Pharyngitis is a disease in which, due to the inflammatory process, the lymphoid tissue and the mucous membrane of the throat are damaged. The disease often goes along with inflammation of all parts of the upper respiratory tract. How to treat pharyngitis at home? This is what we will discuss in our today's article.
General information
This disease is similar in its symptoms to other throat diseases. Pharyngitis is characterized by: sore throat, perspiration, dry throat cough. If you experience the first signs of pharyngitis, you should seek medical help. Since a timely diagnosis and competent treatment will lead to a successful recovery. Untreated pharyngitis is very dangerous. It can turn into chronic forms with complications that can spread a pathogenic infection throughout the body and affect other organs and tissues.
Causes of pharyngitis
The cause of pharyngitis can be a viral,bacterial infection or fungi of the genus Candida. The most common viral inflammation of the pharynx. The causative agents of pharyngitis can be: adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, coronovirus and others. Any respiratory infection is accompanied by pharyngitis. A bacterial infection of the pharynx is not so common, but brings a lot of inconvenience to the patient. Pharyngitis can be caused by bacteria such as streptococcus, neisseria, mycoplasma and chlamydia. Various provoking factors increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease and the severity of the syndromes. These factors include smoking, alcoholism, severe hypothermia, polluted air.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pharyngitis are similar to all other throat diseases. Here are the most common ones:
- Feeling dry and scratchy in the throat.
- It hurts to swallow and talk.
- Feeling of a lump in the throat.
- Weakness and malaise.
- Temperature may rise.
- Sometimes the pain can radiate to the ears.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Throat cough.
- People around and close relatives may get sick.
Visual examination of the throat reveals loose mucous membranes, bright red pharyngeal walls, and enlarged palatine tonsils.
The main signs of pharyngitis can be supplemented by those characteristic of other acute respiratory diseases: runny nose, cough, aching bones, skin rashes.
Diagnosis
When the first signs of illness appearyou need to seek qualified help. The specialist, first of all, visually examines the patient's oral cavity and pharynx. In some cases, pharyngoscopy is performed. In order to find out which pathogenic microorganisms caused the disease, laboratory tests are carried out (blood test, bacteriological culture).
Types of pharyngitis
Conventionally, the disease of pharyngitis is divided into several types and forms. Depending on the causes that influenced the onset of the disease, pharyngitis is divided into those caused by: viruses, bacteria, fungi, allergic reactions, injuries and chronic.
How to treat pharyngitis at home? Therapy will depend on the type of disease. Depending on the nature of the disease, pharyngitis is divided into:
- Catarrhal. This disease is characterized by sore throat, perspiration and pain when swallowing. A large amount of viscous mucus accumulates in the throat. In the morning, the mucus provokes a strong cough, to the point of vomiting. When examining the throat, there is a strong swelling, an increase in the mucous membrane and the appearance of pus on it.
- Hypertrophic. This type of disease is characterized by the appearance of epithelial hypertrophy. Dense areas with granules and outgrowths may form on the epithelium. There may be an increase in blood vessels that create a specific pattern. The symptoms are similar to those of catarrhal pharyngitis. A distinctive feature of this type of pharyngitis is a reflex cough.
- Granular. A distinctive feature of this type of disease is constant tickling and scratching in the throat, nocturnal coughing fits and spasms in the throat. Granulosa pharyngitis leads to damage to the lymph tissue, resulting in the back of the pharynx strewn with small red nodules. With untimely treatment, granulosa pharyngitis can take the form of atrophic.
- Atrophic. This type of pharyngitis is the final stage of this disease. At this stage, progressive sclerosis of the pharyngeal mucosa is formed. The mucus becomes very dense, viscous and dries up with the formation of dense crusts. The back wall of the pharynx becomes pale and dries out.
Treatment
How to treat pharyngitis at home for an adult or a child? It is necessary to start therapy from the first days of the disease. Advanced, acute forms of pharyngitis can turn into severe and chronic.
The foundation in the treatment of pharyngitis is the use of local therapy. Gargle 3-4 times a day. It helps to cleanse and moisturize the damaged larynx. Well relieve the symptoms of a sore throat, special sprays or lozenges. Steam or inhalation with a nebulizer reduces swelling of the pharynx and inhibits the activity of pathogenic microorganisms that caused the disease.
So, how to treat pharyngitis at home quickly? In order to recover faster and multiply the result of medicines, you must follow certain rules:
- Voice peace. Try not to talk or speak in a quiet voice without straining your vocal cords. You can't scream or sing.
- Try not toexpose the body to low temperatures, do not breathe cold, windy air. If possible, do not go outside during the fog.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- No smoking.
- Very hot, cold and spicy foods should not be included in your diet.
- Indoors carry out wet cleaning and frequent air ventilation.
- Get rid of a runny nose that makes nasal breathing difficult.
