Catarrhal pharyngitis - a disease in acute or chronic form, which is expressed by inflammation of the lymphoid tissue in the throat. Most often, the incidence of pharyngitis increases sharply in the cold season due to low air temperature, weakened immunity, seasonal lack of vitamins in the human body, a large number of cases of acute respiratory diseases.
Main causes of pharyngitis
According to statistics, 75-80% of cases of this disease occur due to the activity of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses) and bacteria, which include:
- rhinoviruses and influenza;
- herpes simplex;
- Coxsackie or Epstein-Barr viruses;
- enterovirus, cytomegalovirus;
- bacteria: streptococci, pneumococci.
Also, catarrhal pharyngitis can develop against the background of SARS and due to the introduction of fungi into the throat area.
Such forms of the disease can only be accurately determined by passing an analysis: a swab from the throat. Regardless of the reasons that caused it, pharyngitis tends to developdisease in a downward direction, causing inflammation not only of the throat, but also of the upper respiratory tract.
Non-infectious causes of pharyngitis
There are other causes of acute catarrhal pharyngitis:
- allergic reactions or exposure to chemicals;
- consequences of previous diseases in the esophagus and stomach;
- alcohol abuse, heavy smoking, too cold/hot food or drinks;
- some changes in the mucous membrane of the throat after the operation to remove the tonsils, atrophy of the pharynx;
- difficulty breathing through the nose due to excessive use of drops with a vasoconstrictive effect, incorrect anatomy of the nasal passages;
- with a prolonged runny nose, when an inflammatory secret constantly gets into the throat and brings infection;
- lack of vitamin A in the body;
- hormonal changes (puberty in adolescents, menopause in women, diseases of the endocrine system);
- decreased immunity, diseases of the autoimmune system.
Complications after pharyngitis
Acute catarrhal pharyngitis becomes chronic with improper treatment and neglect, with frequent exacerbations that are not treated by conventional therapeutic methods. In chronic pharyngitis, there is a large accumulation of mucus on the walls of the throat, crusts form, and the mucosa itself gradually becomes thinner, which can cause a feeling of constant discomfort.
Another unpleasant consequence of improper treatment of catarrhal pharyngitis may be the development of a purulent form of the disease against the background of a bacterial infection. It can form when fungi multiply in the pharynx.
Catarrhal pharyngitis: symptoms
Acute pharyngitis can be recognized by the following features:
- pain when swallowing, sore throat;
- Unpleasant foreign body sensation;
- slight rise in temperature;
- dry hacking cough;
- pain in muscles, joints and head;
- general feeling of soreness, fatigue, chills.
Unpleasant sensations occur with redness and swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, often accompanied by inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, under the jaw or ears.
In chronic catarrhal pharyngitis, the symptoms are less pronounced: with general well-being, there are unpleasant sensations in the throat: perspiration, itching, there is a frequent dry cough. Due to a long and addictive cough, some patients feel nervous irritation, there may be sleep disturbances.
Treatment of acute and chronic forms of pharyngitis
When a patient is admitted, the doctor, based on his complaints and visual examination of the throat and pharynx, makes a preliminary diagnosis, also focusing on questioning the patient about his lifestyle, smoking or alcohol abuse, professional activities, mental state. Also, the doctor usually takes a swab from the throat to identify the cause and causative agent of the disease.
Treatment of acute catarrhalpharyngitis is prescribed based on the results of a medical examination and clarification of the cause. If the disease is caused by bacteria, then antibiotics may be prescribed; in the viral form - the treatment of unpleasant symptoms is carried out in combination with vitamins and immunity boosters.
How to treat catarrhal pharyngitis? The set of measures and instructions includes:
- diet food, in which you can not eat foods that irritate the mucous membrane of the throat (hot and cold, s alty, smoked, spicy);
- diet recommendations: drink at least 2 liters of warm liquid per day, preferably milk or tea with honey, which have an analgesic and enveloping effect;
- limiting the impact of harmful substances on the throat (alcohol and tobacco);
- regular gargling or inhalation using anti-inflammatory herbal infusions or drugs ("Chlorophyllipt", "Furacilin", "Miramistin", "Rotokan");
- the use of sprays to relieve pain and reduce the frequency of coughing (based on chlorhexidine, iodine preparations, etc.), also in the bacterial form, sprays with antibiotics (Bioparox) or sulfonamides (Ingalipt, Biocarmint) are prescribed. Sprays "Imudon" and "Geksoral" are active against a number of bacteria and fungi, they are prescribed only at the direction of the attending physician;
- resorption of lozenges or lozenges that act on bacteria and viruses, relieve inflammation and soften the pharyngeal mucosa ("Septolete", "Neo-Angin","Faringosept", etc.);
- preparations containing iodine are prescribed carefully, taking into account a possible allergic reaction ("Iodinol", "Yox", "Povidone-iodine").
Pharyngitis in children
The disease of acute pharyngitis in children is much more common than in adults due to their reduced immunity. Acute catarrhal pharyngitis in a child under 2 years of age, as a rule, is combined with inflammation of the nasal mucosa and rhinitis. Manifested by high temperature (up to + 38ºС), lethargy and sleep disturbances, more severe course of the disease.
