Is chronic pharyngitis contagious? Is acute pharyngitis contagious or not?

Types of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic pharyngitis usually develops against the background of irritating environmental factors that negatively affect the pharyngeal mucosa .
It often develops as an independent disease. Chronic pharyngitis can be caused by factors such as inhaling polluted, hot or cold air, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Treatment comes down to eliminating irritating factors and taking care of the throat - eating only soft foods so as not to injure the inflamed mucous membrane, avoiding hypothermia and overheating and other irritating factors. The types of pharyngitis also vary. The most harmless one - mechanical - is not transmitted to others. In this case, mechanical damage to the throat occurs, caused by unfavorable environmental conditions. The patient feels discomfort and pain in the throat, soreness, and sometimes a dry cough. No special treatment is required; it is only important to remove irritating factors and provide the patient with peace.

A more serious type of pharyngitis is viral. Acute pharyngitis is often contagious in cases where it is not an independent disease, but one of the symptoms of an underlying disease - influenza, colds or ARVI.

But the most dangerous and common type of pharyngitis is bacterial .
It is always acute and can cause significant health problems. A chronic course also occurs if it is not treated in time. The chronic course of bacterial pharyngitis has quite serious consequences.

Causes

The most common causes of pharyngitis are the following:

• Mucosal infection

Statistics say that this is the cause of 80% of cases of pharyngitis. Who is usually the causative agent of the disease?

1. microorganisms (strepto-, staphylo-, pneumococci);
2. viruses (influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, etc.);
3. fungus (Candida).

Treatment of chronic sinusitis at home

Inflammation may initially develop in nearby organs. As pathogenic microorganisms multiply, they infect the throat. They can also migrate to another person’s throat, because infectious pharyngitis is contagious. It is transmitted by airborne droplets, through dishes and personal hygiene items.

• Inhalation of cold air contaminated with chemical irritants (dust, vapors, gas).
• Allergens (causes swelling of the pharynx).

How to treat acute laryngitis in adults

The development of pharyngitis is promoted by colds against the background of reduced immunity, hormonal imbalance, and smoking.

Types of pharyngitis

The causes of chronic pharyngitis are varied, but most often the disease is the result of prolonged irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa. The disease can occur independently or be a complication of incompletely cured acute inflammation of the larynx.

Causes of mucosal irritation:

• smoking, including passive smoking;
• alcohol abuse;
• eating foods that irritate the mucous membranes (carbonated drinks, spicy foods, hot and cold foods);
• inhalation of polluted (high concentration of dust, gases, smoke, harmful substances), dry and hot air;
• hypothermia;
• viruses and bacteria that cause inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa (rhinitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis), as well as polyps in the nose and throat;
• chronic inflammatory processes of the oral cavity;
• long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops;
• prolonged disruption of nasal breathing, due to which the pharyngeal mucosa dries out;
• hormonal and endocrine disorders;
• allergic reaction;
• trauma to the mucous membrane by a foreign object or a consequence of surgery.

Often the cause of chronic pharyngitis is gastrointestinal diseases, in which acidic contents from the stomach reflux into the pharynx. Such diseases include gastritis, reflux esophagitis, hiatal hernia and others.

A predisposing factor to the appearance of pharyngitis is the specific anatomical structure of the upper respiratory tract, as well as a decrease in the immune system.

Is chronic pharyngitis contagious? No, you cannot get infected with it. It occurs due to the fact that the patient did not begin treatment for concomitant diseases in a timely manner. Acute pharyngitis, unlike chronic pharyngitis, is transmitted from a sick person to a healthy one.

Bacterial pharyngitis

This is one of the most contagious and dangerous types of pharyngitis. In addition, it is very insidious: even before the first symptoms appear, pharyngitis becomes contagious within 3-5 days .

The length of the contagious period depends on when you start taking antibiotics. Pharyngitis is caused by streptococcus bacteria (group G Streptococcus or streptococcus pyogenes), which can be deadly. Even though you have already contracted the infection, as soon as symptoms (such as a sore throat) appear and you suspect it may be streptococcus, you should immediately begin taking precautions to avoid infecting others.

Symptoms of bacterial pharyngitis

If, in addition to a sore throat, there are other symptoms - such as a runny nose, sore eyes, cough or upset stool, then most likely it is not streptococcus, but a viral infection or a cold. In this case, your doctor will not test your throat and you will not need antibiotics.

However, you should get a strep throat test if you have no signs of a viral infection and have the following symptoms:

• sore throat;
• fever;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• abdominal pain;
• small red or purple spots on the roof of your mouth;
• redness around the tonsils;
• white spots on the tonsils;

With the simultaneous presence of a runny nose and a sore throat, we are most likely talking about rhinopharyngitis, which is viral in nature . This is quite unpleasant, but no longer so dangerous. Rhinopharyngitis is also contagious, it is subject to treatment and preventive measures along with other contagious diseases.

