How long does acute pharyngitis take to heal by itself?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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The recovery time for acute pharyngitis is generally about a week. Some patients can recover on their own, which typically takes about a week. However, some patients cannot recover on their own, especially those with severe acute inflammatory responses and prominent clinical symptoms, particularly when accompanied by significant acute bacterial or viral infections. In such cases, medication treatment is likely necessary. Relying solely on one's natural immunity might be relatively ineffective; therefore, considering timely targeted medication treatment is necessary. Additionally, the use of nebulization and traditional Chinese oral medications, regular blood tests, and laryngoscope examinations to monitor recovery are recommended. It is also advised to maintain a light diet and avoid smoking and drinking. (Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on the specific circumstances.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
55sec home-news-image

How long will it take for pharyngitis to heal?

Pharyngitis is a common and frequently occurring disease in daily life, divided into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. Patients with acute pharyngitis experience sudden onset, often due to bacterial infection, or triggered by exposure to cold or a cold. The patient's throat will exhibit acute congestion and inflammation, with symptoms primarily including sore throat, dry throat, and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Usually, after symptomatic treatments such as anti-inflammation, throat clearing, and unblocking orifices, the patient's symptoms can generally be relieved within 5-7 days. On the other hand, patients with chronic pharyngitis are mainly treated through daily protection, avoiding excessive use of the voice, and a comprehensive treatment method that includes quitting smoking and alcohol.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Chronic pharyngitis?

Chronic pharyngitis is a relatively common otolaryngology disease with many clinical symptoms. The most common symptoms are a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, throat pain, and possibly accompanied by swallowing obstruction and difficulty breathing. A laryngoscopy can be conducted to assess the extent of the inflammation. Most patients can consider oral medication, primarily traditional Chinese medicine, combined with nebulization. In terms of diet, it is recommended to eat lightly and avoid spicy and irritating foods, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Furthermore, regular follow-ups are necessary to observe changes in the condition. Currently, it is still difficult to completely cure, and the main focus is on controlling and alleviating symptoms. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 17sec home-news-image

Does pharyngitis cause a fever?

Pharyngitis generally involves fever symptoms in acute cases. Acute pharyngitis results from a lowered immune and resistance response, leading to viral or bacterial infections that cause both local symptoms in the throat and systemic symptoms. Patients may experience high fever, with body temperatures above 38°C (100.4°F), and severe throat pain, primarily during swallowing, leading to refusal to eat due to intense throat pain. Additionally, patients may feel a blockage or foreign body sensation in the throat. Upon examination with an electronic laryngoscope, the mucous membrane in the throat area can be seen as congested and swollen, especially around the soft palate and uvula. Pus-filled secretions may also be present on the posterior pharyngeal wall. Regarding treatment, if the patient's temperature exceeds 38°C, antipyretic medications are required; if below 38°C, wiping the body with warm water can be used. Anti-inflammatory treatment should also be administered based on symptoms, and recovery can generally be expected within a week. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis?

Chronic pharyngitis is caused by a variety of reasons; it results in congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosal tissues, along with proliferation of lymphatic follicles. Patients may experience dryness, itching, foreign body sensation, obstruction, burning sensation, and irritative cough in the throat. Severe cases may lead to bloody sputum. Common causes can include repeated acute inflammatory stimuli such as tonsillitis, acute pharyngitis, or long-term smoking, alcohol consumption, spicy food intake, digestive system disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux, all of which can cause congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa and submucosal tissues, as well as lymphatic follicle proliferation. Examination with a laryngoscope can reveal significant congestion in the pharyngeal mucosa, uvula, and uvula, and lymphatic follicles can be found on the posterior pharyngeal wall, at the base of the tongue, and in the pharyngeal recesses. Treatment initially requires identifying and avoiding the cause. Nebulization inhalation can be used to alleviate local congestion and swelling, and adopting a light diet and quitting smoking and drinking can gradually lead to improvement and prevent recurrence.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?

There are many symptoms of pharyngitis, and the specific symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common ones include the following. The first is a foreign body sensation, which is a sensation of a foreign object in the throat, feeling like there is always something that cannot be coughed up or swallowed, which is very typical. Another one is the empty swallow syndrome, meaning that some people feel like there is something that cannot be swallowed when swallowing saliva without food. Empty swallowing refers to just swallowing saliva in this way, feeling more and more like there’s something stuck as one swallows, which is similar to the foreign body sensation and is also a manifestation of the swallowing action. The third symptom is a dry and itchy throat. Some people also experience symptoms such as feeling nauseous and wanting to gag when brushing their teeth in the morning. Therefore, the symptoms of pharyngitis do not manifest exactly the same in everyone; some people may experience several symptoms, while others may have one predominant symptom.