Nasopharyngitis can be misdiagnosed and is easily misdiagnosed as influenza, upper respiratory tract infections and other diseases.
Nasopharyngitis refers to the inflammation of the mucous membrane, submucosa and lymphatic tissues in the nasopharynx, which is often characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, dryness and discomfort in the nasopharynx, and mucous secretions that cannot be easily coughed up. It is often a prodromal symptom of upper respiratory tract infection. The causative organism is mainly beta-hemolytic streptococcus infection. Nasopharyngoscopy can be used to make a clear diagnosis.
1. Influenza: nasopharyngitis and influenza have symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing and runny nose, so they are easily misdiagnosed. Influenza has a rapid onset, but the systemic symptoms are more serious, which may be accompanied by high fever, generalized body aches and conjunctivitis, etc. While nasopharyngitis is dominated by nasopharyngeal symptoms, and severe cases or infants and young children will have systemic symptoms.
2. Upper respiratory tract infections: Because nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infections have symptoms such as nasal congestion and runny nose, they are easily misdiagnosed. Upper respiratory tract infection is a general term for acute inflammation of the nasal cavity, pharynx or larynx. There are symptoms such as fever, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose and sore throat. Clinical diagnosis can be made based on the patient’s medical history, epidemiologic situation, combined with peripheral blood picture and chest X-ray examination.
It is recommended that when patients have clinical symptoms of nasopharyngitis, they should go to the hospital and undergo nasopharyngoscopy to clarify the cause and diagnosis, and be treated under the guidance of the doctor.