Chronic pharyngitis is the inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, submucous tissue and lymph tissue. It is often a part of infection of upper respiratory tract. When acute pharyngitis occurs repeatedly, it will develop into chronic one after a prolonged course of illness. Or the disease may be the complication of prolonged nasal diseases, chronic tonsillitis, and dental caries, etc. Besides, the stimulation of prolonged excessive smoking and drinking, dust and harmful gases may cause the disease as well.

Its pathological changes include chronic congestion of the pharyngeal mucosa, hyperplasia of the submucous connective tissue and lymph tissue, even pachynsis of mucosa in severe cases, hyperplasia of the posterior pharyngeal wall and lymph tissue of lateral pharyngeal bands. There is no obvious sex difference in sick rate of the disease. The disease has a longer course of illness, with intractable symptoms, which is not easily cured.

The disease pertains to the category of "Manhoubi" (chronic inflammation of throat) in TCM. Due to asthenia of the lung and kidney, the deficient body fluid will cause asthenic fire to flare up, scorching the pharyngolarynx and resulting in the disease. This is the way most chronic pharyngitis occurs. Because of this, the disease is also called "Xuhuo Houbi" (inflammation of throat due to asthenic fire).