CHRONIC PHARYNGITIS

Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent inflammation of the pharynx.

It is common in adults who work or live in dusty surroundings use their

voice to excess, suffer from chronic cough, and habitually use alcohol
and tobacco.

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Three types of chronic pharyngitis are
recognized :

1) Hypertrophic: a general thickening and congestion of the

pharyngeal mucous membrane .

2) Atrophic: a late stage of the type 1 ( the membrane is thin,

whitish, glistening, and at times wrinkled ) .

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Pathology
• Chronic hypertrophy pharyngitis:
• Mucosal congestion, pharyngeal lymphoid tissue hypertrophy
• Atrophic pharyngitis:
• Seldom seen, etiology is unknown, hyposecretion, mucosa is thin
Clinical Manifestations
Patients with chronic pharyngitis complain of :

A constant sense of irritation or fullness in the throat.

Mucus that collects in the throat and can be expelled
by coughing.
and Difficulty swallowing.

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Clinical Manifestations
• Symptoms
• The description given of the symptoms varies greatly with individuals, no
general symptoms, simple sore throat, a pricking or irritation as of a foreign
body, or an accumulation of mucus causing a constant necessity to swallow
• Examination
• Chronic Hypertrophy Pharyngitis
• Mucosa membrane is thickened and reddened, a degree of edema of uvula may be
found, increase in size of lymphoid islands in the mucosa of pharyngeal posterior wall
• Atrophic Pharyngitis:
• Mucosa membrane is thin and pale colour, mucosa is driness, often attached thick
secretion
Medical Management
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis is based on relieving
symptoms avoiding exposure to irritants, and
correcting any upper respiratory, pulmonary, or
cardiac condition that might be responsible for a
chronic cough.

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 Medical Management
Nasal congestion may be relieved by short-term use of nasal
sprays or medications containing ephedrine sulfate

If there is a history of allergy, one of the antihistamine

decongestant medications, such as Drixoral or Dimetapp,
is taken orally every 4 to 6 hours.

Aspirin or acetaminophen is recommended for its anti

inflammatory and analgesic properties.