Pharyngeal diseases in the initial stages are characterized by almost identical symptoms. In order for the treatment to be effective, you need to know exactly what is the cause of the discomfort in the throat. Otherwise, serious complications may appear. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner. A proper examination allows you to identify the exact cause and causative agent of the infection. How to distinguish sore throat from pharyngitis will be discussed in detail below.
general characteristics
Many people do not know how inflammatory diseases of the pharynx differ. Some even believe that pharyngitis and tonsillitis are one and the same. However, this is not the case. If you treat sore throat and pharyngitis in the same way, you can expect the most adverse effects. Such diseases lead to the development of serious complications.
Self-medication in almost any disease can be very dangerous. Especially when it comes to serious inflammatory diseases of the nasopharynx. They often become chronic. With the slightest decrease in immunity, such troubles can occur again. Therefore, it is important to know how to distinguish sore throat from pharyngitis, as well as about subsequent actions during the treatment of such ailments.
Treatment features
Infectious diseases are manifested by a number of unpleasant symptoms. Pain in the throat, inflammation of the mucous membranes, fever, general weakness and inoperability are familiar to almost everyone. When such symptoms appear, each person begins to take actions to eliminate them. Often, cough lozenges, mustard plasters, antipyretic drugs are used. But in each case, the treatment regimen should be selected individually.
Bronchitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis can be provoked by various pathogens. The reaction of the body to such infections is different. In order not to harm your health, you should definitely consult a doctor. Before he examines the patient, a number of general steps can be taken. Also, a review should consider the difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis. This will allow you to understand how important it is to carry out the treatment correctly and in a timely manner.
What is a sore throat?
Everyone should know the rules of action for infectious diseases, as well as how to distinguish sore throat or pharyngitis (a photo of an infectious disease is presented below). There are a number of features for each disease.
Angina is an inflammatory disease. It is characterized by a special place of occurrence. These are palatine tonsils. Often the inflammatory process is concentrated not only in them, but also in the throat.
If the inflammation goes further, pharyngitis may also develop. With complications, negative consequences are possible for other organs, for example, for the heart, kidneys, as well as articular tissues. Angina is also called tonsillitis. However, this is one of the varieties of this ailment. Various causes of this infection are:
- Inadequate hygiene after and during the meal (use of dishes of a person with a sore throat).
- Streptococcus hemolytic.
- Hypothermia.
- Irritation of the mucous membrane by various substances (alcohol, cigarette smoke, household dust, etc.).
- Adenoids in the nasopharynx.
- Sinusitis or other diseases of the nasopharynx.
- Infections of teeth and gums.
A similar disease develops against a background of reduced immunity. It is contagious. Moreover, in rare cases, it can be transmitted even by airborne droplets. The patient should stay at home. He should not go out, visit crowded places. The patient should have his own dishes and personal hygiene products. There are typical symptoms of this disease, which makes it possible to understand whether pharyngitis is a sore throat or not.
Symptoms
Considering how angina differs from pharyngitis, you should know the main symptoms of this ailment. The patient's body temperature rises to 38-39 ° C. Soreness appears in the throat. It is especially difficult to swallow solid, hot, spicy food. General weakness appears.
It is necessary to pay attention to the lymph nodes. They are enlarged with angina. On the tongue, tonsils, palate, hyperemia is determined. The mucous membranes become swollen, swollen. At the same time, purulent discharge appears on the tonsils. There is also bad breath.
Symptoms are like a cold. But tonsillitis is more difficult to tolerate. The average recovery period is one week.
It is also worth understanding that there are 3 subtypes of angina. They have several characteristic differences. The first type is ordinary tonsillitis. During this disease, only the tonsils in the throat are affected. Tonsillitis also belongs to the category of tonsillitis. It can be secondary (symptomatic) and specific. In the first case, the infection develops against the background of other diseases. For example, it can be diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc. Also, blood diseases can lead to the appearance of tonsillitis.
Specific tonsillitis is a special type of disease. This, for example, may be fungal tonsillitis.
Types of tonsillitis
To understand whether this is angina, pharyngitis or tonsillitis, you need to know the characteristics of each disease. However, without a proper examination, the reason can sometimes not be established even by an experienced doctor. There are several varieties of tonsillitis.
The easiest type of this ailment is catarrhal tonsillitis. Tonsils in this case are damaged only superficially. The temperature rises to 38 ° C. while intoxication of the body is moderate.
Follicular tonsillitis is manifested by suppuration of the follicles. Then they open. Purulent plaque spreads through the tonsils. It does not extend further.
Lacunar tonsillitis has a specific distribution site. These are tonsil lacunae. A purulent coating appears here that can be easily removed. No ulcers remain on the surface of the mucosa. But body temperature is very high. It can reach 39-40 ° C.
One of the most severe types is necrotic tonsillitis. The temperature rise is persistent, it is difficult to stray with medication. May be vomiting. Plaque on the tonsils is gray, may have a greenish tint. When removing it, bleeding elements form on the surface.
Herpetic tonsillitis is more common in children. Its causative agent is the Coxsackie A virus. The temperature can reach 40 ° C. Appears more painfully only in the throat, but also in the abdomen. The stool is fluid, there is vomiting. Red bubbles appear in the throat. After 4 days, they burst and disappear.
Diphtheroid tonsillitis has serious consequences. Plaque on tonsils white-yellow color, fibrous in nature. High fever, chills and severe intoxication are not the most terrible manifestations of this tonsillitis. Often it manifests itself as obvious signs of brain damage.
