Viral throat disease in winter is a common occurrence. It can be caused by an adenovirus infection, and in children it is often a complication of measles or flu. In any case, you can not leave it unattended.
A sore throat with a viral disease is its most important symptom. At the same time, it can be quite strong, and with an adenovirus infection it even prevents a person from drinking, which leads to dehydration of the body. Other symptoms characteristic of viral diseases are also observed. This, for example, is a general deterioration in well-being and weakness.
How to distinguish one ailment from another?
How to determine a throat disease is viral or bacterial, is of interest to many parents. Of course, only a doctor can make a diagnosis in each specific situation. But there are some nuances that parents themselves must remember.
Bacterial infection always gives a strong inflammatory process. If it is localized in the tonsils of the pharynx, it is called tonsillitis, if on the pharyngeal mucosa - pharyngitis. The cause of both of these may be a viral infection. But if there is a microbial lesion, then the sore throat appears very quickly, and the temperature rises greatly, up to a fever (with a viral infection, the increase will be small).
Bacterial diseases develop very quickly. It happens that a person feels completely normal in the morning, at the same time he already experiences severe pain by lunch, and difficulty swallowing may occur. With a viral infection, your well-being worsens gradually.
But to say exactly what kind of problem a person is faced in a particular case can only be a doctor - after laboratory tests. Indeed, in addition to viral and bacterial infections, there may also be fungal infection.
Major diseases
There are various viral sore throats in adults. To understand the symptoms, you need to consider each separately. However, we recall once again that the final diagnosis should be made by the doctor. Moreover, pulling with a visit to a specialist is fraught with a deterioration in well-being and the development of pathologies.
Adenovirus infection
It is accompanied by severe sore throat and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes.
The throat hurts in the same way as with mononucleosis, swallowing is painful, and, as noted above, dehydration of the body may occur.
The main signs of this disease include:
- gradual development of pain;
- noticeable deterioration in general condition;
- the appearance of headaches, sometimes muscles and joints also hurt;
- fatigue, weakness.
The temperature rises slightly, but a runny nose can be very unpleasant, with copious discharge.
Pharyngitis
Adenovirus is not the only infectious disease of the throat and nose. Often in winter, both children and adults encounter a pathology such as acute pharyngitis. In approximately 70% of cases, it is caused by viruses, although bacterial infection should not be ruled out.
In addition, pharyngitis can be allergic and traumatic. That is, the inflammatory process can be caused by the ingestion of a foreign body in the throat, the irritating effect of such factors as tobacco smoke, air, into which chemicals from the industry get, hot steam.
Nevertheless, the main cause of pharyngitis is nevertheless rhino- and coronaviruses, as well as parainfluenza virus and some others. And they really can capture not only the mucous membrane of the throat, but also the nose.
Symptoms of a viral throat disease in this case will be as follows:
- dryness and sore throat;
- moderate pain, which intensifies when you try to swallow saliva;
- a slight increase in temperature (with pharyngitis, it rarely rises above 38 degrees);
- the cough is first dry, superficial in nature, after a couple of days it becomes wet.
Additionally, a runny nose and symptoms of general intoxication, including a headache, may be added. All this is characteristic of catarrhal pharyngitis, which is considered the mildest form of the disease. There is also a granular form. Its symptom is the formation on the mucous membrane of bright red tubercles (granules). There is also a sore throat with a viral disease.
In older people, subatrophic pharyngitis is more common . With it, the temperature may not increase, but there is a feeling of dry mouth, swallowing is difficult, there is an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Tonsillitis
It can also be both viral and bacterial in nature. This term is called inflammation of the tonsils. It is manifested by an increase in their size, acute sore throat, fever.
In children
The most common viral diseases of the throat in children are laryngitis and pharyngitis.
