Angina is an infectious disease. The cause of this ailment is bacteria, less often - viruses. The microorganisms that most often cause tonsillitis are staphylococci and streptococci. This disease is transmitted by airborne droplets or through common dishes. The course of the disease can be quite acute, but the most dangerous consequences, expressed in the form of complications. Only a doctor can determine the cause of a sore throat. Antibiotic treatment in adults and children occurs only with bacterial infection.
Symptoms
Angina is quite easy to recognize by the symptoms characteristic of this disease:
- acute onset of the disease, accompanied by fever;
- pain when swallowing;
- deterioration in general condition associated with intoxication;
- enlarged tonsils;
- the appearance on the surface of the pharynx purulent formations and plaque;
- pre-cervical lymph nodes become inflamed, increase in size and bring pain.
If the patient has such symptoms, then he is diagnosed with a sore throat. Antibiotic treatment in adults and children in this case is recommended.
Types of disease
Doctors call angina acute tonsillitis and distinguish its following types:
- Lacunar . This species is characterized by the presence of a white-yellow plaque in the form of a film that covers the entire surface of the pharynx or is localized in gaps.
- Follicular . With this type of sore throat, white-yellow nodules appear that are visible through the mucous membrane.
- Film-ulcerative. With this disease, there is a plaque, and small wounds on the tonsils and pharynx.
When is the virus the causative agent?
A very common phenomenon is angina due to acute respiratory viral infections or influenza. A viral infection depresses the human immunity, and the bacterial flora joins it.
The consequence of this phenomenon is angina. Antibiotic treatment in adults and children in this case is prescribed by a doctor.
But sometimes the causative agent of angina is the viruses themselves. So, for example, occurs with herpes, adenovirus and enterovirus infection, scarlet fever, syphilis, agranulocytosis, tularemia and mononucleosis. It also happens that angina occurs with leukemia.
If the cause is a bacterial infection
Bacterial tonsillitis is caused by the following pathogens:
- streptococcus - 10% of all cases;
- streptococcus with staphylococcus - 10%;
- hemolytic streptococcus - 80% of cases;
- gonococcus or chlamydial infection are isolated cases.
What are the symptoms of angina in children?
In babies, purulent tonsillitis is most common . Antibiotics are prescribed by the doctor without fail, as soon as the bacterial nature of the disease is confirmed.
Before making a diagnosis, an otorhinolaryngologist draws attention to the following symptoms:
- lack of cough and runny nose;
- high body temperature (over 38.5 ˚);
- lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged and painful;
- there are no rashes on the body (with the exception of scarlet fever);
- glands are enlarged, have an intense red color and white plaque.
If these facts are the case, then the doctor makes a diagnosis of angina. Antibiotic treatment in adults and children is considered mandatory.
If the pathogen is a fungus
There are frequent cases when fungi are the causative agents of angina . During prolonged antibiotic therapy, a local decrease in immunity occurs. In humans, yeast-like microorganisms begin to multiply intensively in the throat. Symptoms of fungal tonsillitis are as follows:
- intoxication is mild;
- a slight increase in body temperature;
- curdled loose coating on the mucous membrane of the larynx, this film is easily removed, a red surface of the inflamed pharynx is found under it.
If the patient has revealed such symptoms, the otolaryngologist diagnoses a fungal tonsillitis. Antibiotics (tablets and suspensions) in this case will not produce an effect. This condition is corrected by antifungal drugs.
Antibiotic treatment
Antibiotics are medicines that should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Uncontrolled intake of these medications can cause irreparable damage to the human body.
Antibiotic treatment is prescribed only when the patient is diagnosed with bacterial tonsillitis.
Only the doctor determines which drug to prescribe, its dosage and duration of use. He examines the severity of the disease, the age and weight of the patient, the presence of a tendency to allergies or sensitivity to certain types of drugs. Depending on the type of antibiotic, the course of treatment can be from 5 to 10 days.
What is the best medicine?
Many patients care about the best antibiotic for angina. Doctors have a clear position on this matter. Of course, if there are no contraindications, then drugs that make up the penicillin series of antibiotics are prescribed. It is believed that they cause the least harm to the body and at the same time effectively fight bacteria.
