The throat is a tube that carries food to the stomach and air to the windpipe, which then carries air down to the chest and lungs. Because the throat and the lungs are so closely connected, infections can be easily shared between them. Most of these infections are mild and do not require medical attention or prescription drugs. Some infections, however, can cause life-threatening conditions that need prompt medical attention, especially if the patient has a high fever or develops pneumonia.
Rhinovirus
More than 200 viruses can cause a cold, and rhinovirus is the most common type of virus that causes a cold. A cold can cause a sore throat as well as coughing. These symptoms may cause discomfort in the throat and chest for up to two weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adenovirus
Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that attacks the lining of the organs in the respiratory tract, including the throat and lungs, as well as other organs in the body. Adenoviruses account for up to 10 percent of acute respiratory infections in children, notes KidsHealth.org. Kids are infected with adenoviruses more than adults are, and most children have had an adenovirus infection by 10 years of age. Adenovirus infections usually occur in the late winter, spring and early summer, although they can occur at any time of the year.
Influenza
Throat infections are usually caused by viruses, according to MedlinePlus. Influenza viruses can cause many chest and throat conditions, such as bronchitis and pleurisy. There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B and C. All three types of viral infections can cause symptoms such as sore throats, and complications can include bronchitis and pneumonia, which are diseases of the respiratory tract.
Strep
The throat may also become infected with bacteria, such as Group A Streptococcus, commonly known as strep throat or GAS. Strep throat causes only a small fraction of sore throats, according to MayoClinic.com. The symptoms associated with strep are usually more severe than those caused by viruses. Strep is most common among children between the ages of 5 and 15. Strep bacteria that infect the lungs is called "invasive GAS disease," because bacteria aren't normally found as deep within the body as the lungs.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis infection more commonly infects the lungs, but tuberculosis can infect the throat as well. According to a March 2010 article in the "International Journal of Infectious Diseases," the chief complaint among study participants who suffered laryngeal tuberculosis, or TB of the throat, was hoarseness, with tuberculosis infecting the vocal cords.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Common Cold and Runny Nose
- KidsHealth: About Adenovirus Infections
- MedlinePlus: Throat Disorders
- Mayo Clinic: Definition
- "International Journal of Infectious Diseases"; Changing Trends in the Clinical Features of Laryngeal Tuberculosis: A Report of 19 Cases; L. Ling; March 2010
