Catarrhal pharyngitis is an acute or chronic disease that is expressed as inflammation of the lymphoid tissue in the throat. Most often, the incidence of pharyngitis increases sharply in the cold season due to low air temperature, weakened immunity, seasonal deficiency of vitamins in the body of people, a large number of patients with acute respiratory diseases.
The main causes of pharyngitis
According to statistics, 75-80% of cases of this disease are due to the activity of pathogenic microorganisms (viruses) and bacteria, which include:
- rhinoviruses and flu;
- herpes simplex;
- Coxsackie or Epstein-Barr viruses;
- enterovirus, cytomegalovirus;
- bacteria: streptococci, pneumococci.
Also, catarrhal pharyngitis can develop against the background of acute respiratory viral infections and due to the introduction of fungi into the throat.
Such forms of the disease can only be determined accurately by an analysis: a throat swab. Regardless of the reasons that caused it, pharyngitis tends to develop the disease in a downward direction, causing inflammation not only of the throat, but also of the upper respiratory tract.
Non-Infectious Causes of Pharyngitis
There are other causes of acute catarrhal pharyngitis:
- allergic reactions or chemicals;
- the consequences of past diseases in the esophagus and stomach;
- alcohol abuse, heavy smoking, taking too cold / hot food or drinks;
- some changes in the mucous membrane of the throat after surgery to remove the tonsils, atrophy of the pharynx;
- difficulty breathing through the nose due to excessive use of drops with a vasoconstrictor effect, improper anatomy of the nasal passages;
- with prolonged runny nose, when an inflammatory secret constantly gets into the throat and brings an infection;
- lack of vitamin A in the body;
- hormonal changes (puberty in adolescents, menopause in women, diseases of the endocrine system);
- decreased immunity, diseases of the autoimmune system.
Complications after pharyngitis
Acute catarrhal pharyngitis becomes chronic with improper treatment and neglected condition, with frequent exacerbations that cannot be treated with conventional therapeutic methods. In chronic pharyngitis, there is a large accumulation of mucus on the walls of the throat, crusts form, and the mucous membrane is gradually thinning, which can cause a feeling of constant discomfort.
Another unpleasant consequence of improper treatment of catarrhal pharyngitis may be the development of a purulent form of the disease against the background of a bacterial infection. It can form during the propagation of fungi in the pharynx.
Catarrhal pharyngitis: symptoms
The acute form of pharyngitis can be recognized by the following signs:
- pain when swallowing, sore throat;
- unpleasant sensation of a foreign body;
- a slight increase in temperature;
- dry tearing cough;
- muscle, joint, and head pains;
- general feeling of pain, fatigue, chills.
Unpleasant sensations arise with redness and swelling of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, often they are accompanied by inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, under the jaw or ears.
In chronic catarrhal pharyngitis, the symptoms are less pronounced: with a general well-being, unpleasant sensations in the throat are observed: sore, itchy, there is a frequent dry cough. Due to a long and sticky cough, some patients feel nervous irritation, there may be sleep disturbances.
Treatment of acute and chronic forms of pharyngitis
When accepting a patient, the doctor, based on his complaints and visual examination of the throat and pharynx, makes a preliminary diagnosis, focusing also on questioning the patient about his lifestyle, smoking or alcohol abuse, professional activity, and mental state. Also, the doctor usually takes a swab from the throat to identify the cause and causative agent of the disease.
Treatment of acute catarrhal pharyngitis is prescribed based on the results of a medical examination and clarification of the cause. If the disease is caused by bacteria, then antibiotics may be prescribed; with the viral form - treatment of unpleasant symptoms is carried out in combination with vitamins and means of increasing immunity.
How to treat catarrhal pharyngitis? The set of measures and regulations includes:
- diet food, in which you can not eat foods that irritate the mucous membrane of the throat (hot and cold, salty, smoked, spicy);
- nutrition recommendations: you need to drink at least 2 liters of warm liquid per day, preferably milk or tea with honey, which have analgesic and enveloping effects;
- limiting the effects of harmful substances on the throat (alcohol and tobacco);
- regular gargling or inhalation using anti-inflammatory herbal infusions or drugs (Chlorophyllipt, Furacilin, Miramistin, Rotokan);
- the use of sprays to relieve pain and reduce the frequency of coughing (based on chlorhexidine, iodine preparations, etc.), also with the bacterial form, sprays with antibiotics (Bioparox) or sulfonamides (Ingalipt, Biokarmint) are prescribed. Sprays "Imudon" and "Hexoral" are active against a number of bacteria and fungi, they are prescribed only as directed by the attending physician;
- resorption of candies or lozenges that act on bacteria and viruses, relieve inflammation and soften the pharyngeal mucosa (Septollet, Neo-angina, Pharyngosept, etc.);
- preparations containing iodine are prescribed carefully, taking into account a possible allergic reaction ("Iodinol", "Yoks", "Povidone-iodine").
Pharyngitis in children
Acute pharyngitis in children is much more common than in adults because of their reduced immunity. Acute catarrhal pharyngitis in a child younger than 2 years old is usually combined with inflammation of the nasal mucosa and rhinitis. It is manifested by high temperature (up to + 38º), lethargy and sleep disturbances, more severe course of the disease.
