Chronic pharyngitis is a persistent sore throat caused by infections or chronic inflammation from lifestyle factors such as alcohol abuse, voice overuse, and smoking. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications, warm water gargles, and lifestyle changes. Singers may need to see a vocal coach to prevent future throat injuries. Recurring sore throats may indicate an underlying medical problem.
Chronic pharyngitis is a sore throat that persists for a long time. Patients may develop this condition due to recurrent acute pharyngitis, in which infections come and go over about a week and keep coming back. It can also occur in response to chronic inflammation caused by alcohol abuse, voice overuse, and cigarettes. Treatments for this condition vary depending on the underlying cause.
In a patient with chronic pharyngitis, the throat remains sore and sore for an extended period of time and may be punctuated by periodic flare-ups when the throat hurts even more than usual. The throat often appears red, raw, and swollen. Some patients cough and have other symptoms, and hoarseness is very common. Fever, runny nose, and a general feeling of being unwell are sometimes seen in people with persistent sore throats.
Immediate treatment may include anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling in the throat and make the patient more comfortable, along with antibiotic or antiviral medications to kill infectious organisms in the throat. Warm water gargles and salt water rinses are sometimes used in the management of sore throats, along with lozenges designed to relieve irritation and pain. The patient will be evaluated for lifestyle factors, and some of these may also be addressed in treatment; for example, a smoker will be advised to cut back on smoking or to quit altogether.
Singers who develop chronic pharyngitis will generally be advised to see a vocal coach once the irritation and pain have resolved. The coach can work with the singer to develop the voice and prevent future throat injuries. Some singers develop bad habits over time and put their voice at risk by singing without warming up or pushing their voices beyond their normal range. Working with a voice coach can help singers avoid common pitfalls and reduce the risk of permanent damage to the voice.
People who experience recurring sore throats, even if they don’t develop chronic pharyngitis, may be evaluated to see if there is an underlying cause. A sore throat is often a sign of immune dysfunction, as normally the immune system should be robust enough to prevent throat infections. This may indicate that a patient has an underlying medical problem. Some chronic diseases are associated with pain in and around the throat, and patients may be evaluated for these conditions if they frequently complain of sore throats and do not seem to experience improvement with medications such as antibiotics.
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