The throat is one of the areas most affected by cold and humidity, so we must avoid sudden changes in temperature in order to prevent infections such as pharyngitis. Dr. Francisco Salaverry, otolaryngologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, mentions that wearing scarves to warm the neck and trying not to breathe with an open mouth, reduces the risk of suffering from this disease. In addition, he provides us with valuable information on the subject.

What is pharyngitis?

It is an inflammatory process of viral, bacterial or allergic cause that affects the throat, in this case the pharynx.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Sore throat
• Difficulty passing food (dysphagia)
• General malaise, such as joint pain or muscle pain

The causes of pharyngitis are:

• Seasonal changes
• Consumption of very cold or very hot drinks
• Flu processes that affect the upper airway, in this case the majority are of viral etiology
• Bacterial infectious processes affecting the upper airway

Treatment

• 80% of pharyngitis cases are due to a viral cause, which entails symptomatic treatment, which aims to use anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, nasal decongestants, among others. In addition, it is recommended to gargle with warm water and salt three times a day for five days, since the idea is to wash the pharynx well.
• If the origin is bacterial, antibiotics such as amoxicillin or azithromycin can be used

It is important to seek professional help to avoid complications. Poorly treated pharyngitis can trigger ear inflammation. The specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment according to the evaluation of each patient.

Dr. Francisco Salaverry
Otolaryngologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma