Today we invite you to talk about a very interesting topic. Surely not everyone knows that some infections that can be transmitted exclusively through sexual contact can manifest themselves not only in the urogenital area. One such disease is gonococcal pharyngitis.
This disease is called specific. What is it connected with? The thing is that the only source of the disease is gonococcus. This pathology has a number of features that are observed both in the course of the disease and in the treatment. You can read about all this in this article. In addition, we focus on the issue of treatment and prevention of the disease.
Etiology
Gonococcal pharyngitis, the photo of which is presented in this section of the article, as mentioned earlier, has one pathogen - gonococcus. Development can take place in isolation or in conjunction with urogenital pathology. The infection affects not only the back wall of the pharynx, but also other organs that are in the neighborhood:
- on the larynx;
- tonsils;
- nasal cavity.
Gonococcal pharyngitis is usually asymptomatic. The clinical picture is very similar to the usual pharyngitis. However, one single difference can be noticed - the initial signs of the disease appear and disappear (regardless of treatment).
If you do not fight the infection, you can get a complication - gonococcal tonsillitis.
Causes of disease
In this section, we suggest you deal with the causes of gonococcal pharyngitis. This disease is also often referred to as gonorrheal pharyngitis, and gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. However, unprotected intercourse is not the only way to become infected.
Let's list all possible ways of infection:
- oral-genital contact with a carrier of infection;
- sharing a shared towel;
- sharing cutlery with a sick person;
- contact of the child with the genitals of the mother during childbirth;
- kiss with a carrier of the infection.
As you can see, we have identified both household and perinatal routes of infection.
What factors provoke the disease? These include:
- poor personal hygiene;
- possibility of unprotected intercourse;
- compromised immunity.
Infection can occur in people of any age.
Symptoms in adults
What are the symptoms of gonococcal pharyngitis? As mentioned earlier, as a rule, the disease proceedsasymptomatic. Very rarely, the patient may complain of the following symptoms:
- dry throat;
- sore throat;
- sore throat;
- high body temperature;
- hoarse voice;
- bleeding gums;
- bad breath.
On examination, the following changes can be seen:
- hyperemia and swelling of the oropharyngeal mucosa;
- foci with a yellow-gray coating;
- individual follicles (red grains);
- enlarged lymph nodes.
Inflammation in gonococcal pharyngitis can spread to the mouth, palate, gums.
Symptoms in children
It is much more difficult for young children to endure the disease. Signs of gonococcal pharyngitis are brighter and more varied. The inflammatory process very quickly captures the nasal mucosa, which has a number of unpleasant symptoms.
In addition, some children may notice swelling of the eyelids and their redness. A short time after infection, in some cases, photosensitivity and accumulation of pus in the corners of the eyes are observed.
Diagnosis of disease
Now briefly about the diagnosis of gonococcal pharyngitis. Before this, it is important to note the following fact: the bacterium that is the causative agent of this disease dies very quickly if it enters the external environment. Gonococcus is not resistant to temperature fluctuations. That is, the bacterium instantly dies if it gets into heat (above fifty degrees inCelsius) or cold.
To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to go to an otolaryngologist. He is obliged to interview the patient and examine the mucous membrane of the throat. If symptoms of gonococcal pharyngitis are detected, then to confirm the diagnosis, the patient will be sent to a number of studies:
- bacteriological smear from the larynx (confirms or refutes the presence of infection, bacteria resistance to antibiotics is checked);
- smear from the urogenital tract (for accurate confirmation of the diagnosis);
- CBC (complete blood count);
- OAM (general urinalysis).
Only after all the studies, the doctor will be able to prescribe complex therapy to the patient. And you will learn more about this later.
Infection treatment
How is gonococcal pharyngitis treated? Before we move on to this issue, I would like to remind you once again: gonorrhea is a very serious disease, so you should not self-medicate and self-diagnose. At the first sign, contact a specialist, because improper therapy or its absence can lead to serious and very unpleasant consequences.
Therapy of gonococcal infection is carried out behind the doors of specialists such as a urologist, venereologist or gynecologist.
