Diseases
pharyngitis
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Overview
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats.
Symptoms
- throat pain that usually comes on quickly
- painful swallowing
- red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
- tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard pa
- swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
Causes
- strep throat is caused by infection with a bacterium known as streptococcus pyogenes, also called group a streptococcus.
- streptococcal bacteria are contagious. they can spread through droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneeze
Risk factors
- young age. strep throat occurs most commonly in children.
- time of year. although strep throat can occur anytime, it tends to circulate in
Diagnosis
- rapid antigen test.
- throat culture.
- molecular (polymerase chain reaction, or pcr) test.
Medicines used
Frequently asked questions
What is pharyngitis?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection that can make your throat feel sore and scratchy. Strep throat accounts for only a small portion of sore throats.
What are the symptoms of pharyngitis?
throat pain that usually comes on quickly, painful swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus, tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard pa, swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck
What causes pharyngitis?
strep throat is caused by infection with a bacterium known as streptococcus pyogenes, also called group a streptococcus.; streptococcal bacteria are contagious. they can spread through droplets when someone with the infection coughs or sneeze
Which medicines are used for pharyngitis?
azithromycin, benzydamine, cefadroxil, cefalexin, cefditoren, cefpodoxime, cefprozil, cefuroxime, cephradine, metronidazole-spiramycin, phenoxymethyl penicillin, spiramycin
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.