Definition of Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx (the hollow tube in the back of the throat about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea). Pharyngitis is popularly known as a sore throat.

Most sore throats are viral and will not respond to antibiotics. Bacterial causes include Group A streptococcus. The feared complications of strep throat include rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, and toxic shock syndrome.

A rapid antigen test may be done for strep. If the rapid test is positive, the patient is treated with an antibiotic. If the rapid test is negative, a throat culture may be done.

The cephalosporin antibiotics such as cephalexin (Keflex, Keftabs, Biocef) and cefadroxil (Duricef) have been found to be much less likely to fail in eradicating the strep than penicillin.

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