Pharyngitis Causes & Risks

Causes

Many things can cause pharyngitis and tonsillopharyngitis. Causes include:

Infection with a virus, such as the viruses that cause influenza (the flu) and the common cold
Infection with bacteria, such as the bacteria that cause strep throat
Mucus from your sinuses that drains into your throat
Smoking
Breathing polluted air
Drinking alcoholic beverages
Hay fever or other allergies
Acid reflux from the stomach
Allergies
Food debris collecting in small pockets in the tonsils
Infectious mononucleosis

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Almost everyone will get a sore throat. These risk factors increase your chance of getting a sore throat:

Age: children and teens, and people aged 65 or older
Exposure to someone with a sore throat or any other infection involving the throat, nose, or ears
Situations that cause stress, such as traveling, working, or living in close contact with people
Exposure to cigarette smoke, toxic fumes, industrial smoke, and other air pollutants
Having other medical conditions that affect your immune system, such as AIDS or cancer
Stress
Hay fever or other allergies