Sore throat

Anatomy of the posterior pharynx.

Differential Diagnosis

Acute Sore Throat

Bacterial infections

• Streptococcal pharyngitis (Strep Throat)
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Diphtheria (C. diptheriae)
• Bacterial Tracheitis

Viral infections

• Infectious mononucleosis (EBV)
  • Patients with peritonsillar abscess have a 20% incidence of mononucleosis
• Laryngitis
• Acute Bronchitis
• Rhinovirus
• Coronavirus
• Adenovirus
• Herpesvirus
• Influenza virus
• Coxsackie virus
  • Herpangina
  • Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
• HIV (Acute Retroviral Syndrome)

Noninfectious

• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Pemphigus
• Angioedema

Other

• Deep neck space infection
  • Retropharyngeal abscess
  • Ludwig's angina
  • Parapharyngeal space infection
• Peritonsillar Abscess (PTA)
• Epiglottitis
• Kawasaki disease
• Penetrating injury
• Caustic ingestion
• Lemierre's syndrome
• Peritonsillar cellulitis
• Lymphoma
• Internal carotid artery aneurysm
• Oral Thrush
• Parotitis
• Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage
• Vincent's angina
• Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

Chronic Sore Throat

• GERD
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Fungal infections (ex. candida)
• Chronic sinusitis with post nasal drip
• Inhalation of irritants (smoke, chlorine gas)
• Breathing dry air
• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
• Tumor:
  • Tongue
  • Larynx
  • Thyroid
• Monomyelocytic leukemia
• Thyroiditis
• Retained Foreign Body

See Also

• Pharyngitis
• Strep Pharyngitis
• Neck mass
• Uvulitis