During the period of exacerbation of infectious pathologies, the risk of an inflammatory process called pharyngitis increases. This disease is not dangerous to human life and develops as a result of reproduction on the mucous membrane of the pharynx of various bacteria and fungi. Most often, pharyngitis occurs in children and appears in combination with tonsillitis.
Reasons
Any inflammation, including pharyngitis, occurs when the body's immune system is weakened. During this dangerous period, the following factors can provoke the development of the disease:
- Exposure to various bacteria and viruses such as streptococci, staphylococci, etc.
- Injury or mechanical impact. Inflammation can occur due to irritation of the mucous membrane with chemicals, spicy food, cold or hot air, and also as a result of surgery.
- Allergic reaction. It manifests itself under the influence of various allergens: dust, household chemicals, pollen or animal hair.
- Bad habits. Smoking and alcohol abuse can alsoprovoke inflammation.
- Chronic and infectious diseases of the nose, mouth and sinuses. The exacerbation of rhinitis and sinusitis, as well as the treatment of these diseases with various drugs, can cause the onset of the inflammatory process.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With various diseases of the stomach and intestines, the contents of the gastrointestinal tract can enter the throat, which, in turn, causes the development of pharyngitis.
- Frequent and severe colds.
- Diabetes mellitus, various endocrine diseases that cause drying of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx.
- Hypocooling of the body.
In addition, this disease is contagious and passes from a sick person to a he althy person through the use of shared household items or during communication (airborne droplets).
Views
Depending on various factors, pharyngitis can take many forms.
According to the degree of inflammation and the characteristics of the course of the disease, acute and chronic pharyngitis are distinguished. Symptoms of the acute form appear very quickly and disappear on the 5-6th day of the disease. Chronic pharyngitis is characterized by milder symptoms compared to acute ones, but they develop and last much longer.
According to the causes of inflammation, pharyngitis is divided into:
- allergic;
- bacterial;
- traumatic;
- fungal;
- viral.
Chronic pharyngitis
Chronic pharyngitis, in turn, can also havedifferent forms depending on the nature of the changes in the mucous membrane. On this basis, they distinguish:
- Atrophic pharyngitis - the most severe form, accompanied by atrophy, thinning of the mucous membrane.
- Granular. This form is characterized by the formation of red grains on the mucous membrane of the pharynx.
- The catarrhal form is the mildest form of the disease, the feature of which is the abundant secretion of thick mucus.
- Hypertrophic pharyngitis is accompanied by swelling, proliferation of the mucous membrane, as well as changes in the connective tissue of the throat.
Often there is a mixed form of this disease, which is a combination of different types of pharyngitis.
Symptoms
The initial signs of inflammation are sore throat when swallowing, itching or burning. In the morning, there may be a need to get rid of mucus by coughing or expectorating.
Common symptoms of acute and chronic forms of this disease are:
- extensive redness of the mucous membrane of the pharynx;
- dry cough;
- profuse mucus in throat;
- feeling weak and unwell;
- recurrent headaches;
- possible rise in temperature.
In more severe forms of pharyngitis, the main symptoms include a constant feeling of dryness in the throat, enlargement and soreness of the lymph nodes and tonsils, ear pain, runny nose and nasal breathing disorders, as well as a cough accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Depending on the varietyof this disease, thinning or, conversely, thickening of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, soft palate and uvula can be felt.
The symptoms of chronic inflammation are less pronounced compared to the acute form. The temperature, for example, rises to 37.5 degrees, but it can last for several days.
Pharyngitis in children
Most often and in different forms, pharyngitis occurs in children. They are much more difficult to tolerate the development and course of this disease. A complication of inflammation of the pharynx in children can be otitis media, tonsillitis, various abscesses, the spread of the disease to the lower respiratory organs.
However, it is quite difficult to identify the disease in a child, especially if he is still too small and cannot describe his condition. The main signs of pharyngitis in children are anxiety, possible fever, sleep disturbance and appetite. But all these symptoms can also apply to other diseases, so to determine the exact diagnosis, you need to contact a specialist who will conduct a thorough examination.
In addition, a child should not self-medicate either. To avoid aggravation of the situation and the transition of the disease to a more serious stage, a sick child during the days of exacerbation of pharyngitis should not go outside, soar his throat and gargle with soda solutions.
According to reviews, in the treatment of pharyngitis in children, bed rest, irrigation of the pharynx with special preparations or antibiotics are best suited, but only if any complications occur. The room wherethe child is constantly and sleeping, should be regularly ventilated. And to maintain the protective forces of a growing organism, various vitamins should be used. But all this should be used only after consulting a doctor.
Treatment in adults
According to reviews, the treatment of pharyngitis in adults requires emphasis on reducing pain in the throat. For this, antiseptic, analgesic lozenges are used: Strepsils, Septolete, Lizobakt, Faringosept, etc.
In addition, regular gargling with solutions of "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin" or "Furacilin" is carried out. To achieve the fastest result, gargle every two hours.
Also, irrigation of the throat with various sprays, such as Ingalipt, Hexoral, Kameton, etc., should be added to the treatment system for this disease.
In the presence of a cough in the treatment of pharyngitis drugs in adults, according to reviews, it is recommended to use agents that actively thin sputum, made on the basis of medicinal herbs or ambroxol. These include Gerbion, Gedelix, Ambrobene, etc. They are perfect for treating pharyngitis in children as well.
Recommendations
In combination with medications in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis, according to reviews, the following rules must be observed:
- Diet. It consists entirelyexclusion of foods and dishes that irritate the mucous membrane of the throat.
- According to reviews, when treating pharyngitis at home, you need to give up all habits that can aggravate the situation - smoking, alcohol.
- Plentiful drink. To do this, use not hot, but warm drinks. Milk with honey in this situation will serve as an excellent natural healer.
Also, to improve the protective properties of the body and as an addition to the main treatment for pharyngitis, according to reviews, the doctor may prescribe various medications that increase immunity, such as Interferon, Viferon, Imudon, etc. If these treatments are not effective enough, antibiotics can be used, but such a need is quite rare.
Prevention
To prevent the occurrence of pharyngitis, preventive measures should be taken periodically:
- Promoting he alth. A balanced diet, exercise, regular walks and hardening will increase the body's ability to resist various infections.
- Limit exposure to various harmful factors that can trigger the onset of the disease (contact with patients with pharyngitis, smoking, hypothermia, drinking alcohol).
- Provide regular wet cleaning of the house, airing the room and humidifying the air. This reduces the amount of dust and micro-debris in the air, and makes it easier to breathe while you sleep.
- Systematically passexamination for various problems that can cause inflammation. For example, caries, runny nose, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, liver, endocrine system, etc.
Another way to prevent pharyngitis is to quickly eliminate the focus and symptoms of infection. And this, in turn, is possible only with a timely appeal to a specialist who will conduct a thorough diagnosis, make a conclusion and prescribe treatment.
Conclusion
According to reviews, the symptoms and treatment of pharyngitis in adults are interrelated. Compliance with all recommendations in combination with a he althy lifestyle allows you to effectively and quickly get rid of unpleasant sensations in the throat, contributes to a speedy recovery and prevention of recurrence of the disease.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that only a timely visit to the doctor will avoid undesirable consequences and guarantee a speedy recovery. Self-medication is not recommended, since only a specialist, based on the results of the examination, will be able to prescribe the most effective drugs depending on the patient's condition.
