Pharyngitis is a disease in which, due to the inflammatory process, the lymphoid tissue and mucous membrane of the throat are affected. The disease often goes away with inflammation of all parts of the upper respiratory tract. How to treat pharyngitis at home? We will discuss this in our article today.
general information
This disease is similar in symptoms to other diseases of the throat. For pharyngitis are characteristic: sore throat, perspiration, dry throat cough. If the first signs of pharyngitis occur , you should seek medical help. Since a timely diagnosis and proper treatment will lead to a successful recovery. Untreated pharyngitis is very dangerous. It can go into chronic forms with complications that can spread a pathogenic infection throughout the body and affect other organs and tissues.
Causes of pharyngitis
The cause of pharyngitis can be a viral, bacterial infection or fungi of the genus Candida. The most common viral inflammation of the pharynx. The causative agents of pharyngitis can be: adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, coronovirus and others. Any respiratory infection is accompanied by pharyngitis. A bacterial infection of the pharynx is not so common, but it brings a lot of inconvenience to the patient. Pharyngitis can cause bacteria such as streptococcus, neisseria, mycoplasma and chlamydia. Various provoking factors increase the likelihood of the onset of the disease and the severity of the syndromes. Such factors include tobacco smoking, alcoholism, severe hypothermia, polluted air.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pharyngitis are similar to all other diseases of the throat. Here are the most common ones:
- Dry and sore throat.
- It hurts to swallow and talk.
- Feeling of a lump in the throat.
- Weakness and malaise.
- The temperature may rise.
- Sometimes the pain can spread to the ears.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Throat cough.
- Surrounding and close relatives may get sick.
With a visual examination of the throat, you can notice the loose mucous membrane, the bright red walls of the pharynx and enlarged palatine tonsils.
The main signs of pharyngitis can be supplemented by those characteristic of other acute respiratory diseases: runny nose, cough, aching bones, skin rashes.
Diagnostics
When the first signs of the disease appear, seek qualified help. The specialist, first of all, visually examines the patient's oral cavity and pharynx. In some cases, pharyngoscopy is performed. In order to find out which pathogenic microorganisms caused the disease, laboratory tests are carried out (blood test, bacteriological culture).
Types of Pharyngitis
Conventionally, pharyngitis is divided into several types and forms. Depending on the reasons that influenced the appearance of the disease, pharyngitis is divided into caused by: viruses, bacteria, fungi, allergic reactions, injuries and chronic.
How to treat pharyngitis at home? Therapy will depend on the type of disease. Depending on the nature of the disease, pharyngitis is divided into:
- Catarrhal. Such a disease is characterized by sore throat, sore and swallowing pain. A large amount of viscous mucus accumulates in the throat. In the morning, mucus provokes a strong cough, before vomiting. When examining the throat, severe swelling, an increase in the mucous membrane and the appearance of pus on it are noted.
- Hypertrophic. This type of disease is characterized by the appearance of epithelial hypertrophy. Dense patches with granules and outgrowths can form on the epithelium. Enlarged vessels may occur that create a specific pattern. Symptoms are similar to symptoms of catarrhal pharyngitis. A distinctive feature of this type of pharyngitis is a reflex cough.
- Granular. A distinctive feature of this type of disease is constant tickling and scratching in the throat, nightly attacks of coughing and spasms in the throat. Granular pharyngitis leads to damage to the lymph tissue, as a result of which the back of the pharynx is strewn with small red nodules. With untimely treatment, granular pharyngitis can take the form of atrophic.
- Atrophic. This type of pharyngitis is the final stage of this ailment. At this stage, progressive sclerosis of the organs of the pharyngeal mucosa is formed. The mucus becomes very dense, viscous and dries up with the formation of dense crusts. The back wall of the pharynx acquires a pale color and dries.
Treatment
How to treat pharyngitis at home for an adult or child? You need to start therapy from the first days of the disease. Neglected, acute forms of pharyngitis can turn into severe and chronic.
The foundation in the treatment of pharyngitis is the use of local therapy. Gargling 3-4 times a day. It helps cleanse and moisturize the damaged larynx. Well remove the symptoms of sore throat special sprays or lozenges. Steam or inhalation with a nebulizer reduces swelling of the pharynx and inhibits the activity of the pathogenic microorganisms that caused the disease.
So, how to treat pharyngitis at home quickly? In order to recover faster and multiply the result of medicines, you must follow certain rules:
- Voice calm. Try not to talk or speak in a quiet voice, without straining the vocal cords. You can not scream and sing.
- Try not to expose the body to low temperatures, do not breathe cold, windy air. If possible, do not go outside during fog.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Exclude smoking.
- Very hot, cold and spicy foods should not be included in your diet.
- Wet cleaning in the room and frequent airing.
- Get rid of a runny nose that makes nasal breathing difficult.
