In life, every person is forced to face various ailments. Sometimes people do not pay attention to a slight deterioration in their health. However, there are many diseases that may not be so active.
Chronic tonsillopharyngitis is a rather serious pathology, during which the tonsils are affected. The disease does not proceed unnoticed, so if you find the first unpleasant signs, you should immediately contact a specialist. If the treatment is done in a timely manner, then there is every chance that a person will be able to fully recover.
About pathology
Tonsillitis, which is often called tonsillitis, is a consequence of inflammation of the tonsils of the palatine zone. As a rule, this occurs against the background of the activity of harmful bacteria that enter the human body. This pathology is accompanied by increased body temperature, pain not only in the throat, but also in the muscles and joints.
If inflammation of the mucous membranes in the acute form is diagnosed, then in this case we are talking about pharyngitis. It is most often caused by viruses. Sometimes a bacterial infection occurs.
However, very often, in addition to inflammation of the tonsils, an inflammatory process is observed, which is localized on the posterior walls of the pharynx. Sometimes this leads to the fact that the tonsils are anatomically too close to the pharynx. In some cases, the problem lies in the special structure of the tissues. Therefore, today in medical practice, chronic tonsillopharyngitis is more and more common, the symptoms and treatment of which have their own characteristics.
Causes of pathology
In more than 70% of tonsillopharyngitis occurs against the background of the penetration of viruses. As a rule, the most common pathogen is ARVI, but the likelihood of pathology due to herpes simplex is not ruled out. Also, the disease can provoke rubella, measles and Epstein-Bar. In all other cases, bacterial pathogens cause tonsillopharyngitis. These include group A streptococci. Least of all, doctors diagnose a pathology that has appeared against the background of the causative bacteria of syphilis, whooping cough, gonorrhea and others.
If we talk about chronic tonsillopharyngitis in adults and children, then up to the age of three children suffer from viral diseases. As they grow older, the likelihood of a bacterial lesion increases.
It is also worth considering the main factors that lead to the development of pathology and inflammatory processes. Chronic tonsillopharyngitis may appear in the background:
- Immunodeficiency Most often, this happens due to pathologies that occur in the digestive tract.
- Violations of the functions of some internal organs. As a rule, those who suffer from heart, lung, or kidney failure are at greatest risk for the disease.
- Endocrine disorders. Therefore, those who suffer from diabetes mellitus and hypothyroidism are most careful in their health.
- A lack of vitamins of groups A and C. Also, problems can arise due to metabolic disorders.
- Severe diseases of the somatic type.
- Bad environmental conditions.
- Non-compliance with standard hygiene recommendations.
- Bad habits (smoking, abuse of strong drinks).
Symptomatology
If we talk about the manifestations of tonsillopharyngitis of a chronic type, then the pathology can manifest itself in different ways. However, in the first place it is worth paying attention to the appearance of tickle in the throat. If the discomfort does not disappear after a few days, then you should visit a doctor.
Also, symptoms of chronic tonsillopharyngitis include strong pain in the throat, the appearance of swelling in the nasopharynx. Also, do not close your eyes to the appearance of constant weakness and a sweat of performance. An increase in temperature does not always appear.
If the patient leads to an exacerbation of chronic tonsillopharyngitis, then there is a risk that purulent plugs form in the pharynx and severe discomfort appears in the glands. Patients notice an unpleasant "aroma" from the mouth. After drinking and eating, pain intensifies.
If we talk about additional symptoms of chronic tonsillopharyngitis during pregnancy, then in this situation, patients have severe pain and aches in the knee and wrist canals. Shortness of breath and slight fever may appear, which can last up to one week.
The course of the disease in adults and children is not different. If you do not conduct timely treatment, especially during the period of bearing the baby, then this pathology is fraught with serious complications. In the most severe cases, even surgical intervention may be required.
How is the disease transmitted?
There are several options for how pathology can be obtained. There is an exogenous and endogenous mode of transmission of the disease. The airborne method refers to an exogenous group. In this case, we are talking about the fact that the bacteria of tonsillopharyngitis are transmitted by inhalation of contaminated air. Also in this group of transmission of microbes is contact contamination. For example, if a patient touched a household item and after that a healthy person touched them, then he has every chance of getting an unpleasant ailment. There is also a small chance that the specialist used improperly processed medical equipment that was used for diagnostic procedures or treatment.
If we are talking about the endogenous route of infection, then in this case we are talking about the fact that bacteria and harmful viruses spread through the human body by lymph and blood, as well as cerebrospinal fluid.
Chronic tonsillopharyngitis may well develop due to the fact that a person for a long time did not treat pathologies that occur in the nasopharynx, with diseases of the auditory analyzer and even if the patient did not respond to the treatment of advanced caries. The virus can also pass from another organ that is located nearby.
It is worth noting that after the virus enters the human body, tonsillopharyngitis does not begin to appear immediately. First, the immune system weakens. Other factors can also accelerate the development of pathology.
