Exposure to Temperature Differences Due to Cold Wave and Increased Indoor Life Amid COVID-19 Surge
Daedong Hospital: Various Causes of Sore Throat and Pharyngitis... Prioritize Active Diagnosis and Treatment
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Sudden throat pain immediately raises suspicion of whether it might be COVID-19.
Due to the cold wave and the third wave of COVID-19, increased indoor living has led to exposure to diseases such as acute pharyngitis caused by large temperature differences with the outside and dry indoor environments.
Respiratory illnesses such as sore throat or pharyngitis increase during the cold and dry winter, but since symptoms are similar to COVID-19, people tend to worry about infection first.
Pharyngitis can be classified into acute pharyngitis caused by viruses such as the common cold due to sudden temperature changes, and chronic pharyngitis caused by repeated acute pharyngitis, smoking, drinking, and prolonged overuse of the vocal cords.
When inflammation narrows the pharynx and larynx, early symptoms include a foreign body sensation when eating or swallowing saliva, mild cough, dry throat, headache, high fever, and loss of appetite.
If symptoms worsen, swallowing becomes difficult due to sore throat, frequent coughing, and hoarseness occur. If left untreated, inflammation in the laryngeal area can progress, causing swelling that may lead to airway obstruction, making it difficult to breathe.
Most cases of pharyngitis naturally heal with sufficient rest and hydration, but in cases of weakened immunity or old age, complications such as acute otitis media, bronchitis, rhinitis, and pneumonia may occur, so it is advisable to seek treatment from an otolaryngology specialist early on.
Diagnosis is made through medical history and laryngoscopy, and in rare cases, throat swabs are taken for culture tests to confirm the diagnosis.
It is often difficult to distinguish between pharyngitis, colds, flu, and COVID-19 symptoms during winter respiratory illnesses. Theoretically, colds, flu, pharyngitis, acute rhinitis, and acute otitis media are infections occurring in the upper respiratory tract such as the nose, mouth, and throat, with major symptoms including runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and fever.
COVID-19 affects the lower respiratory tract such as the trachea, bronchi, and alveoli, with main symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue, and muscle pain, while runny nose, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, and hemoptysis may rarely appear.
However, COVID-19 can present from asymptomatic to various respiratory symptoms, making it difficult even for medical professionals to distinguish, and symptoms can suddenly worsen leading to death, so testing should be prioritized to determine infection status.
Dr. Jo Myung-jun, head of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Center at Daedong Hospital (otolaryngology specialist), advised, “Recently, mask-wearing and hand hygiene have increased in daily life to prevent COVID-19 infection, and outdoor activities have decreased, resulting in fewer respiratory illnesses compared to last year. However, as unclear-source Nth generation infections have increased, if any respiratory symptoms appear, rather than self-diagnosing, people should use screening clinics or respiratory safety centers through the Disease Control Headquarters 1339 or local health centers.”
Dr. Jo recommended the following to prevent pharyngitis: ▲thorough hand hygiene ▲maintaining indoor humidity ▲adequate hydration ▲oral hygiene ▲quitting smoking ▲avoiding excessive drinking and late-night snacks ▲avoiding overuse of the vocal cords.
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