The following classification of antibiotics exists:
- The first row - "Amoxicillin", "Penicillin", "Amosin", "Flemoxin Solutab", "Hikontsil", "Ecobol". It happens that the pathogen is resistant to this group of drugs. Then the doctor prescribes antibiotics that combine penicillins with clavulanic acid. These include Flemoklav, Amoksiklav, Medoklav, Augumentin or Ekoklav.
- Second row containing azithromycin. “Azicide”, “Sumamed”, “Azitroks”, “Z-Factor”, “Zitrolide”.
If the prescribed penicillin series of antibiotics is ineffective and the temperature does not decrease within 72 hours, then the doctor prescribes a second-line medication. In the absence of an allergic reaction in the patient, these funds help very effectively.
Why is angina dangerous?
Bacterial tonsillitis must be treated with antibiotics.
This disease threatens with serious complications, among which:
- sinusitis;
- glomerulonephritis;
- encephalitis;
- otitis;
- rheumatic fever;
- hemorrhagic vasculitis;
- Pancarditis
- acute pyelonephritis;
- myocarditis.
In order to avoid such serious diseases, seek medical attention in a timely manner. The otorhinolaryngologist will carefully examine the cause of the disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Usually, if the antibiotic is selected correctly, then on the 2-3 day of treatment the patient's temperature drops, the general condition improves significantly. Sometimes the doctor may prescribe a joint intake of antibacterial and antipyretic drugs based on "Paracetamol" or "Ibuprofen." However, it is important to remember the following: at a temperature below 38.5, it is not recommended to bring down the heat with medicines. At this time, the immune system is actively fighting the infection, and lowering the temperature means depriving yourself of natural protection.
How to take antibiotics?
There are several rules for receiving the described funds. If they are followed, the effectiveness of treatment will be fully achieved.
All these rules are binding:
- Antibiotic treatment is prescribed only by a doctor after studies and a visual examination of the patient.
- All information about taking medication is worth recording. The name of antibiotics for angina, as well as the method of their administration, is very useful information.
- Do not insist on prescribing antibiotics unless your doctor believes otherwise. If there is an opportunity to cope with the disease without these medicines, a specialist will certainly recommend this method to you. Moreover, you should not ask to prescribe antibiotics “stronger”. If the pharmacy offers you an analogue, specify the name of the main active substance and its dosage. Before buying, be sure to consult your doctor.
- In order to determine the best antibiotic for angina for a particular patient, a sensitivity test should be performed. For this, a swab from the throat is taken and laboratory sowing is performed. Next, a test for sensitivity to various antibiotics is carried out. Based on the results of the study, the patient is prescribed the correct effective antimicrobial drug.
- Recommendations for taking antibiotics should be followed exactly. It is important to observe the dosage, time intervals for taking the drug and the duration of the course of treatment. The correct intake of the antibiotic will provide a certain concentration, which must be maintained. If the medicine was prescribed to drink 3 times a day, then the interval should be 8 hours, if twice, then 12 hours. The course must be brought to an end in order to completely destroy the harmful bacteria, and to avoid relapse or complications.
- Do not adjust the dose of the antibiotic yourself.
Reducing it will result in treatment inefficiency, an increase can harm the body.
- Unless specifically indicated, antibacterial drugs should be washed down with still water. How to combine medication with food is usually indicated in the instructions.
- In order to normalize the intestinal microflora, probiotics should be taken together with antibiotics. These include Hilak Forte, Linex, Normoflorin, Narine and similar drugs. It is necessary to take them separately from antibiotics, in the interval between two doses. It is especially effective to drink a probiotic at night.
- During the period of antibiotic therapy, you should adhere to a sparing diet and follow the principles of a healthy diet. As you know, many antibacterial drugs have a negative effect on the liver, so the food should be as light as possible and not contain a large amount of fat. During this period, fried, smoked, spicy, fatty (especially animal fats), as well as alcohol and sour fruits should be excluded from the diet. It is necessary to include protein-rich foods (lean meat, cottage cheese, eggs), cereal cereals. You also need to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and sweet fruits.
If you follow all these rules, then the treatment will quickly bring the desired result. Do not also forget about strengthening immunity, leading a healthy lifestyle, eating fully and variably, observing sleep and wakefulness, doing physical exercises, and then all diseases will bypass you.