Chronic Pharyngitis: Symptoms, Causes, Home Remedies

Introduction

Pharyngitis is a burning sensation in the back of the throat of an individual which causes pain. It creates an inflammation in the throat which causes discomfort to an individual. Chronic pharyngitis is a condition that lasts for longer than a month to get adequately cured. Acute pharyngitis, on the other hand, is a disease which is similar to chronic pharyngitis but is of less severe intensity and takes less time to heal. Chronic pharyngitis is usually the cause of enlarged tonsils and an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist should be consulted for the treatment.

Causes of chronic pharyngitis

There are some factors which play a vital role in spawning the disease in the throat of an individual. There are different varieties of bacteria and viruses that cause pharyngitis.

• Virus

Viruses serve as the most common cause of pharyngitis. Cold, influenza, and mononucleosis cause pharyngitis and antibiotics do not affect them.

• Bacteria

Bacteria also cause chronic pharyngitis. There are different bacteria which causes various diseases. A commonly known bacteria, streptococcus, cause pharyngitis. The infection caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics.

• Excess Exposure

Excess exposure to flu and cold can also serve as a risk factor in causing pharyngitis. People, who are exposed to infections of the mouth and nose, are highly prone to pharyngitis.

• Allergies

There are a lot of people who are allergic to pollen, dust, molds, etc. and when they are exposed to any of these allergens, they feel irritation at the back of their throats.

• Muscle Strain

Talking at a high pitch can also cause strain in the muscle of the vocal chords which could result in the dryness of the throat and can ultimately be a factor in a cause a sore throat.

• Polluted environment

The polluted environment can also cause pharyngitis. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants such as car fumes in the atmosphere can cause pharyngitis.

• Acid reflux

Acid reflux is a problem in which the acidic stomach contents move backward and go back in the esophagus. This problem is also called heat burn or acid indigestion. Since the acid moves backward, it creates inflammation and causes pharyngitis. The acids in the stomach should be neutralized by taking different medicines so that the burning sensation that it causes could be lessened. An individual should work on his eating habits and should start eating healthy to neutralize the inflammation that it causes. Gradual changes in the diet could help an individual get rid of this problem. Avoiding different food items can also be helpful for example, avoiding spicing or sour food items. Different food items trigger inflammation in the throat differently, so the changes in diet vary from person to person. Moderate diet can help in the prevention of pharyngitis. Different medicines prescribed by a doctor can also be effective.

Acid reflux has severe effects on an individual. It may disrupt the lining of the tissues inside the throats and can also lead an individual to different throat related disease. It is a major cause of pharyngitis and can cause tissue damage which can lead to difficulty in swallowing as well. A doctor should be referred to as soon as possible to prevent the dangerous outcome.

There are other causes of pharyngitis as well and include:

1. Smoking
2. A whooping cough
3. Measles
4. Tonsils

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis

Some signs and symptoms help in the diagnosis of the disease. However, the intensity of every symptom varies in every case depending entirely on the severity of the disease. The most significant symptom of pharyngitis is a sore throat which causes inflammation. People are cautious and usually, tend to consult a doctor at an early stage. There other vital symptoms associated are listed below and include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Nausea
• Fever
• A runny nose
• Body Aches or Headaches

From the time an individual feels a burning sensation in the throat; he might show the following symptoms as well

1. Pain while swallowing food
2. Pain while drinking water
3. Red tonsils in the throat
4. Swollen glands in the throat
5. Heavy or hoarseness in the voice
6. Difficulty in speaking

Every symptom presents differently in every individual, depending on the intensity of pharyngitis. It is not necessary that every symptom will be present in the case of every individual which is why it is vital for diagnosis to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Chronic pharyngitis diagnosis

If a person is experiencing pharyngitis or any signs, which he thinks, are among the symptoms of pharyngitis; then he should consult a doctor. Consulting a doctor will not only help him get rid of the confusion but also, will help the individual start his treatment at an early stage which will prevent excess damage. There are different ways through which pharyngitis is diagnosed.

• Physical test

A doctor might examine your symptoms which are visible and will look into your nose and ears to confirm the presence of disease.

• Examining the throat

A doctor might also use this technique to diagnose the disease. Doctors in this technique use a cotton swab. They use the cotton to get the secretions of the throat of an individual and then test it to see if the person is suffering from pharyngitis or not.

• Blood tests

Blood tests are also used to diagnose the disease. A blood sample is taken from an individual and is then sent to the lab to diagnose the presence of the disease.

Chronic pharyngitis antibiotics

Chronic pharyngitis can be treated with antibiotics only if is caused by a bacteria. Pharyngitis which is caused by a virus is difficult to treat with an antibiotic.

Here is a list of antibiotics which prove to be helpful in the treatment:

•  Penicillin G Benzathine

It is an effective a low-cost drug which is used to treat pharyngitis

• Penicillin VK

It is a recommended by expert committees and is effective as well.

• Amoxicillin

It is used as a replacement for penicillin in children.

