Common Misdiagnoses of Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis describes inflammation in the pharynx, which is in the back of the throat near the tonsils. This is a common condition that occurs most often in the winter, with the typical symptoms being a sore throat and a fever. Other symptoms vary depending on the main cause of pharyngitis. If it is caused by the flu, then chills, fatigue and body aches are common, while sneezing and coughing usually accompany a case of pharyngitis that is caused by a cold. When pharyngitis is not treated, it may result in scarlet fever, a bloodstream infection or even shock, so a misdiagnosis can be very serious.

Proper Diagnosis Procedure

Most patients see their doctor for diagnosis of pharyngitis, as the physician will check the throat, ears and sinuses. The typical doctor also feels the lymph nodes to find out if they are swollen and may perform a throat swab to check for strep throat. Some doctors also run a blood test if they suspect mononucleosis, but this is usually only if the patient also has swollen tonsils and lymph nodes, a headache and loss of appetite.

Misread Diagnosis

If the doctor only briefly checks the throat, sinuses and ears, it is possible to miss the signs of pharyngitis. This is especially true if certain areas are more inflamed than one would expect for this condition and if the doctor does not perform a swab or culture. Of course, even performing lab tests does not always prevent doctors from reading them incorrectly or mixing up your results with another patient's. In addition, some conditions have symptoms in common with pharyngitis.

The symptoms of a middle ear infection include ear pain and a sore throat, both of which often occur with pharyngitis, too. However, a middle ear infection may also produce drainage and can make it difficult for patients to hear. Some doctors may ignore the fact that a patient does not have these symptoms and may misdiagnose the issue.

Sinusitis usually results in a sore throat, nasal congestion and a fever, similar to pharyngitis. Other symptoms include coughing and fatigue, which patients with pharyngitis often also feel. Sinusitis, though, usually also results in bad breath and facial tenderness, and the cough tends to get worse at night.

An upper respiratory infection features symptoms that include a sore throat, coughing and sneezing. A runny nose and fever may also result, making this condition seem similar to pharyngitis. The typical upper respiratory infection tends to last anywhere from a few days to two weeks. If the symptoms get worse after a few days, some doctors may change their diagnosis to bacterial pharyngitis, even though it is possible to have pharyngitis for only a few days. Thus, it may be misdiagnosed as an upper respiratory infection.

Find a Lawyer

If a delay in diagnosis or a complete misdiagnosis of pharyngitis leads to serious complications for you, talk to a lawyer. You may have a case for medical negligence if your physician ignored some of your symptoms or did not run the proper tests to diagnose pharyngitis.