Signs of infection with pharyngitis

The venereal form of pharyngitis in adults, which is provoked by gonococci, adenoviruses and chlamydia, is characterized by an asymptomatic course. In this case, the disease affects the back wall of the pharynx and can cause mild sensations of discomfort and soreness. An accurate diagnosis can only be made based on the results of examinations and tests.

The infectious form of the disease, transmitted by airborne droplets, has the following symptoms as it progresses:

• it hurts to swallow food and even saliva;
• the mouth feels dry and itchy;
• Gums may bleed;
• a putrid smell appears;
• the voice becomes hoarse or disappears altogether;
• submandibular and cervical lymph nodes are enlarged;
• areas with a grayish or yellowish coating appear on the mucous membrane of the pharynx.

The symptoms of acute and chronic pharyngitis are partly similar, but there are also differences. Acute pharyngitis usually begins with a feeling of itching and burning in the throat. The pathology then develops into a sore throat, which often spreads to the ears. Those affected also experience pain when swallowing. The feeling of dryness and pain in the throat causes patients to frequently clear their throat or cough.

If pharyngitis is caused by typical acute respiratory pathogens, more symptoms often appear. Hoarseness or cough, as well as increased body temperature, often occur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8RHEgLRYuI

In some cases, bacteria additionally colonize the inflamed pharyngeal mucosa. Bacterial superinfection is accompanied by high body temperature and headache.

The mucous membrane of the neck becomes crimson, the tonsils are swollen and have a whitish-yellow coating. If the patient no longer has tonsils, the lateral filaments are often crimson in color and very swollen. These lateral filaments are lymphatic channels that descend from the upper posterior wall of the pharynx on both sides.

Dryness, sore throat - possible symptoms of pharyngitis

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis develop slowly over several weeks. The throat feels dry, so people often swallow or clear their throat. You may also feel like there is a lump in your throat. Pain when swallowing, feeling thirsty and coughing are also symptoms of chronic pharyngitis.

Other symptoms depend on the type of chronic pharyngitis:

• Atrophic form: the most common form of chronic pharyngitis. The mucous membrane of the pharynx is dry, pale, especially tender and thin (atrophic), shiny like ivory, and covered with a small amount of viscous mucus.
• Hypertrophic form: the mucous membrane of the throat is thickened, red and covered with dense mucus. On the posterior wall of the pharynx there are either lenticular lymph nodes or thickened convex lateral filaments.

The venereal form of pharyngitis, which can be provoked by gonococci, chlamydia, herpes virus and adenovirus, is accompanied by damage to the posterior wall of the pharynx and can be asymptomatic, so in this case, tests are required to determine the clinical picture.

The progression of infectious pharyngitis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• painful swallowing;
• feeling of dryness and sore throat;
• the appearance of areas with a serous yellowish coating on the pharyngeal mucosa;
• change in timbre, hoarseness of voice or complete loss of voice;
• enlargement of the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes;
• bleeding gums, putrid odor from the mouth (with gonococcal pharyngitis).

Often, with chlamydial pharyngitis, there are no pronounced manifestations; sometimes there may be slight redness of the mucous surface and a slight sore throat.

The course of this pathology may be accompanied by the appearance of a rash similar to scarlet fever, as well as the formation of purulent mucous exudate on the back wall of the pharynx.

Testing and treatment

Strep throat most often occurs in children aged 5 to 15 years and accounts for only 5-10% of strep throat cases in adults. This is why the doctor won't just start giving antibiotics. It is important to help prevent the development of “superbugs,” or bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, so it is not advisable to take antibiotics until you are sure you will need them .
To make a verification, the doctor needs to conduct a special test for streptococcus, for which he will take a sample of the microflora from the sore throat. If the test is negative and the doctor suspects a viral infection, then antibiotics are not needed. However, if the test shows a positive result for streptococcus, then it can be easily cured with regular Penicillin or Amoxicillin, which is the most preferred antibiotic.

Penicillin is often given intramuscularly, but it can also be given orally twice a day for 10 days. Amoxicillin is usually dosed once daily in children and twice daily in adults.

If you are allergic to penicillin, the next best type of antibiotic is from the cephalosporin class: Keflex, Clindamycin, Clarithromycin, or Zithromax . Their dosages range from once or twice a day for 5-10 days. If a diagnosis of “chronic bacterial pharyngitis” (or tonsillitis) is made, then Augmentin or Pantsef are prescribed as antibiotics with a wider spectrum of action.

How long does the contagious period last?

If the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis (or tonsillitis) is confirmed, the infection will cease to be transmitted approximately 24 hours after starting the antibiotic . Antibiotics should help relieve symptoms within a day or two, although symptoms may last up to a week in some people. Without treatment, this pharyngitis usually goes away on its own in about a week. If you do not have a decrease in fever or symptoms within 48 hours of starting antibiotics, contact your doctor.

