Viral Pharyngitis

ENT Atlas

Viral pharyngitis is characterized by low-grade fever, sore throat, cough, coryza (e.g., rhinorrhea, nasal congestion), pharyngeal erythema, and non-tender cervical adenopathy. Additional manifestations that can occur and are suggestive of a viral etiology include hoarseness, conjunctivitis, and diarrhea. Frank exudates can occur with several viral infections (e.g., adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus) and do NOT in isolation confirm bacterial pharyngitis. Signs and symptoms of severe infection (e.g., a muffled voice, crepitus, trismus) should be absent.