In older children, pharyngitis does not have such striking symptoms: sore throat and sore throat, coughing, etc. Acute pharyngitis in children is usually accompanied by runny nose or conjunctivitis.
The danger is that symptoms of redness of the posterior pharyngeal wall, similar to the manifestation of pharyngitis, can be a manifestation of other diseases: intestinal infections, mononucleosis, infectious diseases (measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, etc.), a mechanical burn of the throat, or ingestion of a foreign body.
In children, complications of catarrhal pharyngitis can be quite severe: the disease provokes swelling of the larynx and, as a result, the occurrence of suffocation. Therefore, parents should vigilantly monitor the condition of children, especially young children.
Treatment of the disease in children
The general principles of treatment for a child are similar to the treatment of pharyngitis in adults. The child can gargle with herbal decoctions, soda, apply lubrication of the back wall with “Iodinol” or “Lugol” solutions, dissolve lozenges that relieve pain and destroy bacteria (“Laryngopront”, “Falimint”, “Strepsils”), spray the throat with sprays ( "Yoks", "Ingalipt", "Bioparox") and carry out inhalation.
A throat swab is required to determine the cause of the disease.
It is very important to maintain an optimal microclimate in the room of the sick baby, which helps to alleviate the general condition:
- increased humidity in the room, you can use humidifiers or put wet towels on the radiators;
- prevent the ingress of dust, odor and tobacco smoke, polluted air;
- after improving the general condition, walk in the fresh air (in the warm season).
In children under the age of 1 year, due to the inability to rinse or use absorbable lozenges, the treatment of pharyngitis consists of the following procedures:
- wetting the throat and washing the nose with antiseptic solutions (Humer, Aquamaris, etc.);
- plentiful warm drink;
- with bacterial complications, the therapist prescribes antibiotics.
Treatment of pharyngitis with medications
Treatment of pharyngitis in adults and children depends on the form of the disease and the causes of its occurrence. If after the tests it turns out that the cause is bacteria or viruses, the attending physician, as a rule, prescribes a course of taking medications.
Depending on the form of the disease, the following medications are prescribed:
- if the bacterial form of the disease is confirmed by analysis, the pediatrician prescribes a course of antibiotics (10 days) - Azithromycin, Penicillin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin;
- with the viral origin of the disease - antiviral drugs ("Arbidol", "Anaferon", "Interferon", etc.);
- with fungal form - antifungal drugs ("Nystatin", "Pimafucin");
- with an allergic form - antihistamines are prescribed (Fenistil, Loratadin, etc.).
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of catarrhal pharyngitis with folk remedies is primarily aimed at relieving inflammation and sore throat, softening its mucous membrane.
The main folk methods:
- lubrication of the pharynx with emollient solutions (a mixture of vegetable oil with salt, a mixture of 10% propolis tincture and sea buckthorn oil in a ratio of 1: 2);
- rinse with herbal infusions;
- inhalation: steam or using special inhalers.
Medicinal drinks that will be useful for pharyngitis:
- tea with raspberries, viburnum and honey;
- rosehip broth;
- St. John's wort infusion.
Using herbs to rinse
Parents often check with the pediatrician, the better to gargle with pharyngitis for children, is it possible to use herbal preparations. Of course, all herbal decoctions or tinctures are effective for local treatment of throat and cough. They can be used in the form of a rinse, as well as inhalations.
For gargling in children over 2 years of age and adults, the following herbal mixtures are usually used:
- Calendula and chamomile flowers, plantain and sage leaves.
- Dandelion flowers, pine buds, plantain and birch leaves.
- Flowers of chamomile, St. John's wort, sage leaves, oregano.
- An infusion of 20 g of coniferous buds, drenched in a glass of boiling water, is used for acute pharyngitis.
- Calamus root (1 tbsp. L) boil for 10 minutes. with 2 tbsp. water, put 1 tbsp. l camomile, mix, insist 1 hour - a good tool to soften the mucosa and relieve inflammation in chronic pharyngitis.
- Peppermint infusion (1 tbsp. In a glass of boiling water) will relieve pain and sore throat.
- Pharmacy tinctures of eucalyptus, calendula (20-30 cap. Per glass of warm water).
- Rinsing with a solution of sea salt (1 tablespoon per 0.5 liter of water) 6-7 times a day for a week is one of the proven treatments for the chronic form of the disease.
Inhalations with decoctions of herbs or with propolis (40 g of wax and
60 g of propolis are steamed).
Prevention of Pharyngitis
Preventive measures to prevent catarrhal pharyngitis, as well as to prevent its spread, are as follows:
- both adults and children - observe personal hygiene, wash their hands, especially after walking or moving in transport, before eating food;
- the patient in the family should be allocated separate cutlery: plates, spoons, cups;
- children should be taught to cover their mouth with a palm when sneezing or coughing, regularly wash handkerchiefs or use disposable ones;
- sick children should limit contact with healthy children: you must not attend kindergarten or school until recovery.
The main rules for the prevention of diseases of the throat and respiratory tract for adults and children: a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking, increasing general immunity with vitamins and tempering procedures.