TABLE 1.
Microbial causes of acute pharyngitisa
| Pathogen | Syndrome or disease | Estimated % of casesb |
|---|---|---|
| Viral | ||
| Rhinovirus (100 types and 1 subtype) | Common cold | 20 |
| Coronavirus (≥3 types) | Common cold | ≥5 |
| Adenovirus (types 3, 4, 7, 14, and 21) | Pharyngoconjunctival fever, acute respiratory disease | 5 |
| Herpes simplex virus (types 1 and 2) | Gingivitis, stomatitis, pharyngitis | 4 |
| Parainfluenza virus (types 1 to 4) | Common cold, croup | 2 |
| Influenzavirus (types A and B) | Influenza | 2 |
| Coxsackievirus A (types 2, 4 to 6, 8, and 10) | Herpangina | <1 |
| EBV | Infectious mononucleosis | <1 |
| Cytomegalovirus | Infectious mononucleosis | <1 |
| HIV type 1 | Primary human immunodeficiency | <1 |
| Bacterial | ||
| Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci) | Pharyngitis and tonsillitis, scarlet fever | 15-30 |
| Group C beta-hemolytic streptococci | Pharyngitis and tonsillitis | 5 |
| Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Pharyngitis | <1 |
| Corynebacterium diphtheriae | Diphtheria | <1 |
| Arcanobacterium haemolyticum | Pharyngitis, scarlatiniform rash | <1 |
| Chlamydial (Chlamydia pneumoniae) | Pneumonia, bronchitis, and pharyngitis | NDc |
| Mycoplasmal (Mycoplasma pneumoniae) | Pneumonia, bronchitis, and pharyngitis | <1 |
a
Adapted from reference 20a with permission of the publisher.
b
Estimated percentage of pharyngitis cases due to indicated organism in persons of all ages.
c
ND, not determined.