The word "sore throat" is known to all, even preschoolers. But not everyone understands that this is a bacterial dangerous infection and it requires serious medical treatment.
Is angina transmitted from person to person? Of course, it is contagious. And in order to avoid infection during the period of mass spread of the infection in the fall, you need to be careful and try to contact less with the sick.
Streptococcus - the culprit of viral tonsillitis
Contrary to popular belief, severe sore throat is not always a sore throat. In medicine, tonsillitis is called only inflammation caused by a streptococcal infection.
The symptoms of this infection are familiar to many:
- redness of the throat and acute pain when swallowing;
- headache;
- heat.
The infection is transmitted, and very fast. Moreover, in the autumn and spring periods, the number of people infected with just streptococcal infection increases, since people sit more indoors when the cold comes. And in a confined space, all viruses and bacteria spread much faster.
Like most infectious diseases, it is extremely dangerous and can be treated for a very long time. An untreated streptococcal infection spreads throughout the body and causes rheumatoid arthritis, heart and kidney diseases.
Other bacteria, staphylococci, sometimes trigger the disease. Which bacterium caused certain symptoms, only a doctor can tell.
If you have a small child and you are interested in the question of whether sore throat is transmitted by airborne droplets, then medical science confirms this. Angina is one of those diseases that easily passes from a sick person to a healthy one, and the most standard transmission mechanism is aerosol (a bacterium can fly several meters during a sneeze). Although a small percentage of the population is simply a carrier of the disease. But the carrier has inactive bacteria, and it is not contagious.
The main ways of infection
Immunologists identify three main methods of infection. Let's consider in order:
- The aerosol transmission route, or, as the people know, is airborne.
- Contact - with close interaction through utensils, towels and other household items.
- Alimentary method - through infected food, the streptococcus bacterium easily enters the glands.
Those who doubt whether angina is transmitted must clearly understand that this is a very contagious disease.
In a cold room and with a low resistance of the body, streptococci cling to a person faster, especially to a child. In cold weather, it is necessary to ventilate the room (apartment, office, etc.), but without excessive enthusiasm. No need to turn the room into a refrigerator. It is enough to slightly open the window a little for ten minutes, so that the air changes at least slightly fresh. The patient at this time must be "relocated" to another room.
Is angina transmitted by air?
So, we found out that tonsillitis is still a contagious disease. It is not caused by hypothermia. However, cold is one of the factors that lowers the body's defense and contributes to the development of inflammation of the glands.
Everyone is used to thinking that a sore throat from cold water or juice. It’s hard to believe, but it’s not quite so.
Does the bacterium actually play a major role in the disease, and is angina transmitted by airborne droplets? Unfortunately, the aerosol route is the fastest way to spread the infection. When the patient sneezes, the infection "floats" around the room. And all the people who are nearby are infected. But adults with strong immunity may not get sick, but children are still weak, their protective forces are not developed enough to resist staphylococci or streptococci.
Diagnostics
You can diagnose the infection yourself, based on the symptoms. The patient can see enlarged tonsils even at home in the mirror. And if there is no high temperature, swallowing is not painful, even though the throat is red and there is no cold, then this is not a sore throat.
To clarify, it is better to go to the therapist and take a smear for analysis.
Antibiotics are prescribed only after the doctor has confirmed that the disease is caused precisely by streptococcus, and he himself prescribed certain drugs.
Purulent tonsillitis
The incubation period of purulent tonsillitis is from 2 to 14 days. Symptoms are very serious: body temperature is 38–39 degrees, body aches, and often abdominal pain. And, of course, severe inflammation of the glands. They are so swollen that the patient cannot swallow food at all. He drinks only water.
What can be said about this type of infection? Is purulent sore throat transmitted or is it a consequence of drinking cold drinks in the summer? Like other types of disease, it is transmitted both through personal hygiene items and through the air. If the child is weakened by something or has chronic sluggish tonsillitis, then he will be more susceptible to bacteria.
Pus forms on the inflamed tonsils when the immune cells die. In fact, tonsils - this is the accumulation of lymphocytes at the throat arch. They serve as a barrier to infections in the mouth and nasopharynx. When the cells of the immune system die in large quantities during the fight against streptococci, they remain on the surface and turn into pus. If there is a lot of pus, it is removed surgically.
So what can answer the question, is angina transmitted? A child in the acute phase is really contagious, and must be kept in quarantine at home.
Can I get infected through a kiss?
