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Pharyngitis often occurs as part of a cold or influenza, and may also be an early feature of mononucleosis. Diptheria is a rare but serious cause of pharyngitis.
Pharyngitis may also be caused by swallowing substances that scald, corrode, or scratch the lining of the throat. Inflammation of the pharynx can be aggravated by smoking or by excessive consumption of alcohol.
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In addition to a sore throat there may be discomfort when swallowing, slight fever, earache, and tender swollen lymph nodes in the neck. In severe acute cases, the fever may be high and the soft palate and throat may swell so much that breathing and swallowing becomes difficult. One potential complication is oedema (an accumulation of fluid in the tissues) of the
larynx (voice-box), which is a life-threatening condition.
Other than gargling with warm salt water, avoid lying flat and taking analgesic drugs (painkillers), no treatment is usually required; pharyngitis most often clears up on its own. Antiseptic lozenges and sprays may aggravate the condition and should therefore be avoided.
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