Definition & Etiology
Definition
Inflammation of the throat: can be pharyngitis or tonsillitis.
Prevalence
Common in ages 5-24 years
Etiology
Infectious:
- Viral (most common): common cold
- Bacterial: Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (most common bacterial cause)
- Less common: HIV, gonococcal, diphtheria, Glandular fever
Non-infectious:
- GORD
- Chronic cigarette smoke
- Hay fever
- Kawasaki’s disease (think about >5 days of fever, bilateral conjunctivitis, dry lips, cervical
lymphadenopathy, polymorphous rash, desquamated hands and feet)
- Oral mucositis (chemotherapy/radiotherapy)
- Leukaemia
- Aplastic anaemia
- DMARD medications
- Medications (cytotoxics, carbimazole, clozapine, sulfasalazine)