Close contact, especially when people live in the same room, always increases the risk of infection. If this is a family of three (mom, dad and baby), the obvious question arises: is angina transmitted by kiss, that is, is it necessary to be afraid to kiss a loved one?
An ordinary kiss also serves as a source of infection. The bacterium can be carried over to a healthy person even with a kiss on the cheek, for example, when the mother puts the baby to bed.
Therefore, it is better to refrain from manifesting tenderness for a while and put on a mask in the acute period of the disease or hide behind a healthy handkerchief while caring for a sore throat.
Primary and secondary infection. Transmission of infection
What infection is called primary? This is the underlying disease caused by a specific bacterium. In our case, streptococcus. A secondary infection is called so because it "appeared" later, developed against the background of a general weakening of the body due to the primary infection.
And although we already know that inflammation of the tonsils due to the development of streptococci in them is contagious, we want to clarify whether angina is transmitted? The answer is yes.
Lacunar angina
There are 5 main types of angina: follicular, catarrhal, herpetic, purulent and lacunar. All of them are contagious and all are transmitted by airborne droplets. But the most dangerous purulent and lacunar.
With lacunar accumulations of white plaque form around painful ulcers. Symptoms quickly appear, almost immediately after infection. And just as quickly pass with proper, competent treatment.
Local antibiotics
Any medicine that you buy at a pharmacy without a prescription is designed to temporarily relieve symptoms. Ibuprofen, for example, will relieve fever, pills or throat sprays will help relieve acute pain.
If the pharmacy offers you local antibiotics for treatment (Hexoral, Stopangin, Bioparox), then know that they will help only at the first stages of the disease, and only if the situation is not so serious. Resorption tablets, Strepsils and the like, are used only to relieve pain for a while, they do not kill the bacterium itself. Rinses are also needed to alleviate the condition.
If the temperature rises above 38 ° C and the pain becomes unbearable, you need to call an ambulance.
Treatment and prevention
If laboratory analysis determined a sore throat, then penicillin series antibiotics should be treated. Such antibiotics as macrolides and cephalosporins are prescribed for purulent tonsillitis, when the patient is already very ill. But you cannot assign them yourself. In addition, during pregnancy they are prohibited.
Prevention of the disease consists in hardening. A cold shower in the morning, walking barefoot in the summer, active exercise - all this is absolutely necessary to maintain strong immune defense. If a person works in a stuffy office, where a lot of people go in a day, he just needs strong immunity. Otherwise, he will constantly suffer from tonsillitis, sinusitis, and then from tonsillitis against their background.
When there is a sore throat in the house, he needs to allocate personal dishes. Do not touch his towel at this time. In general, it is possible to limit all contact with him. It is especially important to keep young children away from the patient.
Alternative methods of treatment
Sore throat is alleviated by various infusions and rinses. At home, in addition to the medications your doctor will prescribe, you can add alternative methods.
The healing powers of chamomile, linden, and oak bark are widely known. To make linden infusion, one tablespoon of the flowers is enough to brew in a glass of boiling water. You can boil a couple of minutes. Drinking such a decoction is recommended at 50 grams per reception 4 times a day.
A sick sore throat will benefit from honey mixed with lemon. This mixture is added to tea. Grated ginger is sometimes added to the mixture.
Recommended for rinsing with salt-soda solutions with the addition of a drop of iodine. If you can’t stand the taste of soda, it’s better to brew oak bark and rinse with this infusion.
Honey and beekeeping products - royal milk, bee pestilence, propolis and zabrus - these are ancient methods of treatment. Especially zabrus is very useful for inflammatory diseases of the throat. The use of bee products is not dosed, but there is also no need to eat sweets beyond measure before sprinkling. You can eat as much as you feel the body needs.
One of the most effective remedies is propolis. Infusions of propolis significantly relieve inflammation. However, recall that decoctions, inhalations and rinses are not the main treatment, but additional.
In the end
So, what conclusion suggests itself from what has been said? We set out to answer the question: “Is angina transmitted?”, And why is it so dangerous. Infection is transmitted from a sick person through contact or by air. If you want to protect your child from illness, teach your baby to harden and run. Increases immunity and the use of bee products.
Angina is really more dangerous than we used to think, because it gives severe complications to the kidneys and heart. If the first symptoms are felt - the throat clenched, it hurts to swallow solid food - treatment should be started immediately. And if you feel worse immediately call the doctor on call.