What to Take for Pharyngitis

Pharyngitisis a very common condition, especially at certain times of the year. It is not always necessary to see a specialist to get over it, but knowing which medicines you can take to treat the symptoms of pharyngitis will help make recovery more manageable. At Farmaciasdirect, we are going to tell youwhat to take for pharyngitis. Take note!

What is pharyngitis

Pharyngitispresents as aninflammation of the mucous membranelocated in the pharynx and generally causes pain when swallowing. The pharynx not only acts as the passageway for food to reach the stomach, but also carries air to the respiratory tract.

This type of throat inflammation, very similar to tonsillitis, is considered a common condition which, when treated properly, should not pose any risk to the affected person.

Find out what to take for pharyngitis

When it comes to treating pharyngitis, treatment in severe cases will depend largely on whether it is theviral or bacterial form.In mild cases that do not require a visit to a medical professional, however, treatment is much simpler, since the viral condition, which is the most common, clears up on its own thanks to the immune system in about a week.

What we can do during that time is use medicines that help relieve the symptoms of pharyngitis, making the recovery process easier to cope with.

Lozenges such asLizipaina,BucometasanaorAngileptolcan help soothe throat irritation when there is no fever.

If the case is more serious and there is afeverthat lasts for more than a few days, or it goes away and comes back more than 48 hours later, it will be necessary tosee your GP or go to urgent care, who may prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin if the case is a bacterial infection that requires treatment, in order to shorten recovery and prevent possible spread.

Types of pharyngitis

Now that you know what to take for pharyngitis, let us show you the different types. Broadly speaking, we can talk about two types of pharyngitis:

• Acute pharyngitis: this causes inflammation of the tonsils, uvula and soft palate, and may be caused by a virus or bacteria.
• Chronic pharyngitis: inflammation and irritation of the throat mucosa that can occur for various reasons such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, dust, tobacco and other chemical substances, and which appears regularly or frequently. In addition to the usual symptoms, it also brings an itchy sensation and throat clearing.

Symptoms of pharyngitis

One of the most typical symptoms of pharyngitis is a sore throat and, depending on whether it is of viral or bacterial origin, it brings with it a series of symptoms associated with its onset.

Symptoms of viral pharyngitis

• Sore throat
• Mucus or nasal congestion
• Cough
• Headache or muscle pain
• Mild fever

Symptoms of bacterial pharyngitis:

Streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, commonly known as tonsillitis, is much less common than the viral form, as it usually occurs in between 20% and 30% of cases. It has a much more severe clinical picture, which is why its symptoms are far more specific:

• High fever
• Chills
• Muscle and joint pain
• Sore throat
• Mucus
• Appearance of white patches

How to prevent pharyngitis

There are some measures that can be taken to prevent acute pharyngitis:

• Stay hydrated.Drinking enough water is always very important, but it is especially important in a case of pharyngitis, to stop it from getting worse and becoming acute.
• Gargle with camomile.This will relieve your sore throat and help you recover sooner. You can also use room-temperature water with salt.
• Avoid sudden changes in environment.When you have mild pharyngitis, air conditioning and heating that dry out the air are your enemies and the illness's allies. Also avoid very hot or very cold food and drinks, which can damage the mucous membrane of your pharynx.
• Take vitamin C.You can make your diet richer in vitamin C with an extra intake of citrus fruits, grapes or honey. This will keep your immune system in the best possible condition, strengthening it in its fight against the condition.
• Do not smoke.Ideally, you should quit for good, but if you cannot, at least stop smoking until you have fully recovered.
• Avoid areas with polluted air.This is difficult to achieve in large cities, but avoid the worst areas and try to have an air purifier at home or plants that perform this function.
• Avoid spreading it.Always cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze, wash your hands often and use disposable tissues to stop your pharyngitis spreading to those around you.

Bibliography

• Fernández-Cuesta Valcarce, Miguel Ángel y Kirchschläger Nieto, Silke Bianca; ""Acute pharyngitis"", AEPap (2019)
• Snyder, Nathan Lee; ""Natural treatment for tonsillitis and other throat problems"", Dilema, (2016)