Pharyngitis - viral

Definition:

An inflammation of the pharynx (the part of the throat between the tonsils and the larynx), caused by a virus, that produces a sore throat.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Pharyngitis is most often caused by a viral infection, or by a bacterium. Viral pharyngitis is the most common cause of a sore throat. When cultures of the throat fail to reveal bacterial causes for the symptoms, a viral pharyngitis is suspected. Risk factors include recent upper respiratory infection. The incidence is 3 out of 100 people.