- Drink as much warm liquid as possible (tea, compote, decoction of herbs).
Home remedies for pharyngitis
Before proceeding with self-medication, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. And only after the specialist explains how to treat pharyngitis at home, you can begin treatment. To facilitate swallowing, gargle with infusion of chamomile, eucalyptus and sage. Use these herbs also for steam inhalation. The use of warm foot baths with the addition of mustard powder and soda has a beneficial effect in the treatment of painful pharyngeal syndromes. Such baths are done in the evening, after they put on warm socks and go to bed. In addition, during any acute respiratory illness, it is necessary to fully support the immune system. To do this, you need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Drink herbal infusions and teas with honey, lemon and ginger.
It is worth paying attention that such methods of treatment are suitable only for mild forms of the disease. And only a doctor can answer the question of how to treat acute pharyngitis at home. Since in the treatment of acute forms of this disease, the use of drugs is mandatory.
People suffering from various kinds of allergies should carefully try new recipes and treatments at home.
When for several days of self-medication the patient does not feel better, and the symptoms of pharyngitis intensify, you should seek medical help.
Treatment of atrophic pharyngitis
Therapy of atrophic pharyngitis is based on the elimination of harmful microorganisms that provoked the disease. For the treatment of acute forms of atrophic pharyngitis, Novocain blockade, moxibustion, and physiotherapy are used. If the cause of atrophic pharyngitis was a bacterial or fungal infection, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. To relieve symptoms, you need to know how to treat atrophic pharyngitis at home. For this, frequent rinsing and lubrication of the pharynx are suitable. The selection of such funds should be based on several principles:
- The drug should have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects.
- It should stay as long as possible on the mucous membrane of the throat;
- Do not cause an allergic reaction.
- Do not cause irritation or dryness of the mucous membrane of the throat.
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis
When pharyngitis has acquired a chronic form due to the presence of other diseases, the first thing to do is to carefully treat these ailments. With severe symptoms of a chronic disease, antibiotics are prescribed. To understand how to treat chronic pharyngitis at home, first of all, you need to eliminate all the factors that affect the development of the chronic form of this disease. These factors include: alcohol, smoking, polluted air. Suffering from chronic pharyngitis should adhere to a special diet. It is necessary to refuse very hot or cold food. Spicy, sour and very salty foods are also prohibited. During periods of exacerbation of the disease, it is worth drinking as much warm liquid as possible. But the drink should be just warm, not hot.
Treatment of pharyngitis in children
The doctor should treat the pharyngitis in children. He will conduct a visual examination of the child, examine the medical history and give a referral for tests. After this, the specialist will be able to prescribe competent therapy. Only a doctor should decide on the need for antibiotics or antiviral drugs. At an appointment with an ENT doctor or a pediatrician, it is worthwhile to clarify how to treat pharyngitis at home for a child. Since a child under 3 years old has a severe form of the disease and is often accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx with a catarrhal runny nose and almost all folk remedies are not suitable for young children, independent treatment of the child can lead to serious complications.
Treatment of pharyngitis in adults
As soon as the first signs of malaise appear, you should consult a doctor. A qualified specialist will be able to correctly answer the question of how to treat pharyngitis in adults. He will prescribe the necessary medications and explain the methods of application and their dosage. Well-recommended drugs with the addition of propolis and local antibiotics ("Bioparox" and others). At home, you can carry out steam inhalation with the addition of honey and propolis. It will have a local effect on the inflamed area, soothe a cough and relieve spasm of the pharynx. In combination with inhalations, you can carry out foot baths, warm compresses and frequent gargling.
The consequences of pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is a serious disease that requires compulsory treatment. Since advanced forms of this disease can lead to various pathologies and serious complications. Pharyngitis can lead to lymphoiditis, sepsis, and damage to the heart and joints. The consequences depend on the stability of the immune system, the hostility of provoking factors and the treatment. An untreated disease can result in complications such as:
- Peritonsillar and pharyngeal abscesses. The result of a running bacterial infection is suppuration, which occupy the entire space of the pharynx, passing to the areas of the teeth and ears.
- Inflammation of the inner ear. When an infection moves uncontrollably through the body, it can enter the auditory tube and cause inflammation.
- Laryngitis, tracheitis and other respiratory diseases.
- Rheumatism and heart disease. When streptococci served as the cause of pharyngitis, the body begins to develop antibodies against these pathogens. And since the microstructural parts of streptococci are similar to the structure of the joints and myocardium, their gradual destruction occurs.
Output
Acute pharyngitis is a throat disease that cannot be ignored. Since this disease can have several causes, the treatment should be different and well-chosen. A specialist can diagnose the cause of the disease. And only he can solve the question of how to treat pharyngitis at home, and the advisability of using antiviral or antibacterial drugs. Proper treatment will help to avoid serious complications and pathologies.