Chronic pharyngitis what to do?

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Chronic pharyngitis is also known as persistent sore throat. Unlike acute pharyngitis, chronic pharyngitis persists for a significantly longer time and does not respond to conventional treatments.

1. What is chronic pharyngitis?

Pharyngitis is an inflammation in the back of the throat, oropharynx. Acute pharyngitis is more common than chronic pharyngitis, and symptoms usually resolve within 10 days. The treatment of acute pharyngitis usually focuses on treating symptoms.
Most cases of acute pharyngitis are caused by viruses, but some cases can be bacterial. Antibiotics are only helpful when bacteria is the cause of the inflammation. Therefore, antibiotic treatment is not necessarily recommended for all patients.
For chronic pharyngitis, in addition to infectious factors, the disease can also be caused by other factors. When patients have chronic pharyngitis, painful symptoms often persist or recur frequently, especially sore throats that do not go away after 3 months. Pharyngitis is considered chronic if sore throat symptoms persist for more than a few weeks. The treatment of chronic pharyngitis depends on the cause.

2. Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are similar to acute pharyngitis including:
Discomfort or pain in the throat Hoarseness A tickling sensation in the throat Feeling of something stuck in the throat Difficulty swallowing Fatigue in speaking, common in people who sing or need to use their voice in everyday tasks Headache Fever

3. Causes of chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis has many potential causes. If the sore throat does not go away for 3 months, the sore throat persists even after a course of antibiotic treatment, the patient needs to see a doctor for further advice. Causes of chronic pharyngitis :
Smoke or environmental pollutants Infection (prolonged tonsillitis ...) Allergies (eosinophilic esophagitis...) Acid reflux (reflux) laryngeal reflux, gastroesophageal reflux) Nasopharyngeal cancer (rare) 3.1. Smoke and Environmental Pollutants Smoke contains airborne fine particles of solids, gases, liquids, and harmful chemicals as well as fragments of burned materials. Smoke can be cigarette smoke, wood burning, grass burning, coal burning, plastic, smoke at construction sites, burning pits, landfill fires, traffic emissions, industrial emissions... related to combustion. carbon. Fine particle pollution is a common problem in urban areas.
The extent to which smoke and pollutants in the air can cause sore throats and lung problems. Initial manifestations are dry, sore throat, runny nose and cough, long-term will cause prolonged sore throat.
3.2. Persistent tonsillitis Another common cause of a persistent sore throat is an infection of structures in or around the throat. The tonsils are the most commonly affected structures. Symptoms of tonsillitis include:
Cough Fever Nausea and vomiting Painful swallowing Swollen lymph nodes Headache Abdominal pain

3.3. Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the body's immune system overreacts to harmless particles such as pollen, mold, or pet dander. Depending on what triggers the immune response, allergic rhinitis can cause seasonal or year-round symptoms.
In allergic rhinitis, the body responds to an allergen by releasing histamines, which causes the lining of the sinuses, eyes, and nasal passages to become inflamed. Nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy throat are common symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
When this happens, the mucus glands of the nose and throat produce too much thick mucus, making the pharynx swollen and irritated. Runny, itchy, sore throat associated with allergic rhinitis may cause recurrent or persistent sore throat.

3.4. Laryngeal Reflux Laryngeal Reflux (LPR) is a disorder associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the reflux of digestive acid from the stomach to the back of the throat and nasal airways. Known by symptoms including:
Burning sensation or sore throat. Hoarse voice. Difficulty swallowing Feeling stuck in throat. LPR can be caused by dietary problems, abnormalities of the esophageal sphincter, and being overweight. In many cases, certain foods are associated with LPR including:
Alcohol Caffeine High fat foods Spicy foods Stress and smoking It is possible to have LPR without GERD, or to have GERD without LPR .
3.5. Eosinophilic esophagitis Eosinophilic esophagitis is a disorder of the esophagus in which an allergic reaction causes the esophagus to become irritated and narrow. This irritation can be caused by a food allergy or an environmental allergy. Symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis include:
Sore throat Heartburn

Difficulty swallowing, especially dry or solid foods Painful swallowing Recurrent abdominal pain Nausea and vomiting Food stuck in the esophagus. Children with anorexia, failure to develop or vomiting after meals 3.6. Throat cancer Nasopharyngeal cancer is a fairly rare cause of chronic pharyngitis, but it can be quite serious. Nasopharyngeal cancer usually starts in the larynx or pharynx, a sore throat is just one of the following:
Difficulty swallowing Sore throat Shortness of breath Chronic cough Voice change/hoarseness Feeling of something stuck in Throat Tumors in the neck or throat Neck swelling Bleeding from the mouth or nose Unplanned, unexplained weight loss

4. Diagnosis and treatment of chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis is often a warning sign of an underlying problem, it is necessary to determine the cause of the disease in order to proceed with treatment.
To relieve sore throat, patients with chronic pharyngitis can gargle with warm salt water solution, replenish water fully, avoid smoking. Commonly used chronic sore throat medicine is acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) to help relieve sore throat and reduce fever. However, the underlying cause must be addressed in conjunction with chronic pharyngitis medications.
Chronic pharyngitis due to smoke In the case of chronic pharyngitis caused by smoke or environmental pollutants, the patient must be removed from the contaminated environment.

Tonsillitis Usually treated with a course of antibiotics. If tonsillitis recurs frequently or the inflammation is particularly severe, tonsillectomy should be considered if possible. A tonsillectomy is a relatively minor and painless procedure after surgery.
Allergic Rhinitis Usually treated with nasal sprays, saline nasal drops, and antihistamines. In more severe cases, it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist.
Laryngeal Reflux Disease can be definitively treated with lifestyle changes to eliminate triggers such as: stress, being overweight..., changing your diet and using medications. Proton pump inhibitors (esomeprazole or omeprazole) are the first line medications used to treat reflux when lifestyle changes are not effective enough. People with laryngopharyngeal reflux due to a physical abnormality of the esophagus may need surgery to alleviate the disorder.
Eosinophilic esophagitis The disease is usually treated with dietary plans, corticosteroids for symptomatic treatment, and proton pump inhibitors.
Throat cancer Treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer depends on the type of cancer, its location, and how advanced it is. If nasopharyngeal cancer is confirmed, treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery cures 80% of early stage nasopharyngeal cancers. In some cases, surgery and radiation therapy may be used in combination.

Vinmec International General Hospital examines and treats common nasopharyngitis diseases, head and neck tumors, congenital malformations of the ear, nose and throat area with the most optimal internal and surgical methods for patients, both children and adults. Coming to Vinmec International General Hospital, patients will receive a direct, dedicated and professional examination from a team of qualified and experienced medical staff.
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