• Clindamycin

It protects individuals and stops the growth of bacterial protein.

• Erythromycin

It is an alternative for those who are allergic to other antibiotics

• Cephalexin

It prevents bacterial growth by creating a protective cell wall.

There are several side effects of antibiotics as well so one should avoid self-medication.

Taking care of one’s self is another effective way to get rid of pharyngitis if a virus causes it. It is an alternative treatment for those who do not want to take medicines.

1. Drinking sufficient water to avoid dehydration helps to treat pharyngitis.
2. Gargling with warm water
3. Avoiding spicy food

Chronic pharyngitis and laryngitis

Chronic pharyngitis and laryngitis are painful diseases; however, there is a significant difference between them. Pharyngitis is inflammation in the pharynx; whereas, laryngitis is the inflammation in the voice box. The latter one is caused due to irritation and swelling of the vocal cords. There are a lot of causes of laryngitis, such as;

1. Talking too much
2. Excess smoking
3. Acid reflux
4. Cold and flu

The disease gets treated keeping in view the condition of every individual. Each symptom is displayed itself different intensity in every case. Acute and chronic laryngitis are the two major types. Acute laryngitis lasts for less time; whereas, chronic laryngitis takes more time to get cured. Different factors cause acute and chronic laryngitis. Symptoms of laryngitis are:

1. A dry cough
2. Fever
3. Loss of voice
4. Irritation in throat
5. A lot of people feel difficulty in swallowing as well.

Laryngitis could be treated by consulted a doctor and taking proper medication. Keeping your body hydrated is another factor which plays a vital role in the treatment of laryngitis. Doctors also recommend limiting the use of voice until the disease gets cured completely. In a lot of cases, the patient takes a lot of time to visit the doctor and has to get a surgery done to get treated. There are different ways in which laryngitis could be prevented. One should avoid contact with people suffering from cold or flu. Also, one should avoid going to places where tobacco smoke and other harmful chemicals are present in the environment.

Is chronic pharyngitis dangerous?

Every disease present in this word is dangerous; however, the intensity varies. Chronic pharyngitis is a dangerous disease and can cause problems if not properly and not at the right time. Since a virus causes this disease, it is contagious. It spreads in the form of a cough and sneezes droplets. If the disease is not treated, it might spread in the environment and cause problems for others as well. Chronic pharyngitis also causes rheumatic fever, and some people suffer an infection in the blood. Some people feel difficulty in breathing and lose their consciousness while suffering from pharyngitis. Swelling of tongue and throat might cause an individual daily discomfort. In extreme cases of pharyngitis, people face excessive pain which is uncontrollable, and the sensation of burning is severe than usual.

Is chronic pharyngitis curable?

Chronic pharyngitis is a dangerous disease yet it is curable. There are different ways through which pharyngitis could be treated. Some people prefer to visit a doctor, while others prefer home remedies. Doctors prescribe different antibiotics and use different treatments to treat the ailment. Since excessive use of voice also causes pharyngitis; doctors also recommend talking less for some period. Pharyngitis causes pain in the throat which leads to heavy voice. Different speech therapies are used to help patients get rid of this problem. Smoking plays an essential role in causing the disease. Doctors often recommend quitting smoking to get rid of the disease. Some people are allergic to tobacco smoke which is why they should avoid polluted environment.

Home remedies

Some people prefer home remedies over medication. Since there could be a lot of side effects of medicines, a lot of people prefer to take homemade medicines/ organic medicines or focus on home remedies to cure any ailment that they are suffering from. Home remedies have a gradual effect, but they are less harmful. Here is a list of things that a person could do at home to get relief from the pain:

• Gargling

Gargling with warm water can help people to get rid of the pain. Adding a few pinches of salt and gargling with warm water can relieve the sensation of burning.

• Keep yourself hydrated

Keeping oneself hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids can help a person to get relief from the pain. The fluids will help an individual to get rid of a dry throat. This will also keep the inflammation away. Mixing a spoon or two of honey could be an even better option.

• Proper rest

Too much exertion can leave any disease untreated. If a person is trying every possible remedy and is not feeling better, that is because his body is not relaxed. Avoiding physical exertion and getting proper sleep will help a person feel better.

• Less spicy food

Spicy food also is a major cause of pharyngitis. Eating less or moderate spicy food will help to get rid of the inflammation.

• Tobacco smoke

Limiting your exposure to smoke and another chemical substance is yet another treatment of pharyngitis

• Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a cure for any bacterial or viral disease. Mixing apple cider vinegar in warm water and drinking it twice a day is also very helpful.

Conclusion

Chronic pharyngitis is a disease which is dangerous and is caused by a lot of factors. Even though the disease is dangerous, yet, it is curable. It is better for a person to visits doctor as soon as he experiences two to three symptoms of the disease. There are different causes of the disease, and similarly, the symptoms of the disease are different as well. The symptoms also vary in intensity.  It is better to visit a doctor as soon as possible because the disease will be diagnosed and it will save the individual from its consequences.