Laryngitis also begins with symptoms such as dryness and sore throat, but its hallmark is a loud cough, which can be described as barking. After it, a hoarse occurs - another striking symptom of laryngitis. The voice after this becomes hoarse, and maybe even disappear, which indicates inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. This is precisely what laryngitis is dangerous for the child - inflammation leads to a narrowing of the larynx, and it becomes difficult for the child to breathe.
During sleep, cough may intensify - means that the disease becomes severe. All these are characteristic signs of laryngitis. Although, of course, if there is a viral sore throat in children (pictured), only a doctor can make a diagnosis. Moreover, the same laryngitis can also have an allergic nature (then inflammation is also accompanied by swelling of the mucosa). But most often, various viruses provoke the disease - influenza, measles, other viruses that spread by airborne droplets.
Another viral sore throat in children is pharyngitis. Most often it is caused by rhinovirus or adenovirus, sometimes flu. Less common are cases where the cause of the disease is the Epstein-Barr virus.
A feature of acute pharyngitis in children is that it rarely occurs on its own, and is often accompanied by other diseases - for example, acute adenoiditis or tonsillitis. Moreover, they can just be caused by a bacterial infection. However, the doctor makes the decision to take antibiotics in each case, focusing on the general clinical picture of the disease.
In young children, acute pharyngitis can be difficult, accompanied by high fever. Breasts become restless, lose their appetite, their sleep is disturbed. If the child gives an examination of his throat, then you can see that the mucous becomes bright red.
The disease is also characterized by swelling of the posterior pharyngeal wall; in some places, a mucopurulent secretion can be seen on its surface. The cough is dry, there is a sensation of a lump in the throat, and it may be difficult for the child to swallow.
Interestingly, in contrast to acute pharyngitis, the chronic form is not infectious in nature, but can be caused by diseases of the digestive tract.
Treatment
With adenovirus infection and viral pharyngitis or tonsillitis, antibiotics will not help. The question is how to treat a viral sore throat. In such cases, the doctor prescribes antiviral drugs like Viferon and Novirin. If the disease is accompanied by temperature, you can drink antipyretics based on paracetamol or ibuprofen.
The remaining measures should be the same as with bacterial infections. In particular, for severe pain, special lozenges are recommended - local anesthetics containing diclonin, phenol, benzocaine. These components reduce pain sensitivity. Additionally, for the same purposes, menthol is included in the composition of such agents. It softens the pharynx and thereby reduces pain.
You can buy resorption tablets. There are several types of them. For example, these are drugs that contain enzymes that damage bacteria and viruses ("Hexalysis"), as well as drugs that belong to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ("Strefen").
There is a group of drugs, which include lysates - something like “fragments” of pathogens of diseases such as pharyngitis (Imudon). Drugs of this type increase immunity - in the event of a collision with lysates, the body activates the defense. However, such funds are needed only for sluggish forms of the disease.
In the treatment of the catarrhal form of pharyngitis, throat lubrication with solutions of protargol, iodinol, collargol can be prescribed. A 1-2% solution of silver nitrite is used. If we are talking about the granular form, then the tubercles described above are cauterized with liquid nitrogen or trichloroacetic acid - such procedures are done only in the clinic.
There are more effective modern methods using a laser. Various physiotherapeutic procedures can be prescribed, including inhalations with hydrocortisone (this is a hormonal corticosteroid drug, so it can only be used as prescribed by a doctor).
Phonophoresis with propolis gives good results (by the way, you can gargle with a propolis solution - this is a pretty effective antiseptic). UHF and ultrasound therapy are also prescribed.
With subatrophic pharyngitis, destructive processes begin, which lead to the destruction of the mucosa. It is almost impossible to restore it, but there is a way to alleviate the patient's condition.
In such cases, doctors suggest a pharyngeal blockade when drugs that stimulate the formation of mucus are injected (for example, aloe with novocaine). Injections are made directly into the mucous membrane, a whole course. Thanks to the development of mucus, there is a feeling of soreness and dryness in the throat.
