With exacerbations in the upper respiratory tract, it is important to understand the issue of how pharyngitis differs from laryngitis, tonsillitis, tracheitis. This is necessary in order to conduct timely and effective treatment, eliminating the appearance of complications and recurrent inflammation. By a set of symptoms, one disease can be distinguished from another. The differential diagnosis method comes to the rescue in case of infection with mixed infections.
Types of upper respiratory tract diseases
Considering the question of how pharyngitis differs from laryngitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis, it is important to know the main symptoms of each disease separately. They vary in degree of damage to the larynx, type of infection, methods of dealing with acute stages and consequences. Often, every inflammation gives false symptoms that need to be checked by laboratory tests.
Studying the types of diseases of the upper respiratory tract gives an understanding of the difference between pharyngitis and laryngitis and other inflammations in the larynx:
- Tonsillitis is an infectious disease. It is a source of tonsillitis and other inflammation in the throat. The palatine tonsils are affected mainly .
- Tracheitis is an inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, but without it, not one inflammation in the larynx passes.
- Angina is defined as acute inflammation of the larynx due to the negative activity of pathogens, viruses.
- Laryngitis is the cause of a hoarse voice. Sources of this condition can be infections and chemicals.
- Pharyngitis does not give such serious complications - the voice remains normal. However, the development of an infectious environment poses a threat to internal organs.
To understand the difference between pharyngitis and laryngitis, we consider the symptoms of each disease separately.
Tonsil Defeat
The chronic form of the disease always becomes difficult in the diagnosis of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Consider the difference between laryngitis and pharyngitis and tonsillitis. The main symptom of the first ailment is loss of voice. Ligaments undergo changes under the influence of infection or chemical burn.
Pharyngitis is more often formed under the influence of viruses (SARS, adenoviruses). The mucous membrane of the upper throat becomes inflamed. Less commonly, pain appears due to the multiplication of bacteria.
Exacerbation of tonsillitis determines the active spread of pathogenic microorganisms. With the defeat of the tonsils, a constant production of an infectious environment in the folds of tissues occurs. This process takes on a chronic form, which is quite difficult to get rid of.
Bacteria constantly live in the tonsils. With a decrease in immunity, active reproduction of microorganisms that fill the entire area of the throat occurs. At these points, tonsillopharyngitis or tonsillolaryngitis may form. Mixed symptoms may be present, only an experienced otolaryngologist can distinguish them.
Inflammation of the oral mucosa
Pharyngitis affects mainly the upper tissues of the larynx. With viral activity, point ulceration of the tissues of the mouth and throat is observed. The infectious environment is often found in human blood, which requires treatment with medication for oral administration. But bacteria are more often present only in the immediate area of inflammation.
The only thing that distinguishes pharyngitis from laryngitis in adults is the site of tissue damage and a hoarse voice. The remaining symptoms of inflammation are similar, and patients often confuse them. The acute stages of the disease pass before the appearance of tonsillitis or bronchitis and are determined by pharyngoscopy.
Acute conditions of pharyngitis occur with the formation of pain when swallowing, the oral mucosa may be red. The inflammatory process is fleeting and can contribute to the development of dry cough. The patient feels a slight deterioration in well-being, you can fight such a disease with only a gargle. Pharyngitis is often preceded by a runny nose.
Hoarse voice
Laryngitis affects the larynx itself and may be the result of complications after a sore throat, viral infection, or mechanical damage to the vocal cords. Sources of clinical conditions are: adenoviruses, influenza, whooping cough. You can establish the type of malaise by laryngoscopy and according to the results of laboratory tests of blood, smear from the mucous membrane.
Symptoms of the disease are:
- The appearance of puffiness on the vocal cords.
- Hoarse voice barking dry cough.
- The patient often feels a sore throat, when swallowing rarely there is discomfort and pain.
- Dryness in the larynx is felt throughout the inflammatory process.
- With laryngitis, it is difficult for the patient to talk, fatigue of the muscles of the sternum and neck is developed.
Silence helps to reduce treatment time. For others, a person does not pose a threat of infection.
Dangerous disease of the larynx
Angina is one of the most difficult diseases. The lack of treatment contributes to the development of severe conditions, the result of which is even disability. The degree of tissue damage depends on the source (bacteria, viruses, fungi). In the process of the formation of clinical symptoms, suppuration can form.
Consider the difference between angina and pharyngitis and laryngitis:
- Deterioration of well-being occurs long before the onset of clinical symptoms.
- Treatment of tonsillitis is using potent antibiotics. In children, drugs are prescribed immediately to exclude complications.
- Acute stages pass with the presence of high body temperature.
- Cough with sputum.
- The disease acquires protracted forms of inflammation in the larynx.
- There is acute pain in the throat, breathing is difficult due to swelling of the tissues.
The defeat of the lower respiratory sections
The difference between pharyngitis and laryngitis is often difficult to find at the time of exacerbation of tracheitis. The lower respiratory tract causes pain in the sternum only in acute and progressive stages of the disease. With such conditions, you can diagnose red throat, tickle, cough. The result of a bacterial lesion of the trachea can be bronchitis, which will turn into pneumonia.
Laryngitis and pharyngitis can cause the formation of a descending infection. Signs of pure tracheitis are:
- Discomfort in the esophagus when swallowing water, solids.
- Dry rare cough. At the time of a spasm, pain in the lower sternum may occur.
- The patient tries to breathe superficially, with deep breaths, acute pain may occur.
Erased signs of inflammation
If we consider the difference between laryngitis from pharyngitis and tracheitis, then it is necessary to note the similarity of symptoms at different places of localization of inflammation. The first type of malaise is able to directly affect the vocal cords. The second affects the mucous membrane of the larynx. However, these inflammatory processes do not pass as independent types of diseases.
Tracheitis, tonsillitis often joins laryngitis and pharyngitis. The initial conditions may be a runny nose, a deterioration in overall health. Chronic tonsillitis is a provocateur of bacterial infection of the larynx. To analyze the patient's condition, differential diagnosis is used. When comparing existing symptoms, the search for the true cause of the ailment is narrowed.
Similar symptoms
The difference between pharyngitis and laryngitis can be detected with the same source of damage to the larynx. However, there is a similarity of these ailments:
- An increase in body temperature may be observed.
- Redness of the larynx.
- Throat, pain during eating.
- Puffiness makes voice movements difficult.
With any type of disease, there is always a risk of complications. Therefore, it is recommended to be diagnosed in a specialist clinic. To eliminate complications, extensive tests are carried out for infections that give erased symptoms of inflammation. The bacterial environment can not only provoke an infection of the lower respiratory tract, but even at the time of the spread of microorganisms it often enters the bloodstream. And through it, the heart, brain and other internal organs are affected.