Angina is rightfully considered one of the most common diseases of ENT organs. The disease is accompanied by inflammation, swelling of the tonsils and the formation of purulent foci. The disease can take various forms. In modern medical practice, cases of purulent tonsillitis are often recorded. Its symptoms are very unpleasant, because patients suffer from constant sore throat, weakness and fever.
Of course, many people are looking for additional information about this disease. What are the first signs of purulent sore throat? Diagnosis and symptoms, treatment and possible complications, prevention - all these points are important, and information about them is worth exploring.
Reasons for the development of pathology
Many people, regardless of gender and age, face such a problem as purulent tonsillitis. Signs and treatment, possible complications and effective traditional medicine are, of course, important information. But first, it’s worthwhile to understand the main causes of the development of the disease.
Angina is an infectious disease that is accompanied by inflammation and further suppuration of the tonsil tissue. According to statistical studies, in most cases, the inflammatory process is associated with the activity of streptococci, although angina can develop against the background of the activity of other bacterial microorganisms and viruses.
Pathogens can enter the body from the external environment (together with air, sometimes liquid, and even food). In addition, angina is often the result of the activation of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, which occurs against the background of a weakened immune system. Based on this, we can distinguish the main risk factors:
- decreased immune system activity;
- the presence of various chronic diseases (also negatively affects immunity);
- the presence of foci of infection in the oral cavity (for example, carious teeth, inflamed gums are potentially dangerous) and paranasal sinuses;
- hypothermia (both general and local);
- smoking (irritates the tissues of the tonsils and larynx);
- alcohol abuse
- inhalation of polluted air;
- living in an unfavorable ecological environment;
- unsanitary conditions;
- hormonal disruptions (affect the functioning of the immune system);
- constant stress, nervous strain (affect the level of certain hormones).
Signs of purulent sore throat can appear under the influence of various factors. And when drawing up a therapy regimen, it is very important to consider the causes of the development of the ailment.
Purulent tonsillitis: photos, signs, general information about the clinical picture
We have already figured out the features of this disease. Many people, however, are interested in the main signs of purulent sore throat.
Symptoms, of course, will depend on many factors, in particular, the nature of the pathogen, the form and severity of the disease. Nevertheless, some common features can be highlighted.
- The main sign of purulent sore throat is a sore throat. Unpleasant sensations intensify during a conversation, when swallowing, with tension in the sky.
- Examination of the throat reveals swelling and redness of the tonsils. It is worth noting that sometimes they are so enlarged that they block the entrance to the larynx, as a result of which the patient has difficulty breathing. On the tonsils, you can notice a yellowish or gray coating, and sometimes very large ulcers.
- Symptoms include a very bad breath, the appearance of which is associated with the formation and accumulation of pus.
- There are signs of general intoxication of the body. Body temperature rises to 38-40 degrees. Patients complain of constant weakness, chills, body aches, muscle pain. There is a decrease in appetite and the appearance of nausea after eating. Some patients suffer from persistent headaches.
- Against the background of an infectious disease, there is an increase in regional lymph nodes, including parotid, submandibular and occipital.
These are the main signs of purulent tonsillitis in adults and children. Having noticed such violations, it is very important to consult a doctor. In the absence of timely therapy, the acute inflammatory process can go into a chronic form, which is much more difficult to treat.
The main forms of the disease
Signs of purulent sore throat in adults and children can be different, because the ailment is able to take different forms.
- Quite common is lacunar angina. The inflammatory process in this case affects the gaps and does not extend beyond the tonsils. Tissues swell a lot. A yellowish-white purulent plaque forms on the surface of the tonsils, which can be easily removed with a spatula. Patients suffer from constant discomfort - a simple process of swallowing is accompanied by severe, severe pain.
- Follicular tonsillitis is characterized by a lesion of the follicular apparatus. Tonsils with this form of the disease greatly swell and become covered with plaque. The process of swallowing is accompanied by pain, which often gives into the ear. Purulent foci in the absence of therapy merge with the edges, forming large abscesses.
Signs of purulent tonsillitis in children
Purulent sore throat in a child proceeds with the same classic symptoms described above. Nevertheless, children are more prone to this disease due to the incompletely formed immune system. In addition, the baby can not always report the onset of the first symptoms.
Tonsil inflammation in a child often proceeds more severely than in an adult. A sharp increase in body temperature up to 39-40 degrees is characteristic. Children become restless, irritable, often cry, lose their appetite. According to statistics, the inflammatory process with tonsils often passes to the ears and paranasal sinuses - purulent tonsillitis in patients of the pediatric department is very often complicated by sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis media and other pathologies.
Diagnostic measures
An experienced otolaryngologist, of course, can immediately notice the signs of purulent sore throat. The causes of the disease are another issue that needs to be clarified during diagnosis, since the treatment regimen depends on this in many respects.
As a rule, a throat examination is sufficient to suspect the presence of a sore throat. The tonsils of the patient swell and acquire a red tint, are covered with a whitish or yellowish coating. Lymph nodes are enlarged. The body temperature is increased, the skin of the face and lips becomes dry.
The patient submits blood samples for analysis (an increase in the number of leukocytes indicates the presence of an inflammatory process) and urine (against the background of tonsillitis, the level of albumin in the urine often rises). The swab from the throat is also informative - during a laboratory study, you can accurately determine the nature of the pathogen.