In older children, pharyngitis has less pronounced symptoms: sore and sore throat, coughing, etc. Acute pharyngitis in children is usually accompanied by a runny nose or conjunctivitis.
The danger is that the symptoms of redness of the back of the throat, similar to the manifestation of pharyngitis, may be a manifestation of other diseases: intestinal infections, mononucleosis, infectious diseases (measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc.), mechanical burns of the throat or foreign body.
In children, complications of catarrhal pharyngitis can be quite severe: the disease provokes swelling of the larynx and, as a result, the occurrence of suffocation. Therefore, parents should be vigilant about the condition of their children, especially younger ones.
Treatment of disease in children
The general principles of child therapy are similar to the treatment of pharyngitis in adults. The child can rinsethroat with herbal decoctions, soda, apply lubrication of the back wall with Yodinol or Lugol solutions, dissolve lozenges that relieve pain and destroy bacteria (Laryngopront, Falimint, Strepsils), spray the throat with sprays (Yoks, "Ingalipt", "Bioparox") and carry out inhalations.
A throat swab is required to determine the cause of the disease.
It is very important to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room of a sick baby, which helps to alleviate the general condition:
- high humidity in the room, you can use humidifiers or put wet towels on radiators;
- avoid dust, odor and tobacco smoke, polluted air;
- after improving the general condition, walk in the fresh air (during the warm season).
In children under the age of 1 year, due to the inability to rinse or use absorbable lozenges, the treatment of pharyngitis consists of the following procedures:
- wetting the throat and washing the nose with antiseptic solutions ("Humer", "Aquamaris", etc.);
- plentiful warm drink;
- with bacterial complications, the therapist prescribes antibiotics.
Treatment of pharyngitis with medications
Treatment of pharyngitis in adults and children depends on the form of the disease and its causes. If, after analysis, it is found thatthat it is caused by bacteria or viruses, the attending physician will usually prescribe a course of medication.
Depending on the form of the disease, the following medications are prescribed:
- if the analysis confirms the bacterial form of the disease, then the pediatrician prescribes a course of antibiotics (10 days) - "Azithromycin", "Penicillin", "Erythromycin", "Amoxicillin";
- with a viral origin of the disease - antiviral drugs ("Arbidol", "Anaferon", "Interferon", etc.);
- with a fungal form - antifungal drugs ("Nystatin", "Pimafucin");
- with an allergic form - antihistamine drugs are prescribed ("Fenistil", "Loratadine", etc.).
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of catarrhal pharyngitis with folk remedies is aimed primarily at relieving inflammation and sore throat, softening its mucous membrane.
Basic folk methods:
- greasing the throat with softening solutions (a mixture of vegetable oil and s alt, a mixture of 10% propolis tincture and sea buckthorn oil in a 1:2 ratio);
- gargling with herbal infusions;
- inhalations: steam or special inhalers.
Healing drinks that will be useful for pharyngitis:
- tea with raspberry, viburnum and honey;
- rosehip broth;
- infusion of St. John's wort.
Using herbal rinses
Parents often ask the pediatrician what is the best way to gargle with pharyngitis for children, whether herbal preparations can be used. Of course, all herbal decoctions or tinctures are effective topical remedies for throat and cough. They can be used as a rinse solution, as well as inhaled.
For gargling in children over 2 years of age and adults, the following herbal mixtures are commonly used:
- Calendula and chamomile flowers, plantain and sage leaves.
- Dandelion flowers, pine buds, plantain and birch leaves.
- Chamomile flowers, St. John's wort, sage leaves, oregano.
- An infusion of 20 g of coniferous buds in a glass of boiling water is used for acute pharyngitis.
- Calamus root (1 tbsp) boil for 10 minutes. from 2 tbsp. water, put 1 tbsp. l chamomile, mix, leave for 1 hour - a good remedy for softening the mucous membrane and relieving inflammation in chronic pharyngitis.
- Mint infusion (1 tbsp per glass of boiling water) will help relieve pain and sore throat.
- Pharmacy tinctures of eucalyptus, calendula (20-30 drops per glass of warm water).
- Rinse with a solution of sea s alt (1 tbsp per 0.5 liter of water) 6-7 times a day for a week is one of the proven treatments for the chronic form of the disease.
Inhalations with decoctions of herbs or propolis will be very effective (40 g of wax and 60 g of propolis are steamed).
Prevention of pharyngitis
Preventive measures forto prevent the disease of catarrhal pharyngitis, as well as to prevent its spread, the following:
- both adults and children - observe personal hygiene, wash hands, especially after walking or moving in transport, before eating;
- allocate separate cutlery for the sick person in the family: plates, spoons, cups;
- teach children to cover their mouth when sneezing or coughing, wash handkerchiefs regularly or use disposable ones;
- sick children should limit contact with he althy ones: you can not attend kindergarten, school until recovery.
The main rules for preventing diseases of the throat and respiratory tract for adults and children: a he althy lifestyle, quitting smoking, increasing overall immunity with vitamins and hardening procedures.
