Pharyngitis and tonsillitis
Pharyngitis
and tonsillitis are infections in the throat that cause inflammation. If the
tonsils are primarily affected, it is called tonsillitis. If the throat is
primarily affected, it is called pharyngitis. A child might even have
inflammation and infection of both the tonsils and the throat. This would be
called pharyngotonsillitis. These infections are spread by close contact with
other individuals. Bacterial infections are more common during the winter. Viral
infections are more common in summer and fall.
Facts about pharyngitis and tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis and tonsillitis are most commonly seen in children between the
ages of 6 and 8.
- Children under age 2 rarely develop group A ß - hemolytic streptococcus
(GABHS), or strep throat.
What causes pharyngitis and tonsillitis?
There
are many causes of infections in the throat. The following are the most common
infectious agents:
Viruses
- Adenovirus
- Influenza virus
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Herpes simplex virus
Bacteria
- Group A ß - hemolytic streptococci (GABHS)
- Neisseria gonorrhea
- Haemophilus influenzae Type B
- Mycoplasma
Fungal infections
Parasitic infections
Cigarette
smoke