How To Treat Viral Pharyngitis?

Viral pharyngitis is inflammation caused by a virus. It is a common infection that in most cases does not cause complications and the symptoms disappear within a few days.

Viral pharyngitis is the most common form of this disease. Between 60 and 80% of pharyngitis are caused by a virus. However, most of the time they are treated with antibiotics. Which is a mistake because these drugs should only be used for bacterial infection.

Usually, this form of the disease presents itself during seasons or cold periods. It is a contagious infection. The best preventive measure is therefore to avoid contact with a sick person.

What is viral pharyngitis?

Inflammation of the lining of the pharynx caused by viral infection is known as viral pharyngitis. The pharynx is an anatomical tube-like structure, which connects the oral cavity with the larynx and esophagus. It is located in the neck and measures, in an adult, about 13 centimeters.

However, be aware that the pharynx can become inflamed for various reasons. Sometimes this happens because there is a bacterial infection or the presence of a fungus. In addition, in up to 30% of cases there is no pathogen.

Therefore, only that which is caused by a virus is called viral pharyngitis. The course of the disease depends on the type of virus involved and the management of the disease. Complications only occur in rare cases.

Causes of viral pharyngitis

Viral pharyngitis is usually associated with viral infection. In other words, it is one of the symptoms of another infectious disease. When this inflammation manifests itself without the presence of other symptoms, it is called nonspecific viral pharyngitis.

In the latter case,  the disease often presents a progressive onset and causes few complaints. The condition usually resolves within two to three days. In all other cases, the viruses and associated pathologies may be the following:

• Adenoviruses, enteroviruses and rhinoviruses: they cause colds and pharyngitis
• Flu: sometimes causes flu and also pharyngitis
• Herpes simplex (HSV): in this case, the main pathology is herpes simplex
• Epstein-Barr: this is the infectious mononucleosis virus
• Human immunodeficiency: it causes an acute retroviral syndrome which is accompanied by pharyngitis

Identify the disease

The characteristic symptom of this disease is sore throat. In addition to this, there are other manifestations that can occur with varying degrees of intensity, depending on each person. Here are the main symptoms:

• Dryness in the throat
• Pain when swallowing food, or even saliva
• Inflammation of the tonsils,  also known as tonsillitis
• Fever that does not exceed 38 ° C
• Headache
• Inflamed neck nodes
• Feeling tired

Symptoms can vary depending on the type of virus causing the illness. In acute viral pharyngitis, the pharynx turns red and is covered with mucus. In chronic pharyngitis, the lining is pale, thin, and covered with thick mucus.

Usually, the diagnosis is clinical and is based on a physical examination of the patient. In some cases, tests like pharyngeal-tonsil culture are done to rule out bacterial pharyngitis.

What is the treatment for viral pharyngitis?

There is no specific treatment for viral pharyngitis. Often, home remedies like gargling with lukewarm water and salt are recommended. This consists of diluting 3 grams of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and then gargling three times a day.

In addition, it is essential to drink plenty of water. It helps to cool the throat and also helps cleanse the body against viruses. It is best to follow a soft diet, rest and avoid irritating substances such as tobacco and spicy foods.

Also, it is essential not to take antibiotics in case the pharyngitis is viral. They are of no use. On the contrary, the person who takes them makes the bacteria even more resistant to these drugs.

It is rare for pharyngitis to have complications. However, there is evidence that cases of acute pharyngitis-tonsillitis have become more aggressive in recent years. This is a form of pharyngitis that affects the tonsils and is also caused by a virus in 80% of cases.