What Is Viral Pharyngitis?
Viral pharyngitis typically refers to a sore throat. It can cause inflammation between the tonsils and the larynx and is caused by a viral infection. In most cases, it only causes throat discomfort but occasionally other symptoms can also be present. Viral pharyngitis can also affect the lungs and the bowels and cause joint or muscle pain. Swollen lymph nodes can sometimes also be present in the neck area. In order to diagnose viral pharyngitis, a physician must examine the throat and perform a throat swab test. This is mainly done to rule out a bacterial infection that can also cause sore throats. A swab culture can be viewed under a microscope to find the offending organism. If viral pharyngitis is present, anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly prescribed. Antibiotics will not cure this type of infection and these drugs can worsen the pharyngitis symptoms.
