ENT Head & Neck Surgery Center

Rm 02, 5/F., Kai Seng Commerical Centre,
4-6 Hankow Road, TST Kln, HK
(near Kowloon Hotel)
Tel: (852) 3100 0555
Fax: (852) 3100 0556

Lawrence Chow / ENT Doctor

pharyngitis

6 Bad Habits that Increases the Chance of Getting Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis, which is most commonly referred to as “sore throat” usually occurs during the colder months of the year. It can cause scratchiness in the throat and difficulty swallowing.

Pharyngitis may be caused by bacterial or viral infections and is very easy to catch if people are stubborn enough not to avoid these bad habits:

 

1。Not Getting Enough Water, Rest and Sleep

Pharyngitis is often accompanied by headache, fever and pain, all of which can be easily prevented if only people will keep their immunity functioning at its best when they get a complete eight hour sleep and keep themselves hydrated.

Water therapy is often used to treat common colds and sore throats and dehydration worsens it.

Anything which is bad for the immune system or the body’s ability to fight off infections can contribute to the spread of diseases that cause pharyngitis. So it is very important to keep hydrated and get enough sleep.

 

 

2。Sharing Food, Drinks and Eating Utensils.

When people avoid sharing food, drinks and eating utensils, they also avoid the most common viral and bacterial causes of pharyngitis other than pharyngitis itself. Some of these highly contagious diseases are: measles, adenovirus, chickenpox, croup and group A streptococcus.

Viral infections such as common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis, as well as the less prevalent bacterial infection, strep throat can cause pharyngitis.

In some rare cases, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and corynebacterium can also cause bacterial pharyngitis and everyone knows how easy virus and bacteria can spread when people share cups and spoons so it will be best not to do it even with people very close to us to prevent spreading diseases.

 

 

3。Going to Crowded Places

Again, avoiding close contact with anyone who may be carrying bacteria or viral infection in them may help prevent acquiring anything which may cause pharyngitis. Some infectious and contagious diseases are airborne and people working in healthcare are constantly exposed so it is best to avoid crowded places altogether unless one’s job calls for it. If that is the case, the person must always protect himself by avoiding close contact and eating immune boosting food.

 

 

4。Having Poor Hygiene

People who are unable to make it a habit to wash their hands often before eating and after coughing or sneezing can be a contributor in the spread of disease. They can also get it easily by not washing after exposing themselves or touching infected areas.

 

 

5。Not Using Disinfectants

Simply keeping themselves and their surroundings clean may not be enough in preventing infection completely.  Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available is highly recommended to keep the usual culprits of throat infections away.

 

 

6。Exposing Oneself to Smoke

Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of getting pharyngitis so one should avoid inhaling second hand smoke and avoid smoking too. Again, anything which is bad for the overall immunity can cause pharyngitis and this is especially true when people smoke.

If you have been experiencing symptoms such as voice changes, constant coughing, pain when swallowing, ear pain and sore throat that has not disappeared for more than two weeks, get yourself checked by a qualified doctor. It could be nothing but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.

 

For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.

 

 

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

http://www.hkentspecialist.hk

How To Handle Pharyngitis?

Also commonly referred to as ‘sore throat’, pharyngitis is said to be the most common cause of visits to the ENT doctor and missed work days. Characterized by some pain in the back of the mouth, it’s the very definition of many people as being ill. In most cases, it also comes with some scratchiness and difficulty in swallowing.

 

 

While the condition in itself is not life-threatening, it can also come with a wide range of other serious conditions. It can also be highly contagious, depending on your underlying condition. These make it crucial to address right away.

 

 

Causes of Pharyngitis

Like the other conditions that involve some swelling in and around the oral cavities, pharyngitis is also typically caused by a viral or bacterial infection. A few of the most common examples of these are the following:

  • Adenovirus or common colds
  • Influenza virus
  • Coxsackie virus
  • Mononucleosis virus
  • Measles
  • Whooping cough
  • Croup
  • Group A streptococcus
  • Gonorrhea and chlamydia (in rare cases)

 

 

Some people are also more likely to get sore throat than others. For example, those who are often exposed to folks with viral infections have higher risks of contracting similar condition and pharyngitis consequently. Those who are also often exposed to secondhand smoke can expect to get this condition quite often.

 

 

Signs and Symptoms

Aside from experiencing pain on your throat, here are the other telltale signs of pharyngitis:

  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Malaise
  • Joint pains
  • Cough
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Rashes
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty in swallowing

 

 

It’s always a good idea to see an ENT doctor if you have the mentioned symptoms. As this condition is usually caused by an infection and can be contagious, treating it properly and immediately is a must.

 

 

Treating Pharyngitis

If you’ve been diagnosed with sore throat, you don’t have to worry about having to stay at the hospital. This condition is treatable at home.

 

 

The most basic home treatment techniques you should do include:

  • Drink plenty of fluids. This will help you avoid becoming dehydrated which is common when you’re running a fever.
  • Gargle with warm salt water. This helps kill harmful bacteria inside the mouth and help you prevent the infection from worsening.
  • Use a humidifier. Dry air can aggravate the swelling and soreness of your throat, so make sure to keep the air you breathe a bit humid.
  • Take throat lozenges. They can help further soothe your sore throat.

 

 

Seeing an ENT doctor will also help you treat pharyngitis effectively. However, you should closely follow the instructions of your doctor. This is especially crucial if you have a bacterial infection as those can worsen if not treated right away. Make sure to take all of the antibiotics accordingly as it’s the only way that you can be sure that the infection will be cured. Since ENT problem is quite different from case to case, it is suggested to consult an ENT Specialist for the appropriate ENT services.

 

 

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

https://www.hkentspecialist.hk

When It’s More Than Just a Sore Throat in Children

When children complain of mild to moderate pain in their throat, perhaps accompanied by difficulty in breathing and speaking, their previously noisy behavior can be reduced. Parents should look into these symptoms since these are the common symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis. Both of these health issues are treatable but keeping them untreated can result in complications that parents shouldn’t risk. Continue reading

Throat Disorders You Should Not Ignore

Throat Disorders You Should Not Ignore

 

Throat problems are not exactly rare. In fact, millions of people all over the world are affected by some sort of throat disorder. While most throat problems are harmless, there are those that must really be diagnosed and evaluated by an ENT specialist to ensure that the condition doesn’t worsen and lead to life threatening illnesses.

 

Here are some problems you should not ignore: Continue reading

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