Pathology classification
A method for treating chronic tonsillopharyngitis depends on what phase the pathology is in. In medical practice, there is not only a chronic, but also an acute form of the disease. In addition, the pathology can be primary or secondary. The first category includes an ailment that develops as an independent process. Often this is observed in children. If the first manifestations of the disease appeared too late, then in this case, the pathology can lead to more serious complications.
If we are talking about the secondary form of the disease, then in this case the inflammatory processes of the pharynx appear due to infectious diseases. Also, tonsillopharyngitis can occur in a mild form, with or without complications.
Diagnostics
First of all, it’s worth understanding that it’s not worth doing self-medication and diagnostics on the Internet. Even if a person carefully studied all the manifestations of chronic tonsillopharyngitis, photos of sick patients and other features, he still can not accurately determine the form of the disease and its stage. Therefore, it is better to consult a specialist.
First of all, the doctor conducts a survey and clarifies with the patient the complete liver of the symptoms that torment him. It is also necessary to pass a test for hyperemia and the appearance of swelling of the mucous membrane or palatine arches.
It is also worth examining the patient's throat. If there is a coating on it, then it must be analyzed by a specialist. In addition, spot hemorrhages may appear on the mucosa. The doctor tries to remove the unpleasant plaque with a spatula and carefully examines its consistency. It also assesses the condition of the arch, tongue and pharyngeal wall.
Additionally, a bacteriological examination of throat swabs, as well as tonsils, may be required. The nasopharynx flora is checked. The doctor conducts tests for sensitivity to certain antibacterial agents.
You also need to donate blood for a general analysis. If the level of leukocytes is increased, then this confirms the presence of inflammatory processes in the patient's body.
Hospitalization
If chronic tonsillopharyngitis is diagnosed in adults without fever and other complications, then, as a rule, you can limit yourself to medications and use alternative medicine recipes as additional therapy. Children are also more likely to receive treatment at home.
Hospitalization may be required if the patient suffers from severe intoxication, abscesses, phlegmon on the neck, and the development of mediastinitis.
Standard treatment for tonsillopharyngitis
As a rule, in this case complex therapy is required. First of all, it is important to identify the etiology of pathology. Based on diagnostic tests, the doctor selects the necessary etiotropic drugs. It is important to stop the reproduction and growth of bacteria in a timely manner. As a rule, several types of drugs are used to stop the disease:
- Penicillins. These funds are considered the least toxic, so they can be taken by children and pregnant women. To funds of this type include "Oxacillin", "Ampicillin" and others.
- Macrolides. Most often, doctors prefer Erythromycin and Azithromycin.
- Cephalosporins. Means of this type most effectively cope with meningococci and streptococci.
Treatment of chronic tonsillopharyngitis may also include antibiotic therapy. This is necessary in order to prevent possible complications that affect the work of the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system. Also, antibiotics help get rid of the pathology in its early stages.
Chronic tonsillopharyngitis: treatment with folk remedies
In some situations, it is possible to stop the development of the disease in children and adults with the help of traditional medicine. The most effective method in this case is the use of inhalation. However, it should be borne in mind that such manipulations should not be performed if the patient suffers from heat.
As a rule, the most effective are not the usual inhalations using table soda and potatoes, but other recipes. For example, you should use dry chamomile flowers. To prepare a therapeutic solution, it is necessary to fill in a handful of herbs with water and boil. At this time, you need to mix half a glass of vodka and a few tablespoons of natural honey. When the chamomile flowers reach a boil, the liquids mix and heat a little over low heat. The patient should breathe over the resulting composition, covering his head with a towel, for at least 20 minutes. The course of treatment is usually not more than 4 days. However, care must be taken not to inhale the hot steam too actively so as not to burn the mucous membranes. Since alcohol is present in this recipe, this treatment is recommended only for adults. If we are talking about a child, then you can prepare a different composition.
Treatment of a child with folk remedies
In this case, it is worth using several recipes. For example, you can mix 4 tablespoons of marshmallow root and one spoonful of sweet clover, calendula and chamomile. It is also worth adding to the mixture about 10 g of thyme and St. John's wort. The resulting collection is poured with a glass of boiling water and insist it for about 20 minutes. After that, the liquid is filtered and used to rinse the throat. Children are advised to perform procedures twice a day.
Also, calendula and chamomile flowers will help to cope with an unpleasant ailment. You need to mix 2 tablespoons of each herb and add about 20 g of eucalyptus foliage. The composition is filled with 400 ml of water, boiled and infused for 30 minutes. After this, the liquid must be filtered and used to treat the affected tonsils.
For the treatment of a chronic form of pathology, you can use dried sage (about 4 tablespoons), to which 4 chopped garlic cloves are added. The resulting composition is poured with a liter of water. The liquid is infused for at least two hours, after which it is kept on low heat for about 15 minutes. At the next stage, the composition is cooled and filtered. The finished medicine should be drunk ¼ cup several times a day.
However, it should be borne in mind that in the advanced stage of pathology, independent treatment may be ineffective. Therefore, you should first visit a doctor. This is especially true in situations where problems are observed in the child. Sometimes it’s better not to risk it and take a course of treatment with medicines, even if it comes to antibiotics and other stronger drugs.