Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis denotes inflammation of pharyngeal mucosa & submucosa. The inflammatory process may extend to soft palate & tonsil leading to constriction of pharynx known as “angina” or “cynanche”.
Pharyngitis may be acute or chronic in nature. it is mostly observed in dog, horse & pig characterized by purulent bilateral nasal discharge & regurgitation through nostrils while drinking.
Etiology of Pharyngitis
Physical causes of pharyngitis:
- Injury from rough hard foods, dust, and foreign bodies
- Irritation by smoke, gas, fumes through inhalation
- Too hot or too cold food
- Faulty use of instruments during exploration
- Excess barking in dogs
Chemical causes of pharyngitis:
- Accidental ingestion of irritant chemicals
- Accidental ingestion of irritant medications
Infective causes of pharyngitis:
- Cattle: IBR virus, Pasturella multocida, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), Spheropharus necrophorus, B.lignieresi, Corynebacterium pyogens.
- Horse: Strep. equi, Gastrophilus larvae, Para influenza virus, Rhino virus, Adeno virus.
- Pigs: Streptococcus spp, Staphylococcus spp, B.anthracis, Aujesky’s disease.
- Dog: Bordotella bronchoseptica (kennel cough), CD virus, ICH virus, Streptococcus spp., Stapylococccus spp.
- Cat: Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp, Feline rhino-trachitis virus (feline flea), Mycoplasma spp.
Pathogenesis of Pharyngitis
The causative agents causes infection and causes swelling and pain resulting in painful swallowing reflex leading to variable type of appetite. In severe cases extensive swelling of mucosa causes partial obstruction leading to regurgitation of feed through nostrils .In some cases infection may spread to retro-pharyngeal region causing swelling and occlusion of pharynx.
Clinical findings
Dull and depression, off fed, stretching of head and non-inspiratory dyspnoea, mouth breathing, protrusion of tongue, painful suppressed cough are some clinical signs of pharyngitis.
Cough is more marked during feeding and drinking. Regurgitation of food and water through nostrils. high rise in temperature in acute case.
Purulent bilateral nasal discharge, edema and congestion of soft palate, associated lymph glands are swollen and painful. Cough reflex on deep palpation (induced cough).
Endoscopy reveals edema of tonsil. Dog paws its head with fore feet accompanied with salivation. Cat may show simultaneous laryngitis. Toxaemia may develop, prognosis is usually favorable but death may be due to oedema of the pharynx with resultant asphyxia.
Diagnosis
- By characteristic clinical signs: bilateral nasal discharge, extension of head and neck, cough on compression of pharynx, regurgitation of food through nostrils
- Endoscopic examination of pharyngeal mucosa
- Radiography and pharyngioscopy in small animals
- Culture and sensitivity of pharyngeal swab
Differential diagnosis
Pharyngeal paralysis
Pharyngeal paralysis seen in rabies, bovine ephemeral fever. Here drooling of saliva – important clinical sign which may not be associated with inflammation. Other accompanied signs in rabies are hyperaesthesia, ascending paralysis and attacking complex. Shifting lameness, fever and enlarged superficial lymph nodes are characteristics of epimeral fever.
Pharyngeal obstruction
Pharyngeal obstruction have signs more severe, distress is much more and animal make efforts to expel the foreign body like constant shaking of head, belching type of movement. Obstruction can be found usually/manually.
Management of Pharyngitis
- Identify the cause
- Broad spectrum antibiotics depending on antibiotic sensitivity test to be administered. If antibiotic sensitivity is not done
- Analgesics (NSAIDs) to relieve from pain
- Supportive treatment
- Vitamin and mineral supplementation
- Animal should be offered soft palatable feed
- Soft bedding should be provided
- Vapour therapy: camphor or turpentine is added in warm water and the fumes produced are inhaled which give a smoothening effect.
