Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx, the passage behind the nose and mouth that leads to the esophagus and larynx. It commonly causes a sore throat and pain when swallowing.

Viral pharyngitis: Inflammation of the pharynx caused by a virus. Viruses cause most acute sore throats, including many cases accompanying colds.
Sore throat: Pain or irritation in the throat, often worse when swallowing. It is the common symptom that brings pharyngitis to clinical attention.
Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils, commonly caused by viral or bacterial infection. Tonsillitis affects specific lymphatic structures and can occur with or without pharyngitis.
Rheumatic fever: An inflammatory disease that can follow untreated group A streptococcal infection. Preventing this immune complication is one reason to identify and treat strep throat.
Pharynx: The muscular passage connecting the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx and esophagus. Pharyngitis is inflammation of this shared passage behind the nose and mouth.
Streptococcal pharyngitis: Pharyngeal infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. This bacterial cause matters because testing and antibiotics can prevent complications.
Rapid antigen detection test: A test that detects group A Streptococcus antigens in a throat swab. It can quickly support or rule against a strep diagnosis, depending on age and guidelines.
Laryngitis: Inflammation of the larynx, often causing hoarseness or loss of voice. A change in voice points toward laryngeal involvement rather than isolated pharyngeal inflammation.
Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: Kidney inflammation that can develop after infection with certain streptococcal strains. It is a rare delayed complication associated with streptococcal throat infection.
Palatine tonsil: A lymphoid tissue mass on each side of the back of the mouth. These nearby tissues may become inflamed alongside the pharynx.

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