ABSTRACT
Pharyngeal diseases are common. The challenge is to distinguish between those with benign disease and those with serious conditions without overinvestigating the former.
Sore throat or pain in the throat is common. Frequently, this will be due to viral pharyngitis or tonsillitis, but unilateral symptoms should alert one to focal and possibly more serious disease. Persistence beyond a period that would be expected for common infections also warrants attention/ concern (4 weeks is a sensible time point). Pain originating from the tonsil will be made worse by swallowing and may be referred to the ear because the glossopharyngeal nerve supplies both sites. Persistent pain and trismus suggest either quinsy or spread of an oropharyngeal tumour to the pterygoid muscles.
