La nasopharyngitis is a very common infection of the respiratory tract, and more specifically of the nasopharynx, the cavity that extends from the nasal cavity to the pharynx.

It is caused by a virus that can spread from person to person through contaminated droplets (for example, when a person coughs or sneezes, or through contact with contaminated hands or objects). Over 100 different viruses can cause nasopharyngitis.

The symptoms of nasopharyngitis, similar to those of the common cold, usually persist for 7 to 10 days. Very common in young children from the age of 6 months, it appears especially in autumn and winter. A child can have between 7 and 10 episodes of nasopharyngitis per year.

In Canada, nasopharyngitis is usually diagnosed and treated as a cold, while in France, nasopharyngitis and the common cold are considered different conditions.

Complications

Nasopharyngitis weakens the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Sometimes, if left untreated, some children can develop a bacterial superinfection which leads to complications such as:

• otitis media (= an infection of the middle ear).
• acute bronchitis (= inflammation of the bronchi).
• laryngitis (= inflammation of the larynx or vocal cords).