What is the recommended treatment for acute viral pharyngitis?

The recommended treatment for acute viral pharyngitis focuses on supportive care, primarily including hydration and fever control. This approach is adopted because viral pharyngitis is caused by viral infections that do not respond to antibiotics or antivirals. Managing symptoms is essential to ensure patient comfort and facilitate recovery.

Staying well-hydrated helps soothe the throat and prevent further irritation, while fever control can alleviate discomfort and assist in managing any associated symptoms such as headache or malaise. Other supportive measures may include rest and the use of analgesics or throat lozenges to relieve pain, but the core recommendations center on hydration and controlling fever.

Using antibiotics would be ineffective since they target bacterial infections, and steroids are not routinely recommended as they do not improve recovery in viral infections and may have side effects. Antivirals could be indicated for specific viral infections, such as influenza or herpes, but are not a standard treatment for the broader category of viral pharyngitis.