Pharyngitis

Summary

This chapter focuses on sore throat caused by viral or bacterial infection. It assumes that clinicians exercise appropriate precautions about airway management and possible complicating diagnoses. The NSAIDs, most commonly ibuprofen, are usually recommended for pain treatment of mild-to-moderate viral or bacterial pharyngitis (PG) in both adults and children. Aspirin, commonly dosed at 400-800 mg orally, is an effective PG pain reliever and is associated with symptomatic improvement. Acetaminophen is an effective reliever of mild pain, providing better PG relief than placebo within as little as 15 minutes. Corticosteroids, administered IM or PO in single or multiple doses, hasten the onset of both partial and complete pain relief in adults. In children, the utility of dexamethasone probably mirrors that of use of corticosteroids in adults with PG. Benzocaine (delivered by lozenges or spray) is commonly used for PG pain, but there are little applicable data for this indication.