Response: Antibiotics work by destroying or inhibiting bacterial growth through various mechanisms, such as disrupting cell walls, inhibiting protein synthesis, or interfering with bacterial replication. Doctors prescribe these medications when there are signs of bacterial infection.

Antibiotics do not definitively treat all cases of pharyngitis. Acute pharyngitis, which causes a sore throat, is often viral, whereas antibiotics are only effective when the pharyngitis is bacterial. In some viral sore throat cases, antibiotics may reduce symptoms because a secondary bacterial infection has occurred. In such instances, the medication indirectly lessens inflammation but does not cure the underlying viral illness.

You should use antibiotics exactly as prescribed by a doctor: the correct type, sufficient dose, and for the full duration. Do not self-medicate or reuse old prescriptions. Misusing antibiotics can lead to drug resistance, making future treatments more challenging, prolonged, and increasing the risk of side effects.

Doctor Hang performs a throat endoscopy for a patient. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

In fact, pharyngitis can stem from many other factors, including rhinosinusitis causing post-nasal drip, cold and dry environments (such as air conditioning), excessive talking, stress, weakened immune systems, or gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux. If the root cause is not properly addressed, the condition will continue to recur even with antibiotic use.

To limit recurrent pharyngitis, you should keep your neck warm, drink enough water, clean your nose and throat with appropriate solutions, limit cold foods and irritants, and adjust your living and working environment. If the condition recurs frequently, patients should consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist to identify the cause and receive proper treatment, rather than misusing antibiotics.

Master of Science, Second-Degree Specialist Doctor Tran Thi Thuy Hang

Head of Ear, Nose, and Throat Department

ENT Center

Tam Anh General Hospital, TP HCM