What is Pharyngitis?

·         Pharyngitis is an acute infection of the oropharynx or nasopharynx.

·         It is caused by virus and bacteria

·         Viruses cause the majority of acute pharyngitis cases

o   Specific etiologies include rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and Epstein-Barr virus

·         Group A β –hemolytic streptococci (GAS; also known as S. pyogenes ), is the primary

bacterial cause.

o   Other, less-common causes of acute pharyngitis are groups C and G Streptococcus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Chlamydia pneumonia

References

Wells BG, DiPiro J, Schwinghammer T (2013), Pharmacotherapy Handbook (6^th Ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey ML, (2008): Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach (7^th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Katz M D., Matthias KR., Chisholm-Burns M A., Pharmacotherapy(2011) Principles & Practice Study Guide: A Case-Based Care Plan Approach: New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Schwinghammer TL, Koehler JM (2009) Pharmacotherapy Casebook: A Patient-Focused Approach (7^th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.