The appropriate management of pharyngitis in children and adults

Acute pharyngitis, or the complaint of a sore throat, is one of the most common illnesses for which both adult and pediatric patients seek medical care from primary care physicians. In the USA, acute pharyngitis accounts for 1-2% of all visits to outpatient departments, physician offices and emergency departments. There are multiple etiologic agents that can cause pharyngitis, and strategies for diagnosis and treatment should be directed at identifying those causes of pharyngitis that require antimicrobial therapy. In some cases, the decision as to which patients to treat with antibiotics remains difficult. This article reviews some of the various causes of pharyngitis and the available therapeutic options.