatment, patients should first undergo symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. Oral administration of cephalosporin antibiotics has been found to be effective, and it should be combined with nebulized inhalation. Improvement is generally seen within about a week. (The use of medication should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is nebulization effective for pharyngitis?

Pharyngitis is caused by various reasons and is an acute and chronic infection of the throat, characterized by sore throat, hoarse voice, and various foreign body sensations in the throat. The basic pathological changes are the congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa, including both acute and chronic congestion. Therefore, nebulization treatment mainly works through the nebulized particles directly affecting the mucosa of the throat. Medications such as gentamicin and dexamethasone have a direct effect in reducing the mucosal edema of the throat. The effect of nebulization for pharyngitis is quite good as it directly affects the mucosa. For some patients, it is necessary to combine nebulization with oral medication, and generally, the combined treatment is very effective. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to cure pharyngitis completely?

Pharyngitis is divided into several types, with chronic pharyngitis and acute pharyngitis being the more commonly encountered in clinical settings. In terms of treatment, chronic pharyngitis is currently difficult to cure completely. Generally, treatment focuses on controlling the condition, alleviating inflammation, and improving symptoms. The existing treatment methods primarily involve oral traditional Chinese medicine formulas, and may also include nebulization and dietary adjustments. Some patients may opt for traditional Chinese medicine treatments. However, overall, treatment mainly aims at control and relief, and it is still challenging to completely cure chronic pharyngitis with existing medical approaches. Acute pharyngitis, on the other hand, is generally treated with antibiotics or antiviral medications, typically over a period of about one week. Overall, the treatment results are quite good, but there can still be a certain degree of recurrence.

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Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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How to treat acute pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis is the acute inflammation of the mucosa and submucosal tissues of the pharynx, and it often comes with systemic symptoms. For patients without systemic symptoms or those who have mild symptoms, local treatments such as mouthwash with cleaning and sterilizing effects, various lozenges, or traditional Chinese medicine can be used. Through oral antiviral drugs or antibiotics, severe systemic symptoms such as high fever require bed rest, plenty of fluids, and soft foods. Antiviral drugs or antibiotics can be administered through the meridian pathways. If the patient has a high fever, physical methods to reduce fever can be used, as well as corticosteroids for reducing temperature.