Possible complications of pharyngitis

This is an automatically translated article.

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract that is quite common in community life, from children to adults. The most common causative agent is a virus, and the disease resolves on its own within a few days. However, if it is a superinfected pharyngitis, the treatment requires antibiotics and requires compliance with the right medication and the right dose. If deliberately subjective, this simple disease will lead to many dangerous complications.
Complications of sore throat can be listed as follows:

Local complications

Pharyngitis, if not thoroughly controlled, can become a factor in the formation of pus-filled masses and abscesses. Areas of inflammation, swelling or abscesses are located around the tonsils, side spaces of the throat, and abscesses in the back of the throat.
Severe complications are more likely to occur in children aged 1 to 2 years, or in subjects who delay treatment. Occasionally, the inflammation turns to gangrene in the neck, although it is rare, the prognosis is very severe.

Neighboring complications

Inflammatory pus filled with bacteria and destroyed parenchyma from the inflamed throat area spreads to the adjacent respiratory organs, making the infection even more widespread. Possible pathologies are laryngitis , tracheobronchitis. Not only that, the lower respiratory tract is also difficult to avoid the attack of bacteria, which manifests as pneumonia. If the level is mild, the patient will be diagnosed as bronchitis - bronchitis. If the level of inflammation is severe or if a highly toxic pathogen is acquired, it will lead to lobar pneumonia, lung abscess.
Because the oral cavity and pharynx are closely related to the structure of the ear canal, any infection in this area can completely affect the ear. When you have a sore throat, the inflammatory response causes the parenchyma to swell, causing blockage of the eustachian tube. Fluid secretion stagnates in the tympanic cavity and cochlea, causing acute otitis media, acute inner ear infection. Or the eustachian tube itself is a favorable natural route for the transmission of bacteria. Finally, inflammation in the structures of the ear often lasts for many days, requires persistent treatment, and sometimes affects auditory and vestibular function.
Similar to the above, the natural sinuses in the skull are also at risk of spreading infection from the sore throat. Therefore, many cases of pharyngitis, rhinitis, acute sinusitis, excrete a lot of thick, strong-smelling pus and are accompanied by headache, runny nose, and stuffy nose.

Distant complications

This complication is most feared when the causative agent of pharyngitis is hemolytic streptococcus. Because the toxicity of this strain of bacteria is not only localized but also penetrates the bloodstream, causing nephritis, arthritis, heart inflammation... When suffering from these complications, the treatment will become useless. equally complex. In addition to antibiotic therapy, the doctor will need to closely monitor the function, use supportive drugs for the affected organs to quickly recover. Even in many cases that have been treated to kill bacteria completely, they still cannot avoid serious long-term sequelae in the organs.
In addition, pharyngitis is inherently a foci of infection. In situations where antibiotic control is not effective, where antibiotic-resistant or highly virulent strains of bacteria are acquired, the massive release of bacteria and their toxins into the bloodstream causes streptococcal toxic shock. or individually, it can lead to sepsis, low blood pressure, respiratory failure, impaired consciousness, sometimes life-threatening if there are no adequate means of timely treatment.
In short, if it is a viral sore throat, it usually lasts 3-5 days and then goes away on its own. If it is due to bacterial superinfection, especially streptococci, the illness usually lasts longer and requires a systematic antibiotic treatment to avoid complications. To do so, it is necessary to have a positive attitude to early examination and early intervention, to keep the health of yourself and your loved ones safe.
Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining respiratory diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to. With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.