Pharyngitis Chronic Hypertrophic: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Pharyngitis is one of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It is characterized by inflammation of the back of the throat, which can cause unpleasant symptoms such as pain, itching and irritation in the throat. A variant of pharyngitis is chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis, which is characterized by the presence of thickened tissue in the posterior wall of the pharynx.
Chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis is characterized by thickening of the mucous membrane and submucosal layers of the posterior pharyngeal wall. This can cause visible changes in the throat, such as thickening, bulges, and folds. This usually occurs due to long-term inflammation and irritation caused by various factors such as infections, allergies, smoking, stomach acid reflux and other irritants.
Symptoms of chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis may include:
- Pain and discomfort in the throat.
- Feeling of a lump in the throat.
- Frequent coughing attacks.
- Constant feeling of dryness and itching in the throat.
- Voice change or loss.
- Increased fatigue of the vocal cords.
- The appearance of visible changes in the throat, such as thickening or folds.
To diagnose chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis, your doctor may examine the back of your throat using special instruments such as a larynxoscope or pharyngoscope. Additional medical tests, such as a complete blood count or pharyngeal biopsy, may be performed to rule out other possible causes of symptoms.
Treatment of chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis depends on its cause and severity. Your doctor may recommend the following approaches:
- Avoid factors that can irritate the throat, such as smoking and second-hand smoke, allergens and irritants.
- Use anti-inflammatory drugs or antihistamines as needed to relieve inflammation and reduce symptoms.
- Avoid straining your vocal cords and reduce strain on your voice by avoiding shouting and prolonged speaking.
- Reflux of gastric contents into the pharynx may require treatment aimed at reducing the acidity of gastric juice and improving the function of the lower esophageal sphincter.
In some cases, surgery may be required to remove thickened tissue or bulges in the back of the throat. This may be recommended in cases where conservative treatment does not lead to significant improvement or in the presence of severe symptoms that significantly affect the patient's quality of life.
It is important to see a doctor if you suspect you may have chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis or if you experience frequent or unpleasant throat symptoms. Only a qualified medical specialist can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
In general, chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the back of the throat that causes thickening and changes in the tissue. With early diagnosis and proper symptom management, most patients can achieve significant relief and improved quality of life.
I can’t find a suitable picture to describe pharyngitis, but in general it looks like this: Pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease of the pharyngeal mucosa, which is one of the most common infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The causes of the disease are prolonged exposure to the mucous membrane of the pharynx of various irritating substances (dust particles, fumes, vapors of acids, alkalis, tobacco smoke, alcohol, etc.), as well as hypothermia. The disease can occur independently or be a consequence of other infectious diseases. In the phase of acute inflammation the following are noted: