Sore throat or Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the pharynx or back of the throat and is a common health disorder. It frequently occurs when a person has a cold or an attack of influenza. Generally, a sore throat is considered a sign for other illnesses like scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, etc. The throat`s inflammation may also involve the tonsils and adenoids. A person suffering from Pharyngitis may have scratchy throat and have difficulties in swallowing and breathing. Though, most of the times it is harmless and cured on its own, Pharyngitis may cause serious problems as well. Pharyngitis can result in very large tonsils and may sometimes be accompanied by cough or fever.
Pharyngitis or sore throat may be caused due to several reasons. In most cases it is caused by viral infections like a common cold or flu (influenza) or mononucleosis (mono). Other viral illnesses like measles, chickenpox or croup may also cause sore throat. In rare cases, bacterial infections like strep throat, tonsillitis, diphtheria, etc. may cause pharyngitis. Both viruses and bacteria enter the body through one`s mouth or nose. Though pharyngitis caused due to viral infections, it is sometimes cured on its own. However, if it is caused due to bacterial infections, the patients require proper medical care. The other causes of Pharyngitis include fungal infections, irritants like pollutants or chemical substances, allergies, dryness, pollution and other irritants, muscle strain, acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), HIV infection, tumours, etc.
There are many signs and symptoms that indicate whether a person suffering from a sore throat or Pharyngitis. In case of acute sore throat, a person feels burning and dryness in the throat and these feelings are usually followed by chills, fever and some hoarseness or laryngitis. Sometimes, the lymph glands along the sides of the neck may become swollen and tender and the back of the throat may become very red and even covered with a greyish-white membrane. Most of the times, the patient finds difficulty in swallowing, especially during the acute stage and there may also be postnasal discharge if the irritation has spread to nasal passages. In case of Pharyngitis caused due to tonsillitis or strep throat, the common symptoms include white patches or pus on throat or tonsils, inability to swallow, vomiting, skin rash, headache, severe throat pain, swollen and red tonsils, high fever over 101 F (38.3 C), etc.
The diagnosis of sore throat or pharyngitis is not difficult. Generally, it is done based on the symptoms like redness and white discharge or pus in the back of the throat. The physicians also suspect pharyngitis if the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged. However, in case of strep throat, a swab is taken from the back of the throat and two tests named rapid antigen testing and a bacterial culture are conducted.
Various alternative medicinal methods provide effective treatment of sore throat or pharyngitis. The treatment can be done following the methods like Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Naturopathy or nature care, Aromatherapy, etc. In Ayurveda, the herbal remedies like Kantakari, Mango bark, Henna, Holy basil, Cinnamon, Tamarind, etc. are often prescribed for curing sore throat or pharyngitis. The Homoeopathic medicines like Aconitum napellus, Baryta carbonica, Belladonna atropa, Dulcamara, Hepar sulphuris calcareum, Lachesis, Mercurius solubilis, Mercurius vivus, etc. are used frequently for treating pharyngitis. Certain dietary restrictions and lifestyle changes are advised in Naturopathic treatment of sore throat. Apart from these, the treatment of sore throat or pharyngitis is also sometimes done following various water treatments and home remedies.
As a whole, it can be said that sore throat or pharyngitis is more like a sign of a disease than a disease itself. It is caused due to many reasons and can be identified through various symptoms. Though most cases of pharyngitis are cured without any treatment, sore throat caused due to bacterial infections sometimes requires treatment.