- Drink as much warm liquid as possible (tea, compote, decoction of medicinal herbs).
Methods of home treatment of pharyngitis
Before you start self-medication, you should consult with your doctor. And only after the specialist explains how to treat pharyngitis at home, you can start treatment. To facilitate swallowing, gargle with infusion of chamomile, eucalyptus and sage. Use these herbs also for steam inhalation. A beneficial effect in the treatment of pain syndromes of the pharynx is the use of warm foot baths with the addition of mustard powder and soda. Such baths are done in the evening, after which they put on warm socks and go to bed. In addition, during any acute respiratory diseases, it is necessary to support the immune system in every possible way. To do this, you need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink herbal infusions and teas with honey, lemon and ginger.
It is worth noting that such treatments are only suitable for mild forms of the disease. And only a doctor can answer the question of how to treat acute pharyngitis at home. Since in the treatmentacute forms of this disease, the use of drugs is mandatory.
People suffering from various types of allergies should be careful about trying new recipes and home treatments.
When the patient does not get better after several days of self-medication, and the symptoms of pharyngitis increase, it is worth seeking medical help.
Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis
Therapy of atrophic pharyngitis is based on the elimination of harmful microorganisms that provoked the disease. For the treatment of acute forms of atrophic pharyngitis, novocaine blockade, cauterization and physiotherapy are used. If the cause of atrophic pharyngitis is a bacterial or fungal infection, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. To relieve symptoms, you need to know how to treat atrophic pharyngitis at home. For this, frequent rinsing and lubrication of the pharynx is suitable. The selection of such funds should be based on several principles:
- The drug should have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.
- He should linger on the mucous membrane of the throat as long as possible;
- Do not cause an allergic reaction.
- Do not cause irritation and dryness of the mucous membrane of the throat.
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis
When the chronic form of pharyngitis has acquired due to the presence of other diseases, first of all it is worth doing a thorough treatment of these ailments. With severe symptoms of a chronic diseaseantibiotics are prescribed. To understand how to treat chronic pharyngitis at home, first of all, you need to eliminate all factors that affect the development of the chronic form of this disease. These factors include: alcohol, tobacco smoking, polluted air. Those suffering from chronic pharyngitis should follow a special diet. Very hot or cold food should be avoided. Spicy, sour and very s alty foods are also prohibited. During periods of exacerbation of the disease, it is worth drinking as much warm liquid as possible. But the drink should be exactly warm, not hot.
Treatment of pharyngitis in children
The attending physician should treat pharyngitis in children. He will conduct a visual examination of the child, study the medical history and give a referral for tests. After that, the specialist will be able to prescribe competent therapy. Only a doctor should decide on the need to take antibiotics or antiviral drugs. At an appointment with an ENT doctor or a pediatrician, it is worth clarifying how to treat a child with pharyngitis at home. Since a child under 3 years of age has a severe disease and is often accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx with catarrhal rhinitis, and almost all folk remedies are not suitable for young children, self-treatment of a child can lead to serious complications.
Treatment of pharyngitis in adults
As soon as the first signs of illness appear, you should consult a doctor. A qualified specialist will be able to correctly answer the question of how to treat pharyngitis in adults. He will prescribe the necessary medications and explain the methods of application and their dosage. Medicines with the addition of propolis and topical antibiotics ("Bioparox" and others) have proven themselves well. At home, you can carry out steam inhalation with the addition of honey and propolis. It will have a local effect on the inflamed area, soothe the cough and relieve spasm of the pharynx. In combination with inhalations, you can carry out foot baths, warm compresses and frequent gargling.
Consequences of pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is a serious disease that requires mandatory treatment. Since the advanced forms of this disease can lead to various pathologies and serious complications. Pharyngitis can lead to lymphodentitis, sepsis, damage to the heart and joints. The consequences depend on the stability of the immune system, the hostility of the provoking factors and the treatment being carried out. An untreated disease can result in complications such as:
- Peritonsillar and pharyngeal abscesses. The result of a neglected bacterial infection are suppurations that occupy the entire space of the pharynx, moving to the areas of the teeth and ears.
- Inflammation of the inner ear. When an infection moves uncontrollably throughout the body, it can enter the auditory tube and cause inflammation.
- Laryngitis, tracheitis and other respiratory diseases.
- Rheumatism andheart damage. When streptococci are the cause of pharyngitis, the body begins to produce antibodies against these pathogens. And since the microstructural parts of streptococci are similar to the structure of the joints and myocardium, their gradual destruction occurs.
Conclusion
Acute pharyngitis is a throat disease that should not be ignored. Since this disease can have several causes, the treatment should be different and well-chosen. A specialist can diagnose the cause of the disease. And only he can decide how to treat pharyngitis at home, and the advisability of using antiviral or antibacterial drugs. Proper treatment will help to avoid serious complications and pathologies.
