Pharyngotonsillitis: A Quick Review.
Tonsils and adenoids are part of the lymphoid system that surrounds the
pharynx and
are involved in humoral and cellular immunity. The tonsils are
incomplete encapsulated
aggregates of lymphoid nodules, arranged below and in contact with the
epithelium of the initial
portions of the digestive and respiratory tract.
Because of its location, these tonsils come into constant
contact with inhaled or swallowed microorganisms, becoming
targets for infection.
Pharyngotonsillitis or Sore Throat is a self-limiting infection
usually confined to the
posterior pharynx, tonsils, soft palate and posterior lymph nodes
of the lymphatic
ring of Waldeyer that drain into the posterior cervical region.
The STs are transmitted from
person to person, and the nasopharynx and
oropharynx are the main foci of microorganisms colonization.
The rate of acute PT incidence was recorded in a
study carried out in Portugal by Simões, et al.
The incidence of acute sore throat was
3,651.1/105 for the age group of 0 to 4
years; and 3,440.3/105 for the age group of 5 to 9 years
and 2,020/105 for the age group of 10
to 14 years.
Sore throats are common in children, and in most cases
they are viral. The most
common bacterial agent is β-hemolytic Group A Streptococcus
corresponding to 15% to
20% of cases in children and adolescents.
In cultures of pharyngeal exudate, it was
found other serogroups
of ß-hemolytic streptococcus, such
as B, C, F and G and there are reports of pharyngitis caused by these
groups, especially the C and G.
Otolaryngol Open J. 2015; 1(1): 18-19. doi: 10.17140/OTLOJ-1-105