Very often in autumn people suffer from nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nasopharynx). In no case should the treatment of this disease be postponed. Otherwise, it will become chronic and cause a number of other ailments.
What is nasopharyngitis?
Rhinopharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and nose. Very often this disease is confused with pharyngitis and rhinitis. Indeed, in all the symptoms they are similar to each other. But the only difference is that during rhinopharyngitis it is very painful to swallow, when with the other two ailments mentioned, such a feeling does not occur.
Rhinopharyngitis is a complication of rhinitis. The larynx becomes red, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed. Sometimes there is a plaque in the form of mucus or pus.
Symptoms of nasopharyngitis
If you feel dry, tingling and burning, sometimes difficult to remove mucous discharge with blood is the first sign of nasopharyngitis. In addition, nasal breathing is difficult, and the vocal cords seem hoarse. Inflammation of the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, the treatment of which is necessarycarried out immediately at the initial stage, it can give a complication to the hearing aid: the patient's hearing decreases, and there is crackling and pain in the ears.
In children, all of the above symptoms are very often accompanied by fever. It happens that in infants the tongue swells, the cervical and lymph nodes are enlarged, and stripes of intense hyperemia are visible on the walls of the pharynx.
Causes of inflammation of the nasopharynx
The main causes of nasopharyngitis are severe hypothermia and viral infections. The risk group includes young and middle-aged children with a weakened immune system or those suffering from diathesis. Infectious pathogens such as cocci are very easy to get into such an organism.
These sticks take root well on the cells of the mucous membranes, while causing swelling and a significant expansion of blood vessels. It is worth noting that the rush of blood can also pass to the mucous membrane of the auditory canals. Thus, infectious pathogens contribute to the inflammatory process of those places where lymphoid tissue accumulates.
Danger of nasopharyngitis for young children
As we have already mentioned, for young children, inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa is of particular danger. Treatment in this case should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.
As a rule, the cause of this disease is an adenovirus infection, which is transmitted during contact with a sick person by airborne droplets. Rarely, nasopharyngitis is caused bymechanical, thermal and chemical irritants.
It is worth noting that premature newborns are very difficult to tolerate inflammation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. In addition, rhinopharyngitis in some cases can even lead to death.
How to tell if a child has nasopharyngitis?
Inflammation of the nasopharyngeal wall can proceed in different ways. As a rule, the first sign is a high temperature up to 39C, which rises to this indicator in a short time. But there are cases that nasopharyngitis occurs without fever.
A concomitant symptom at the initial stage of the disease is clear discharge from the nose, which later turns into mucous or purulent. Usually in such a situation, due to a stuffy nose, children begin to breathe through their mouths. And babies can't suckle.
And the accompanying symptoms of rhinopharyngitis are loose stools, vomiting and flatulence. Sometimes the lymph nodes at the back of the head become enlarged, and convulsions are observed.
Inflammation of the nasopharynx, the treatment of which is very long, in children entails pneumonia and bronchitis. But the most dangerous complication is croup or subglottic laryngitis.
What to do if the child has inflammation of the nasopharynx?
As mentioned above, children very easily succumb to such a disease as inflammation of the back wall of the nasopharynx. In no case can it be treated independently. If you experience the first symptoms of rhinopharyngitis, consult a doctor. Otherwiseserious complications such as scarlet fever, influenza, diphtheria and measles can occur.
Before the doctor arrives, free the baby's nose for breathing. To do this, use medications as drops or nasal spray that are appropriate for the age of the child. But remember, in no case should you use menthol drugs, as they can cause convulsions and spasm of the glottis.
In addition, the baby needs to warm up the chest a little with an oil compress. It is done in the following way. Soak ordinary gauze in sunflower oil and place it on the chest. Lay oilcloth on gauze, and flannelette or woolen filigree on top. Wrap up the baby. After 3-4 hours, the compress can be removed.
Treatment of nasopharyngitis in children
Inflammation of the nasopharynx in a child is considered very dangerous. Treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor. In addition, he can even hospitalize the child. But in most cases, children are treated at home.
In the latter case, you must follow all the doctor's instructions. Please note that the temperature of the room where the child is located should not be higher than 22C. Wet cleaning and airing the room should be done every day. Otherwise, dry air will only worsen the condition of the baby.
Nose drops prescribed by a doctor should be taken strictly according to his instructions or instructions and no more than 7-9 days, since long-term use of such drugs can cause the development of vasomotor rhinitis, that is, a violation of the mucous vesselsnasal membranes.
Many argue that when inflammation of the nasopharynx appears, treatment with folk remedies can also take place. But this concerns the initial degree of the disease.
Treatment of nasopharyngitis in adults
In the cold season, the possibility of “earning” inflammation of the nasopharynx increases. Treatment of this disease in adults, as in children, must begin with washing the nose. These can be all kinds of vasoconstrictor drops or sprays, as well as nasal rinsing with saline.
Only an integrated approach will help prevent chronic inflammation of the nasopharynx, the treatment of which will be more difficult and lengthy in the future.
So, recovery will depend on how often and correctly you gargle, bury your nose and take medicine.
So, for treatment, the following is recommended for you:
- gargle with sage infusion, which is brewed at the rate of 1 tablespoon of herbs per 1 cup of boiling water;
- moisturize the nose with oil drops, such as olive oil;
- gargle with soda solution (1 teaspoon to 1 large glass of boiled warm water);
- lubricate or gargle with Lugol's solution;
- do inhalations with warm water without Borjomi gas;
- avoid hot, cold and spicy food.
If you are faced with a disease such as inflammation of the nasopharynx, treatment with antibiotics and other drugsalso possible. But in this case, only a doctor should prescribe all these medicines.
Prevention of nasopharyngitis
We have already said that it can cause inflammation of the nasopharynx, the treatment of which should in no case be postponed. Based on this, we can name ways to prevent this disease.
So, first of all, it is maintaining a he althy lifestyle, which means quitting smoking, playing sports and reducing psycho-emotional stress to zero.
Second, regular wet cleaning of your home will help get rid of germs and maintain a favorable level of humidity for your body.
Third, it is necessary to limit contact with people with colds.
Fourth, avoid hypothermia. This is especially true of inflammation of the nasopharynx in a child. Treatment in this case, as in all others, is inevitable.
As you can see, nasopharyngitis is much easier to prevent than to cure. Be attentive to your he alth and the he alth of your children!
