About Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is inflammation of the back of the throat. This results in a sore throat, which is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. Swallowing can be mildly painful as well. Sore throats, which are often caused by an infection, are very common, especially in children.
often simply referred to as a sore throat - is inflammation of the pharynx, the portion of the throat that lies just beyond the back of the roof of the mouth and stretches to the Adam's apple (pharynx). It usually occurs when viruses (or sometimes bacteria) from a cold, flu, or sinus infection involve the throat.


Certain viruses or bacteria can infect your throat and cause it to swell. You can catch such organisms through direct contact with someone who has one of these infections. They are passed via nasal secretions and saliva. Viruses that cause pharyngitis include the common cold, the flu, and mononucleosis (often called "mono"). Bacteria like Group A sterptococcus (commonly known as strep throat) can also cause pharyngitis.