Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis

Pharyngitis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Pharyngitis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic study of choice
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
CT
Ultrasound
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis
CDC on Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis
Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis in the news
Blogs on Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Type page name here
Risk calculators and risk factors for Pharyngitis natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]

Natural History

Symptoms develop after a short incubation period of 24 to 72 hours. Most cases of pharyngitis go away on their own without complications. Untreated, GABHS infection lasts seven to 10 days. Patients with untreated streptococcal pharyngitis are infectious during the acute phase of the illness and for one additional week.1 Effective antibiotic therapy shortens the infectious period to 24 hours, reduces the duration of symptoms by about one day, and prevents most complications.

Complications

Complications of pharyngitis based on the causing agent include the following: Identifying the cause of pharyngitis, especially group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), is important to prevent potential life-threatening complications.

Common complications
Pathogen	Complications
Group A Streptococcus	Suppurative complications Tonsillar abscess Sinusitis Otitis media Necrotizing fasciitis Meningitis Jugular vein thrombophlebitis Non suppurative complications Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) Scarlet fever Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome Acute glomerulonephritis Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with group A streptococci (PANDAS)
Influenza	Pneumonia Encephalitis Aseptic meningitis Guillain barre syndrome Transverse myelitis Myositis and rhabdomyolysis
Adenovirus	Laryngotracheitis Bronchitis Pneumonia Otitis media Meningoencephalitis Hepatitis Myocarditis Nephritis Neutropenia Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Cocksackie A virus	Aseptic meningitis Myocarditis Acute flaccid paralysis Conjunctival ulceration Brainstem encephalitis
Ebstein barr virus	Airway obstruction Splenic rupture X-linked lymphoproliferative disease Lymphomatoid granulomatosis
Less common complications
Gonococcus	Disseminated gonorrhea Meningitis Endocarditis
Diphtheria	Airway obstruction Myocarditis Polyneuropathies 10th cranial nerve disorder 9th cranial nerve disorder Peripheral motor neuropathy Diaphragm paralysis Neurogenic bladder dysfunction Acute renal failure Septicemia
Heamophilis influenza	Retropharyngeal abcess Epiglottitis
Fusobacterium necrophorum	Peritonsillar abscess Lemierre's syndrome
Parainfluenza virus	Retropharyngeal abcess Pneumonia

Prognosis

Most cases of pharyngitis go away on their own without complications.