Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the pharynx, a part of the throat that lies just behind the sky and extends to the Adam's apple (larynx). Inflammation usually occurs when viruses (or sometimes bacteria) get into the throat of a cold, flu or sinus infection.
With pharyngitis, symptoms are manifested by perspiration, sensation of "lump" and sore throat, worse with swallowing, dry cough, fever.
In most cases, a complete cure is possible, the transition of an acute process to a chronic one is possible. Rarely complications can occur: rheumatic damage to the heart and joints.
Depending on which causative agent caused pharyngitis (virus or bacterium), treatment is also prescribed, as bacterial inflammation It is necessary to treat with antibiotics, which the doctor chooses, and the viral inflammation passes by itself and requires only symptomatic treatment.
This pathology very rarely occurs in isolation, mainly it is combined with acute inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The pharyngitis, symptoms and treatment of the disease we will consider in this article.
Causes
Approximately 70% of cases, the cause of pharyngitis is the virus, the remaining 30% share bacteria and pathogenic fungi, as well as allergens. Separately, one can distinguish traumatic lesion. Such pharyngitis, the causes of which are listed above, is acute, having a quite favorable prognosis for the patient.
The transition of the ailment to the chronic form is noted with the long-term ongoing course of frequent (especially untreated) Respiratory infections by attachment to the primary viral infection of bacterial inflammation.
To cure pharyngitis, you should quit smoking at the first symptoms and consult a doctor for advice.
Symptoms of pharyngitis
In the case of acute pharyngitis, symptoms include fever (insignificant or up to 37.5 degrees), painful swallowing, dryness in the throat, dry cough, reddening of the throat, presence of mucopurulent deposits on the walls of the throat (see p. a photo).
When diagnosed with chronic pharyngitis, the symptoms are not accompanied by an increase in temperature. As a rule, there are complaints of perspiration, tickling, scratching or burning in the throat, dryness of the pharynx, pain when swallowing, dry coughing, the need for expectoration of thick and viscous mucus.
With pharyngitis, symptoms in adults can be combined with signs of concomitant disease: acute respiratory viral infection, influenza, etc. Symptoms of acute pharyngitis are sometimes mistaken for signs of tonsillitis (sore throats). He can become aggravated from time to time. At the same time, his symptoms are similar to those of the acute phase.
Signs of an atrophic type are expressed by a strong dryness of the pharynx. Its mucosa is thinned, sometimes it becomes covered with dried mucus. Sometimes not the surface of the mucosa can be seen injected vessels. For the hypertrophic type, there is a presence on the posterior wall of the pharynx of foci of hyperplastic lymphoid tissue. Tubopharyngeal ridges can also be enlarged. In the case of exacerbation of the disease, these symptoms are accompanied by hyperemia, swelling of the mucous membrane.
Chronic pharyngitis in children is sometimes expressed not only by a constant dry cough, but also by the presence of wheezing. Therefore, when examining the doctor should clearly differentiate this state with bronchial asthma. How to treat pharyngitis will depend on the cause of its occurrence, so you should not engage in self-medication.
Pharyngitis in children
Pharyngitis is very difficult for young children, especially dangerous for children up to a year. Sometimes PF in kids is accompanied by an increase in temperature to 400. Because of the sore throat, the child refuses to eat. Swelling of the mucosa may cause choking symptoms. The presence of a focus of inflammation in the pharynx in young children often leads to the development of acute otitis media.
An attempt at self-treatment can inflict irreparable harm on a child's immature organism. At the slightest suspicion of PF, the baby should urgently consult a doctor.
Factors contributing to the development of chronic forms
- constitutional features of the structure of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and the entire gastrointestinal tract;
- prolonged exposure to exogenous factors (dust, hot dry or smoky air, chemicals);
- obstructed nasal breathing (breathing through the mouth, abuse of decongestants);
- smoking and alcohol abuse;
- allergy;
- endocrine disorders (menopause, hypothyroidism, etc.);
- beriberi A;
- diabetes mellitus, pulmonary, renal and heart failure.
