Angina in infants is an inflammation of the tonsils of bacterial etiology. In infancy, this pathology is quite rare. At the age of 1 year, the baby's tonsils are still very poorly developed. However, it is impossible to completely exclude such a disease in an infant. Infants become infected with angina by airborne droplets from parents or other family members. Most often this happens when the child's immunity decreases.
Reasons
In most cases, angina in infants is caused by streptococcus. Less commonly, staphylococcus or pneumococcus acts as the causative agent.
Pathology is transmitted by airborne droplets. There is an erroneous opinion that angina can get sick from hypothermia. However, this disease has an exclusively bacterial etiology. Exposure to cold can only provoke a decrease in immunity and become an indirect cause of the disease.
Forms of pathology
Symptoms and treatment of tonsillitis in infants largely depend on the form of pathology. ATpediatrics distinguish the following types of this disease:
- catarrhal;
- purulent (follicular and lacunar);
- ulcerative membranous;
- phlegmonous.
The last two forms of pathology are rare in infants. However, they cannot be completely excluded. Ulcerative membranous and phlegmonous tonsillitis most often affects children who are prone to frequent colds. These two forms of the disease are especially severe and require hospitalization of the baby.
Gerpangina
Herpes sore throat in infants is more common than the classic form of the disease. Doctors also call this pathology herpangina. However, it has nothing to do with the causative agent of herpes. This disease is caused by an enterovirus.
Herpangina can be transmitted by airborne droplets, as well as through shared objects and dirty hands. The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature (up to +38 degrees). The baby becomes restless and whiny. Then, red spots form on the tonsils, which later turn into bubbles filled with liquid. They resemble in appearance a rash with herpes. Such rashes are also noted in the sky and other parts of the oral cavity. In rare cases, a rash appears on the palms. Diarrhea may occur during the first days of illness.
With herpangina, the use of antibiotics is absolutely useless. They are not able to destroy the enterovirus. Only symptomatic therapy is possible. It is very important to prevent dehydration of the body. Because of the pain in the throat and mouth, the baby often refuses to drink. However, the child needsto drink. You just need to make sure that the liquid is at room temperature.
At high temperatures, children's syrups based on ibuprofen and paracetamol are prescribed. Chamomile tea or rosehip infusion can be given to relieve a sore throat.
Often, parents try to treat their child with Acyclovir. This remedy has absolutely no effect on the causative agent of herpangina. It is useless to use antiviral drugs in this case.
The disease lasts about 10-12 days. After undergoing herpangina, the child remains stable lifelong immunity to enterovirus.
Symptomatics
Finding a sore throat in a baby is sometimes quite difficult. After all, a small child can not yet tell about his he alth. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the behavior of the baby.
Sick child becomes capricious and whiny. He sleeps poorly and refuses to feed because of a sore throat. In such cases, it is necessary to measure the baby's temperature and examine his tonsils. If the baby has redness or pustules, then it is necessary to show the child to the pediatrician.
Consider the symptoms of tonsillitis in infants, depending on the type of disease.
Most often in infancy, catarrhal tonsillitis occurs. This disease is accompanied by severe inflammation of the tonsils without suppuration. The child's temperature rises to +37 - +38 degrees. Sore throat is moderate. The tonsils are covered with mucus, look reddened and swollen. There is a slight increaselymph nodes. This is the mildest form of the disease.
Purulent tonsillitis in infants is much more difficult. The temperature rises to +38 - +39 degrees. There is a severe sore throat that radiates to the ears. Lymph nodes are not only enlarged, but also painful. White or yellowish dots can be seen on inflamed tonsils. Follicular purulent tonsillitis occurs in children older than 6 months. It is at this age that the follicles of the tonsils form in the baby. Lacunar purulent tonsillitis is accompanied by the same symptoms, but pus accumulates in the pockets of the tonsils (lacunae).
Ulcerative membranous angina is very rare in infants. Body temperature in this disease may be slightly increased. Ulcers and plaque in the form of grayish-white films form on the tonsils. There is bad breath.
With phlegmonous angina, there is severe swelling and suppuration of one of the tonsils. Body temperature can rise to +39 - +40 degrees. It becomes very painful for the child to swallow and make sounds.
It is important for parents to remember that with angina there is never a runny nose and cough. Symptoms of the disease are expressed only in fever and sore throat. If the child has signs of rhinitis along with inflammation of the tonsils, then most likely it is not a sore throat, but a viral infection.
Complications
Angina in infants can cause serious complications. The most dangerous consequence of the transferred infection is rheumatism. This pathology affects the heart and joints. So aftersore throats the child needs to be observed by a rheumatologist and a cardiologist.
Streptococcus can penetrate from the tonsils to nearby organs. Angina can give a complication to the ears and lead to otitis media. Also, the infection can get into the sinuses and cause sinusitis.
Diagnosis
Angina must be differentiated from the initial stage of acute respiratory viral infections, viral pharyngitis, and also from diphtheria (with ulcerative membranous form). For this purpose, the following studies are prescribed:
- throat examination;
- palpation of the lymph nodes;
- throat swab for culture;
- clinical blood test (shows an increase in ESR and leukocytosis).
Treatment
In most cases, therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is necessary only for severe forms of the disease.
The main treatment for sore throats in infants are antibiotics. It is necessary to suppress the activity of the pathogen. Pediatricians prescribe antibiotics for infants in the form of syrups and suspensions:
- "Ampicillin".
- "Flemoxin".
In severe cases, antibiotics are given as injections. It is very important to complete the course of antibiotic therapy to the end. Antibiotics should not be discontinued even after the child feels better.
At high temperatures, the use of antipyretic drugs in the form of suppositories based on ibuprofen ("Bofen", "Nurofen")or paracetamol (Panadol). These drugs should be discontinued after the temperature returns to normal.
How to treat a sore throat in a baby with local remedies? After all, the baby is not yet able to gargle on his own. It is also not recommended to use sprays, as the baby cannot hold his breath while applying the drug.
You can apply Hexoral, Tantum Verde, Bioparox sprays on the pacifier. Doctors also recommend dipping the bandage in the Miramistin solution and lubricating the baby's tonsils. It is useful to give a child chamomile tea 1 spoon every hour. This will help reduce sore throat.
Recovery from illness
The recovery period after a sore throat in a baby takes about 10-12 days. At this time, it is necessary to normalize the intestinal microflora, which can be disturbed by taking antibacterial agents. For this purpose, special therapeutic mixtures with probiotics are prescribed. Vitamin C has been shown to strengthen the immune system. Within 10 days after the illness, the baby should not be taken out for walks.
After a sore throat, doctors recommend re-clinical urine and blood tests, as well as an examination of the heart and joints.
Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky
Often, parents are interested in: "Is it possible to cure a sore throat in a baby without antibiotics?" Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich (famous pediatrician) believesthat the leading method of treatment of this disease can only be antibiotic therapy. It is impossible to get rid of a sore throat with local sprays and folk remedies alone. This also applies to drugs like Stopangin and Doctor Mom. Topical throat remedies should only be used as adjunctive therapy. They only help to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but do not treat the cause of the pathology. This view is shared by most pediatricians.
On the video below you can see Dr. Komarovsky's advice on the treatment of angina.
Prevention
How to prevent sore throat in infants? First of all, it is necessary to protect the child from contact with sick family members. When visiting a children's clinic, a gauze bandage must be worn on the child's face.
You should try to breastfeed your baby whenever possible. It contains substances that contribute to strong immunity in the child. It has been established by medicine that breastfed babies are much less susceptible to infectious diseases.
