Symptoms and Treatment of Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is classified into acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis according to the duration of illness and pathological characteristics:

1. Acute pharyngitis: Patients mainly experience symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, and sputum production. It is primarily caused by viral or bacterial infections, environmental factors, excessive voice use, and similar reasons.

2. Chronic pharyngitis: Patients commonly have symptoms including increased throat secretions, hoarseness, throat pain, burning sensation, and a feeling of a foreign body in the throat. The causes are often repeated episodes of acute pharyngitis, prolonged voice overuse, and irritation from allergens, dust, and harmful gases.

The treatment of pharyngitis depends on its underlying cause. The main treatment approaches include:

1. Acute pharyngitis caused by viral infection: Symptomatic treatment is commonly used, such as drinking plenty of water, resting, using mouthwashes or throat lozenges to relieve symptoms. Antipyretics or analgesics may also be taken to reduce discomfort.

2. Pharyngitis caused by bacterial infection: For example, streptococcal pharyngitis requires antibiotic treatment under a physician's guidance. Penicillin-class antibiotics are generally the first-line treatment, with a course of approximately 10 days.

3. Chronic pharyngitis: In addition to symptomatic treatment, patients should avoid irritating foods and beverages, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, maintain healthy lifestyle habits, and, when necessary, use local雾化吸入 (雾化吸入 translates to "nebulizer inhalation") or oral anti-inflammatory medications.

Others: During treatment, patients should adjust their diet appropriately, choosing mild, easily digestible foods and avoiding spicy, irritating, or greasy foods. Drinking adequate fluids, such as warm water, warm tea, or using warm salt water for gargling, helps thin mucus and relieve throat discomfort.

During the treatment process, patients should ensure sufficient rest and avoid excessive voice use to promote recovery. If symptoms persist or do not improve, timely medical attention should be sought.