Phlegmonous tonsillitis is accompanied by purulent fusion of the tonsils. Most often it develops only on one side. The tonsil is swollen, hyperemic. Trism of masticatory muscles, restriction of palate mobility, asymmetry of the pharynx can be observed.
Features of pharyngitis
Considering the differences in tonsillitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis, characteristic differences should be noted. Although these diseases have a lot in common. Pharyngitis is an inflammatory process in the throat. It can be acute or chronic. With this disease, pain in the throat appears, as well as a sore throat. The discomfort in the oropharynx is quite large.
The reasons that provoke the development of pharyngitis are the inhalation of cold air, tobacco smoke, as well as the effect of alcohol on the mucous membrane. Microbes such as streptococcus and staphylococcus also often cause pharyngitis. Influenza viruses, adenoviruses can also provoke the development of this ailment. In addition, pharyngitis can be the result of tooth decay or an inflammatory process in the ear.
Pharyngitis can be bacterial or viral. The choice of treatment methodology depends on its type. In 70% of cases, the causative agent of the infection is a virus (especially rhinovirus).
Symptoms of this disease can be sore and sore when swallowing. The temperature may rise, but this rarely happens. A person feels weak. The cervical lymph nodes are enlarged. The cough is strong, persistent.
The main differences
How to distinguish a sore throat from pharyngitis and tonsillitis? There are a number of major differences. The main sign of angina is an increase in body temperature over 38 ° C. With pharyngitis, it rarely rises. Its maximum with such a disease reaches 37.5 ° C. Therefore, even on this basis, certain conclusions can be drawn.
If a person has a sore throat, the throat hurts more in the afternoon. The opposite symptoms are characterized by pharyngitis. Soreness more often appears in the morning.
With angina, it is painful to swallow any foods. Even lubricants, such as honey, do not reduce throat discomfort. Over time, it helps to overcome the pain of drinking medicinal infusions and special medications. With pharyngitis, discomfort can be reduced if you eat a little honey.
With angina, there are always signs of intoxication. In this case, the patient may have dizziness, weakness, pain in the joints and muscles. Pharyngitis is easier to carry if there is no temperature. It is characterized by fewer complications. If the sore throat is not treated correctly, pathologies of the heart, joints, kidneys, brain, etc. may appear. Therefore, it is extremely important to identify the sore throat, distinguish it from the common cold and pharyngitis and conduct a comprehensive, timely treatment.
Diagnostics
To determine whether this is a sore throat, acute pharyngitis or not, you need to undergo a full diagnosis. The causative agents of such diseases can be different. To have an effect on them, a special type of drug is required. Pathogenic bacteria, viruses must be sensitive to them.
If you have a sore throat, you need to see a doctor. He will conduct an inspection. After this, the patient passes a general blood test. During the examination, the doctor can accurately determine in which areas of the mucosa the inflammatory process develops. If it affects only the pharyngeal membrane, it is pharyngitis. If tonsils are affected, the disease is defined as tonsillitis.
To determine what pathogen caused the infection, the doctor takes a smear from the affected surfaces. Sowing is done on a nutrient medium. Then it will be possible to determine what pathogen caused the disease. Tests are made to which drugs the seeded microorganisms are sensitive. Only after this, the doctor prescribes treatment.
If the doctor has a suspicion that the patient has angina, he can do a quick test for the presence of streptococci. In this case, appropriate antibiotics are prescribed immediately.
In a blood test for pharyngitis, ESR will be slightly increased. If angina develops in the body, a large number of white blood cells is determined. ESR with such a disease is significantly increased.
Treatment of pharyngitis
Knowing the difference between pharyngitis and angina, it is worth considering the main approaches to the treatment of the disease. Self-medication can be dangerous. Therefore, treatment methods should be considered only briefly. The doctor prescribes treatment according to an individual scheme for each patient.
A patient with pharyngitis is prescribed a sparing diet. Solid, spicy and hot food is removed from the diet. Also, do not drink carbonated drinks. You can do hot foot baths, do warming dressings for the neck. With pharyngitis, warm milk with honey relieves pain well. Need to do inhalation, irrigation of the throat.
Knowing how to distinguish sore throat from pharyngitis, you can take the right pre-medical actions. The patient needs peace. It should take sick leave. With pharyngitis, antibiotics are not required if the process has no complications. It is best to use local antiseptic drugs. Most often, doctors prescribe for this purpose drugs based on iodine, chlorhexidine. If the soreness is severe, local anesthetics (e.g. lidocaine) can be applied to the inflamed mucous surfaces. If the disease does not have serious complications, the doctor prescribes absorbable tablets. It can be pharyngosept or strepsils. Aerosol formulations may also be prescribed.
Sore throat treatment
Differences in tonsillitis and pharyngitis are significant. Treatment of tonsillitis or other varieties of this ailment will be quite serious. In this case, local drugs will be ineffective. The patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics. Moreover, the doctor will prescribe exactly the drug to which the pathogen was sensitive.
Every hour you will need to gargle with medicinal decoctions (of chamomile, calendula). More effective means are solutions of furatsilina and eludril.
The throat is sprayed. For this, an inhalipt, hexoral or other similar compounds are suitable. If there are purulent formations in the tonsil region, hypertonic saline solution (10%) should be used to rinse. He draws out pus well. Also, the doctor may prescribe a throat treatment with lugol or similar drugs.
Having examined how to distinguish sore throat from pharyngitis, the features of these diseases, you can understand how important it is to start the right treatment on time. Self-medication is dangerous to human health. Therefore, a set of therapeutic procedures is prescribed by a doctor.