Sore throat

Background

Anatomy of the posterior pharynx.

Infrahyoid deep neck spaces

Neck anatomy at the level of the tongue.

Midline neck anatomy on lateral view.

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