Possible complications
It is immediately worth noting that in no case should you ignore the signs of purulent sore throat. Diagnosis and timely therapy help to cope with the disease and avoid negative consequences. Nevertheless, the development of complications is possible, and their list needs to be familiarized with.
- A very common complication of tonsillitis is otitis media. The fact is that the infection spreads easily through the Eustachian tubes, affecting the middle ear.
- Against the background of an infectious disease, lymph nodes often enlarge. There is a chance of inflammation, which is very dangerous.
- Symptoms include paratonsillitis. The disease is accompanied by the accumulation of a large number of purulent masses near the affected tonsils. With a similar disease, abscesses must be cleaned, and the tissues washed with an antiseptic solution.
- Purulent tonsillitis is often complicated by disorders of the cardiovascular system. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms from the tissues of the affected tonsils often together with the blood stream enter the myocardium - this forms the focus of inflammation. In the absence of timely therapy, angina can be complicated by rheumatic heart diseases.
- Sometimes the inflammatory process in the tonsils is complicated by the formation of a pharyngeal abscess. According to statistics, in most cases, a similar pathology is diagnosed in children. In the lymph nodes around the pharynx, pus accumulates. Swollen lymph nodes and tissues sometimes completely block the larynx, which does not allow the patient to breathe normally. Other symptoms of pathology include a sharp increase in temperature, cough, sore throat, which increases with swallowing. In this case, it is very important to diagnose the disease in time - you can not do without surgical intervention.
- If the infection enters the maxillary sinuses, the development of sinusitis and sinusitis is possible.
- Other complications are possible. Purulent tonsillitis is sometimes complicated by laryngitis, septic arthritis, various kidney diseases (including glomerulonephritis).
The appearance of the first signs of purulent sore throat is a good reason to consult a doctor. In the absence of adequate therapy, the development of the above complications is possible. In addition, it is very important to observe bed rest, take all the necessary medicines and clearly follow the doctor’s instructions, since infectious processes in the tonsils can negatively affect the work of the whole body.
Treatment for various forms of angina
Of course, the treatment regimen directly depends on the form of the disease, the nature of the pathogen and the severity of symptoms.
- Since in most cases angina develops against the background of bacterial activity, antibiotics are prescribed for patients. Such drugs as Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Erythromycin, Clindamycin are considered effective.
- Sometimes antibiotics are additionally used in the form of throat sprays. The most popular drug from this group is Bioporox. The medicine makes it possible to treat the tissues of the tonsils with an antibiotic.
- In the most severe cases, corticosteroids are included in the treatment regimen. These medications help to quickly relieve swelling and pain, have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties.
- Medications containing paracetamol or ibuprofen help relieve fever and relieve sore throat.
- The treatment regimen necessarily includes special lozenges, in particular, “Lisobakt”, “Travisil”, “Faringosept”, “Septefril”. These drugs have antiseptic properties, help relieve pain and swelling of the throat. Sometimes sprays are used instead of tablets, in particular Stopangin, Miramistin.
- Antihistamines (Tavegil, Suprastin) help relieve laryngeal edema and facilitate breathing.
- If angina is associated with a dry cough, then cough syrups, for example, Doctor Mom, Erespal, Fluditek, may be additionally included in the treatment regimen.
How can you gargle?
During therapy, it is very important to treat the tonsils with antiseptic solutions - this will help relieve swelling and inflammation, slow down the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
- An effective solution is furatsilina - you just need to dissolve the tablet in a glass of warm water and gargle.
- In the pharmacy you can buy a ready-made solution of chlorophyllipt. A teaspoon of the purchased liquid should be diluted in a glass of warm water and used to rinse.
- Chlorhexidine and Stomatidin are excellent antiseptics. They can be used to rinse the throat in a clean, undiluted form.
- In addition, you can simply treat the throat and tissues of the oral cavity with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of lugol.
In any case, you need to understand that with purulent sore throat you need to gargle every two hours - this will significantly speed up the healing process.
Alternative methods of treatment
Of course, traditional medicine offers a huge number of recipes to help cope with angina. The most effective are gargling solutions.
- Propolis has valuable properties. You just need to add a few drops of propolis in a glass of warm water - and the solution is ready.
- To rinse the oral cavity and throat, chamomile broth can also be used, since it has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties.
- You can prepare a herbal collection by mixing equal amounts of chamomile, calendula and hypericum flowers. A tablespoon of the mixture is poured with a glass of boiling water, infused and filtered. A warm solution is great for gargling.
Prophylactic agents
We have already considered the main signs of purulent tonsillitis. Treatment and symptoms, diagnosis and possible complications are, of course, important information. But it is worth learning about how to prevent the development of the disease.
Unfortunately, some kind of special prevention does not exist. Nevertheless, doctors recommend adhering to some rules:
- It is important to avoid hypothermia. In hot weather, do not abuse ice cream or drinks from the refrigerator, as a sharp cooling of the throat can lead to the activation of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms.
- Doctors recommend strengthening the immune system. Proper nutrition, appropriate physical activity, walks in the fresh air, hardening, taking vitamins - all this will help strengthen the body's defense.
- All diseases of the oral cavity and teeth (including caries) should respond to therapy on time. It is important to use special mouthwashes (if necessary, they can be replaced with a weak solution of soda or salt) - they help clean tissues from bacteria.
Of course, noticing the first signs of purulent sore throat, you need to contact a specialist. The sooner therapy is started, the higher the likelihood of a quick and complete recovery without consequences.