Pharyngitis differential diagnosis
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Overview
Sore throat most often is caused by direct infection of the pharynx (pharyngitis), primarily by viruses or bacteria. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngitis accounts for 15 to 30 percent of cases in children and 5 to 15 percent of cases in adults. Sore throat also may be caused by other conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux, postnasal drip secondary to rhinitis, persistent cough, thyroiditis, allergies, a foreign body, and smoking.[1]
Viral Causes
Viral pharyngitis, the most common cause of sore throat, has a wide differential.[1]
Bacterial Causes
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is a rarely diagnosed cause of acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis that tends to occur in adolescents and young adults. The symptoms of infection with this organism closely mimic those of acute streptococcal pharyngitis, including a scarlatiniform rash in many patients. A. haemolyticum infection should be suspected in patients with these findings in whom the throat culture is negative for group A streptococci.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vincent MT, Celestin N, Hussain AN (2004) Pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician 69 (6):1465-70. PMID: 15053411
- ↑ Bisno AL (2001) Acute pharyngitis. N Engl J Med 344 (3):205-11. DOI:10.1056/NEJM200101183440308 PMID: 11172144