Reddened Pharynx

CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS MANUAL

A reddened pharynx is a common sign of inflammation or infection in the throat and may be accompanied by other symptoms depending on the underlying cause. Here is a description of the symptoms and clinical signs, suggested complementary tests, and the pathologies that can cause this condition.

Pathology	Diagnosis of Suspicion	Diagnosis of Confirmation
Viral Pharyngitis	Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, without purulent exudates.	Clinical, based on symptoms and exclusion of bacteria; PCR tests to identify the virus.
Acute Follicular Tonsillitis	High fever, severe sore throat, reddened tonsils with visible white spots.	Throat culture or rapid streptococcal antigen test to confirm bacterial infection.
Infectious Mononucleosis	Fever, pharyngitis, fatigue, lymphadenopathy; common in adolescents and young adults.	Serology for EBV showing heterophile antibodies or specific EBV antibodies.
Oral Candidiasis	Creamy white plaques on a red background in the oral mucosa, which can be scraped off.	Microscopic examination of plaque scraping or culture to confirm Candida.
Agranulocytosis	Oral ulcerations, fever, severe infections; may follow the use of certain medications.	Full blood count showing low granulocyte count; bone marrow analysis if necessary.
Oropharyngeal Ulceration	Severe pain in the mouth and throat, visible ulceration on physical examination.	Biopsy of the ulcer and culture, depending on clinical suspicion, to determine the cause.
Without Oropharyngeal Ulceration	Visible inflammation of the pharynx, without ulceration, often associated with symptoms of viral infection or allergy.	Clinical diagnosis based on the absence of ulcerative lesions and accompanying symptoms.