Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx, generally caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It presents with a sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and sometimes fever. Although most cases of pharyngitis are viral in origin, about 10% of cases are due to a bacterium, group A streptococcus, which may justify the use of antibiotics.

Causes

Pharyngitis can have several causes: • Viral infections: Viruses, such as rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, influenza and coronaviruses, are responsible for the majority of pharyngitis cases. • Bacterial infections: Group A streptococcus is the most frequent bacterial cause. Other bacteria such as mycoplasmas and chlamydiae can also be involved, but less often.

Symptoms

The main signs of pharyngitis include: • Sore throat: Intense pain, often accompanied by difficulty swallowing. • Fever: Often moderate to high, especially in bacterial cases. • Other symptoms: Headache, neck stiffness, nausea or vomiting. In viral cases, symptoms such as cough, a runny nose or a change in voice are common.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on: • Clinical assessment: Symptoms such as fever, absence of cough, and swollen lymph nodes can point to a bacterial infection. • Tests: A throat swab can identify group A streptococcus. Rapid tests are also available, but their accuracy may vary.

Treatment

Symptomatic: For pharyngitis of viral origin, treatment is limited to relieving symptoms with fever-reducing medications or decongestants. Antibiotics: If the cause is bacterial, notably streptococcus, antibiotics such as penicillin are prescribed for 10 days. In case of allergy, macrolides such as clarithromycin are used.