Scientists have found that treating a viral sore throat is greatly facilitated by regularly cleaning the mucous membrane. Therefore, you need to gargle as often as possible (within reasonable limits, of course). For example, there is a classic recipe - 1 tsp. salt in a glass of warm water or 1 tsp. soda to the same amount of liquid. There are good pharmacy drugs - for example, Tantum Verde.
To alleviate the symptoms of adenovirus infection, it is recommended to gargle with a decoction of chamomile or sage (1 tablespoon of plant material per 500 ml of boiling water). Drinking plenty of water is also recommended, but only the drink should be warm, not hot. A remedy such as rosehip tea with the addition of honey has proven itself well.
In case of laryngitis, inhalation with mineral water is recommended, and if breathing is difficult, then use Berodual or other drugs with a similar effect. But you need to remember that inhalation is contraindicated at high temperatures.
It is also recommended that when laryngitis take care of your voice - you will have to remain silent for several days. It is desirable to moisten the air in the room - this will facilitate the patient's condition. If there is no humidifier in the house, just put a wet towel on the radiator.
Treatment in children
Often parents ask questions to the pediatrician - if an infectious disease of the throat is diagnosed in children, what should be treated? The modern medical protocol involves the use of three types of drugs - anti-inflammatory drugs, local antiseptics (these are various throat lozenges with an analgesic effect), as well as immunomodulating agents.
A sparing diet is shown, which will not include acidic, spicy, salty foods, as well as carbonated drinks. Warm alkaline drink is recommended - for example, milk with honey, mineral water, from which gas is first released. You need to drink as often as possible. A warm drink softens the throat, helps restore the inflamed mucosa. On the day of the child, depending on age, you can drink 1.5-2 liters of fluid.
In addition to milk with honey, in the treatment of a viral sore throat, herbal tea with chamomile is also recommended. Steam inhalations have also proven themselves well. However, care must be taken with them so as not to cause burns to the mucous membrane - it is best to breathe steam over the kettle, into the spout of which a rolled paper cone is inserted. A few drops of essential oils of eucalyptus and juniper can be dripped into the water.
Since with a viral disease of the throat its inflammation always occurs, you need to take a drug that will remove such processes. These drugs include Erespal (Fenspiride).
It has anti-inflammatory properties, but it does not act like corticosteroids or NSAIDs, and therefore is deprived of their side effects. Erespal is available in the form of tablets and syrup. Children are preferably given a second form. The drug acts only on the respiratory tract, it is generally effective and safe.
Useful Tips
Many people are interested if there is a viral sore throat in adults than to treat. In fact, it would be more correct to ask what to do so that the measures taken quickly give an effect?
You must follow these rules:
- Self-treatment of such diseases should last no more than 2-3 days. If the measures taken did not give effect, then you need to see a doctor (after all, the cause of the disease may be not a viral, but a fungal infection).
- You need to contact a specialist right away, without waiting for the end of the three-day period, if the situation worsens, and new symptoms appear - rashes, difficulty breathing, if the voice disappears. These may be signs of measles or rubella - adults suffer from them, too, and in a much more severe form than children.
- In no case should you smoke during treatment. This bad habit must be abandoned for another week after the end of the course of treatment, since tobacco smoke helps to dry the mucous membrane, and the inflammation in the throat only intensifies.
- It is forbidden to drink alcohol, soda, sour juices, eat hot or spicy dishes so as not to irritate the mucous membranes.
In no case should you take antibiotics just like that, for preventive purposes. If this is a viral disease, then they simply will not help. And if it’s bacterial, but the drug was chosen incorrectly, this will only complicate the treatment.
Conclusion
Viral sore throat is common and requires timely treatment. In no case can the disease be ignored, and with the first symptoms it is recommended to consult a specialist to prescribe the correct treatment.
Based on the survey data, the doctor will select not only effective drugs, but also recommend effective procedures. Only an integrated approach will achieve the best result.