As long as you take antibiotics regularly and if your fever goes away, you can return to school or work without fear of being contagious. But if the temperature still remains elevated, you should not return to society, since this symptom indicates that the inflammation is progressing and the bacterium is still active.

How to prevent infecting other people

It is not always possible to avoid contact with healthy people if you have bacterial pharyngitis. The disease will be contagious unless the fever goes away or antibiotics are not taken for more than 24 hours. If you think you may be a danger to others, use these tips to reduce your risk of infection:

1. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently (up to the elbows) with soap or using hand sanitizer.
2. Cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Do not use your hands or wash your hands immediately after touching the discharge. Use napkins, a handkerchief or a sleeve.
3. Don't share your cutlery or crockery.

It's best to avoid people, but following the tips above can dramatically reduce the risk of widespread infection. Pharyngitis can be contracted through airborne droplets and through household contact, when infection occurs through touching surfaces contaminated with bacteria. Pharyngitis is transmitted when people touch their lips with dirty hands or through kissing; through sharing dishes and cutlery, the risk of infection also increases sharply. Children in the same household as someone who is sick have a 50 percent chance of infecting their siblings with strep throat .

What type of disease is contagious?

Before answering the question whether a person with pharyngitis is dangerous for others, you need to understand the cause of inflammation of the pharynx.

Infectious pharyngitis is contagious; for these reasons, during the course of the disease, the patient should not visit public places and should not have contact with healthy people.

After all, viruses disperse in the environment and are transmitted through airborne droplets.

Very often, infectious pharyngitis appears due to exposure to the diphtheria bacillus, which can sometimes be picked up through the air. But basically, infection occurs after contact with the mucous membranes of a sick person.

Gonorrheal inflammation of the pharynx appears when the body is attacked by gonococci. These microorganisms enter after sexual or oral contact with a carrier of the infection. In addition, they can get on the baby’s mucous membranes during childbirth.

Often, the factors in the development of fungal pharyngitis are Candida fungi. This type of disease can be acquired through oral contact with an infected person.

This form of the disease can be contagious only in exceptional situations, when the immune system is weakened and does not have the strength to resist the fungus. If the protective functions are in good condition, then the chance of infection is minimal.

Pharyngitis, which develops for the following reasons, is not contagious to others:

• impaired breathing through the nose;
• allergic agents;
• diseases of the digestive tract;
• harmful effects of the environment (chemicals);
• alcohol and smoking;
• unsuitable climate;
• impact of a mechanical nature (entry into the throat of a foreign body, its damage);
• hormonal, metabolic and endocrine disruptions;
• abuse of hot, cold and spicy foods.

One of the characteristics of a viral infection is that it is contagious. Therefore, the viral form of the disease is often transmitted to other people. Pharyngitis can also be caused by bacteria. Although they are not as contagious as viruses, they also carry the risk of infecting another person.

Chronic pharyngitis, unlike acute pharyngitis, is caused by external influences - alcohol, tobacco smoke or dry air. Therefore, the chronic form of the disease is not transmitted from person to person.

Viruses are transmitted from person to person through saliva and nasal secretions, i.e. by airborne droplets. Transmission of the pathogen occurs during speech, coughing or sneezing. In particular, viral pathogens are so contagious that they often affect entire family members. It is also not uncommon for a large portion of a school or kindergarten class to suffer from symptoms at the same time.

Especially during the winter months, the risk of disease increases. Pharyngitis is then promoted by cold and often dry air outside. In indoor spaces, the most common cause is dehydrated air. These factors dry out the mucous membranes and make them less protected, which facilitates the development of viruses.

Potential Complications

Antibiotic treatment should begin no later than nine days after the first symptoms appear . If pharyngitis is not treated with antibiotics or the tablets are not taken according to the recommended regimen, as prescribed by the attending physician, the risk of complications, such as recurrent streptococcal or rheumatic heart disease, increases.

Streptococcus penetrates through the lymph deep into the bones, causing inflammation of the bone tissue; it can also spread throughout the body through the lymph and cause a host of other complications, including meningitis and sepsis.

If you don't complete your full course of antibiotics, you also increase the risk of creating resistant strains of bacteria, known as superbugs, that are more difficult to treat.
This is a public health issue. In short, you should always maintain hygiene, as described in the prevention section, since streptococcus infection is quite common and you spend several days potentially infectious before you discover the infection. However, as soon as you determine that you are sick, seek medical attention to determine the severity of the infection and whether you can continue to attend school or work without the risk of future complications. Always complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.

Prevention

Based on the reasons that contribute to the occurrence of the disease, pharyngitis can be prevented. To do this, you must follow some rules to reduce the risk of developing the disease:

• timely treatment of acute forms of diseases;
• rejection of bad habits;
• do not drink cold drinks and foods, and do not breathe through your mouth on frosty winter days;
• humidify the air in the room;
• lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right.

To maintain your health, it is enough to follow simple recommendations. After all, it is much easier to prevent the onset of pharyngitis than to treat it later.