As already mentioned, therapy is complex. It includes:
- general recommendations;
- drug treatment;
- use of folk remedies;
- physiotherapy treatments.
We will talk about each method separately.
Recommendations
Let's start with general guidelines that should be followed by everyone who has been diagnosed with this diagnosis.
The first is a change in diet. What is it? The patient should eat only soft, crushed and warm foods. Solid food will adversely affect the already inflamed mucous membrane of the throat. Food should not cause discomfort during swallowing. Spicy, s alty, sour and bitter foods can also irritate the mucous membrane.
The second tip is a complete rejection of alcohol. The amount of liquid consumed per day must be increased to two or even three liters. It does not have to be pure water, the main thing is that the drink is warm. Water can be replaced with herbal tea or fruit drink.
The third recommendation is bed rest. If this is not possible, then try to reduce physical activity. During the period of illness, it is highly recommended not to walk or ride a bike a lot.
Fourth - do not visit crowded places where you can become a source of infection. This is especially true of the pool.
Fifth - personal hygiene. After going to the toilet, do not forget to wash your hands with soap and water, use individual cutlery.
If there are gonococcal rashes or plaque, do not press or brush them off. This can lead to the rapid spread of infection. If with gonorrhea a man collects pus in the urethra, then it is strictly forbidden to squeeze it out.
Drug therapy
Considering signs andtreatment of gonococcal pharyngitis, we cannot ignore drug therapy. The basis is antibiotics. Antibacterial drugs are designed to fight the causative agent of the disease itself (that is, gonococcus). What antibiotics can your doctor prescribe? These include:
- "Amoxicillin";
- "Azithromycin";
- "Ceftriaxone";
- "Levofloxacin";
- "Cefixime";
- "Ofloxacin".
In addition to antibiotics, it is necessary to use antiseptic and antihistamines, immunomodulators and drugs that strengthen the cardiovascular system.
Topical treatment:
- gargle (to prevent infection and reduce inflammation);
- inhalation and antiseptic sprays.
How to gargle with this disease? Antiseptics available at pharmacies:
- "Oracept";
- hydrogen peroxide (3%);
- "Chlorophyllipt";
- "Furacilin".
It is also necessary to treat the throat with Protargol solution (2%) and irrigate with Miramistin.
After completing the course of treatment, the doctor prescribes probiotics that normalize the intestinal microflora. It is also necessary to pass the tests again. If an infection is detected, then the course of treatment continues.
Traditional medicine
Completely treat the infection with traditional medicine is highly discouraged. However, its use asadditional therapy won't hurt.
Gargling may help:
- sea s alt;
- chamomile decoction;
- oak bark;
- sage;
- calendula.
Infection during pregnancy
Gonococcal pharyngitis is also treated with antibiotics during pregnancy. The doctor weighs the risk for the baby with the benefit for the mother and prescribes treatment. If not contraindicated, then physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.
Physiotherapy treatments
Physiotherapy is prescribed only if there is no acute inflammatory process. Apply (on the throat area):
- UHF;
- UFO;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetotherapy;
- laser therapy.
Complications
The lack of treatment or the wrong therapy can lead to serious problems:
- Spread of infection to neighboring organs.
- Chronic throat diseases.
- Secondary infertility in women.
Prevention
Let's move on to the prevention of gonococcal pharyngitis. It is very important to note the following here: after you have had a given disease, your defense system ceases to develop immunity against it. Based on this, the likelihood of re-infection is very high.
How should you protect yourself frominfection?
- Using condoms during sexual intercourse.
- Prevention of random connections.
- If, after unprotected intercourse, you urinate and wash your genitals with warm water and soap, then there is a chance that the infection will "wash away".
- You must rinse your mouth with disinfectant solutions after oral sex.
- It is necessary to examine all persons with whom the infected person has come into contact.
- If one of the family members is infected, then it is imperative to examine children (especially girls).
- Always follow the rules of personal hygiene (wash hands, use personal utensils, etc.).
- Remember to get checked out by your doctor at least once every six months.
These simple tips will help prevent infection as dangerous as gonococcus.
