Pharyngeal Tuberculosis

Pharyngeal tuberculosis is a chronic systemic infectious disease caused by tubercle bacilli; various organs may be involved, but pulmonary TB is most common. It usually results from contact of damaged pharyngeal mucosa with bacilli in pulmonary TB patients' sputum, upward spread from laryngeal TB, or hematogenous dissemination. Isolated pharyngeal TB is less common than laryngeal TB; pain and dysphagia often cause severe malnutrition.

Common Symptoms

Chronic ulcer; hearing loss; odynophagia; nasal obstruction; palatal perforation

Causes and Pathogenesis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, hematogenous spread, obligate aerobe, relatively resistant to physical and chemical factors. Tubercle bacilli have no endotoxin, exotoxin, or invasive enzymes; pathogenicity depends on cell wall components, especially abundant lipids whose content parallels virulence. Pathogenicity may relate to intracellular proliferation inducing inflammation and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Bacilli enter via respiratory, digestive, or broken skin/mucosa. Pharyngeal TB usually arises from contact of damaged mucosa with sputum, upward spread from laryngeal TB, or hematogenous dissemination.

Treatment

Anti-tuberculous therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Maintain oral hygiene, keep the area clean, and promptly treat pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB; with appropriate treatment, prognosis is good.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Infectious Diseases department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.