Prevention
Avoid staying in dry, heavily dusty and smoky rooms, categorically exclude alcohol, smoking, spicy and spicy food, cold drinks and, of course, try to talk less. In the prevention and treatment of pharyngitis in adults, removal of various harmful factors acting negatively on the mucous membrane of the pharynx is of great importance.
Treatment of pharyngitis
First of all, the treatment of pharyngitis provides for the elimination of the factor that triggered the disease. With antibiotics, this is achieved in the case of a bacterial type of disease, and in the case of pharyngitis which was is caused by prolonged inhalation of irritants or smoke, using personal protective equipment or changing work.
In acute and exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis, not accompanied by severe disorders of the general condition, there is enough symptomatic treatment, including a sparing diet, hot foot baths, warming compresses on the front surface of the neck, milk with honey, steam inhalations and gargling.
- Gargle should be at least 6 times a day, if possible, every hour. For rinsing use furatsilinom, in the dilution 1: 5000 or alkaline solutions.
- From the diet exclude irritating food (hot, cold, sour, sharp, salty). An abundant drink is recommended up to 1.5-2 liters per day. Smoking should be discontinued.
- Combined preparations based on vegetable oils with the addition of antiseptics in the form of sprays (inhalipt, angilex, chlorophyllite etc.), which must be applied regularly to the inflamed mucous membrane of the pharynx cavity no less than 3-4 times a day.
- Tablets for resorption, containing sulfonamides (septifril, pharyngosept).
- When a virus infection is not recommended to take antibiotics, they are appointed by the doctor only when a bacterial or fungal pathogen is detected.
With chronic pharyngitis, treatment begins with the sanation of foci of chronic infection of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. If ineffectiveness is possible, surgical sanitation is strictly according to indications. In hypertrophic forms, areas of hypertrophy (hyperplasia) should be cauterized, cryodestruction, and lacerocoagulation should be used.
Antibiotics for pharyngitis
For preventive purposes, to prevent the development of complications of bacterial etiology, indications for the use of antibiotics for pharyngitis are:
- the development of bacterial angina, or exacerbation of the chronic form of tonsillitis;
- facts that indicate the risk of developing pneumonia;
- inflammatory disease of the bronchi (especially obstructive form);
- purulent otitis media;
- the spread of infection in the nasal sinuses;
- febrile conditions, lasting more than 2 days, or earlier, at the discretion of the doctor;
- subfebrile temperature, which persists for more than 5-6 days;
- a prolonged course of pharyngitis (more than a month).
Antibiotics for acute pharyngitis are usually prescribed from the penicillin series. Oral cephalosporins (cefazolinum, ceftriaxone) can be used less often.
How to treat pharyngitis in the home
Of folk remedies for the treatment of pharyngitis at home, the following are widely used:
- It is recommended to do inhalations for a couple of potatoes or rinsing with fresh potato juice.
- Rinse throat, inhalation herbs: chamomile, sage, calendula, eucalyptus.
- To restore the mucosa, which is necessary for subatrophic pharyngitis, it is good to lubricate the throat with rosehip or peach oil.
- Home treatment of pharyngitis with propolis. 30 drops of tincture of 30% propolis per 0.5 glasses of warm water - use for rinses. This folk remedy is best used to treat acute forms of the disease
- As an antipyretic agent with pharyngitis, you can use decoction of lime, tea from raspberry, wild strawberry.
- A warming drink of warm milk with honey, hot (but not scalding!) Tea with lemon, or tea from chamomile pharmacy;
- A sheet of blackberry is brewed with a glass of boiling water. With such a decoction it is good to gargle, it is effective in inflammation of the mucosa of the oral cavity: pharyngitis, bleeding gums, sore throats, laryngitis, etc.
Proven folk remedies for pharyngitis are good in that they provide a soft effect on the body, increasing local and general resistance.
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