Understanding the Differences: Pharyngitis, Laryngitis, and Tonsillitis
Three conditions often cause confusion due to their similar-sounding names: pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsillitis. While they all involve inflammation of various parts of the throat, each has distinct characteristics and symptoms. Let's delve into the details to understand the differences between these three ailments.
Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is an infection or inflammation of the pharynx¹, also known as the throat, which is a muscular tube located behind the nasal cavity and mouth. The pharynx serves as a vital conduit for both air and food, functioning as a shared pathway crucial for essential processes such as swallowing, breathing, and speech.
Causes & Symptoms
It is commonly caused by viral infections such as the common cold or flu, but bacterial infections like streptococcus can also be responsible². Key symptoms of pharyngitis include:
Sore throat - a painful, scratchy sensation in the throat
Difficulty swallowing
Redness and swelling - the back of the throat may appear red and swollen upon examination
Other symptoms; may also be accompanied by fever, headache, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Diagnosis
Pharyngitis diagnosis starts with a physical exam to check throat redness, swelling, and lymph node tenderness. Depending on symptoms, a rapid strep test or throat culture might follow. Rapid tests offer quick results but have lower accuracy, while cultures are more reliable but take longer. Doctors usually consider the combined information from exams, symptoms, and tests to determine the cause and best treatment plan.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis involves inflammation of the larynx³, commonly known as the voice box, which houses the vocal cords, epiglottis, and thyroid cartilage. It is often caused by overuse of the voice, viral infections, or irritants like smoke or pollutants. The main characteristics of laryngitis include:
Hoarseness or loss of voice; the most prominent symptom of laryngitis is a hoarse or raspy voice, or in severe cases, complete loss of voice.
Sore throat; may also feel scratchy or irritated
Dry cough
Other symptoms; some individuals with laryngitis may experience a low-grade fever or a sensation of having a lump in the throat
Diagnosis
Laryngitis is diagnosed by examining the larynx, or voice box, to check for signs of inflammation, infection, or other problems. The examination may include a mirror examination, a laryngoscopy, or a biopsy. A mirror examination uses a light and a small mirror to look at the back of the throat. A laryngoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera and a light to see the vocal cords. A biopsy takes a small sample of tissue from the larynx for further analysis
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two oval-shaped pads of tissue located at the back of the throat. It is commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections⁴.
Key symptoms of tonsillitis include:
sore throat
swollen tonsils; may appear enlarged, red, and may have white or yellow patches of pus on their surface
difficulty swallowing
fever
headaches
enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Diagnosis
Tonsillitis is diagnosed by examining the throat and checking for signs of infection, such as redness, rashes, swelling, white or yellow patches, or enlarged lymph nodes. The doctor may also take a throat swab to test for streptococcal bacteria⁵, which can cause strep throat. Sometimes, a blood test may be done to rule out other causes of tonsillitis, such as mononucleosis.
Experiencing throat pain? Have it checked by a professional
Don't ignore your throat pain! Get the answers and relief you deserve. Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Eleff, an otolaryngologist at ENT Family, today.
Address: 3911 Hollywood Blvd#201, Hollywood, FL 33021, United States
Phone: 754-888-1368
Email: info@entfamily.com
Sources
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 27). Pharyngitis (strep throat): Information for clinicians. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-hcp/strep-throat.html
[2] Martel, J. (2023, March 8). Pharyngitis: Causes, symptoms, and diagnosis. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/pharyngitis
[3] Cleveland Clinic Medical. (2024). Laryngitis: Diagnosis, symptoms, causes, treatments & recovery. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22268-laryngitis
[4] Tonsillitis. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/tonsillitis
[5] Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (n.d.). Tonsillitis. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tonsillitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378483
