Pharyngotonsillitis

It is worth seeking medical attention when a severe or persistent sore throat appears: pharyngotonsillitis is the combined inflammation of the pharynx and the tonsils, usually due to an infection.

Typical symptoms: Pain when swallowing, redness of the throat, fever, tender lymph nodes in the neck, and, at times, whitish patches on the tonsils.

Common causes: It can be caused by viruses or by bacteria, which influences how it is managed.

Who treats it? In mild cases the initial evaluation is accessible, and when there are signs of severity or complications the emergency physician or the specialist in critical care and intensive care medicine steps in. If the discomfort makes it hard to swallow or breathe, the prudent thing is to seek a timely review.