URTI: Pharyngitis

Question 1

What is Pharyngitis?

Answer 1

Inflamm of back of throat (pharynx), usually caused by viral infection

Question 2

What are the causes of Pharyngitis? (3 things)

Answer 2

1. Viral: Adenovirus (most common), Rhinovirus, Corona)
2. Bac: Group A Strep pyogenes (aka GAS) / pneumoniae
3. Meds: ACE Inhibitors

Question 3

What are the CF of Pharyngitis? (5 things + 2 things NOT present)

Answer 3

1. Fever (low grade = viral // high grade = bac)
2. Headache
3. Sore throat
4. Odynophagia
5. Cervical lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) (more prominent in bac)
6. NO COUGH OR HOARSENESS (if present probs laryngitis)

Symptoms last 3-5 days (like working days lol)

Question 4

What investigations should you do for sus Pharyngitis? (6 things)

Answer 4

1. Throat culture
2. Rapid Strep Test
3. PCR
4. Serological tests (check for anti-strep antibodies)
5. Oropharyngeal examination
6. Centor Score (predicts possibility of GAS)

(most of dese check for Group A Strep pyogenes aka GAS)

Question 5

What are the management options for Pharyngitis? (7 things)

Answer 5

1. Observation (if viral, bc self limiting)
2. Fluids
3. Antipyretics
4. Analgesics
5. Salt water gargling
6. Abx (if GAS) (1st line = penicillin / amoxicillin for 10 days)
7. Surgery: Tonsillectomy (if recurrent / unresponsive to treatment / obst airway)

Question 6

What are the complications of Pharyngitis? (7 things)

Answer 6

1. Airway obst (bc severe inflamm / abscess / tonsillar hypertrophy)
2. Otitis media
3. Retropharyngeal / Peritonsillar abscess
4. Sinusitis
5. Meningitis
6. Necrotizing fasciitis (dat girl from The Good Doctor dat had her arm amputated lol)
7. Rheumatic fever –> Rheumatic heart disease