The disease, which is characterized by an inflammatory process that occurs on the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and pharynx, is called rhinopharyngitis. Symptoms and treatment of rhinopharyngitis will be discussed in this article.
Often, patients hear from the doctor a diagnosis of rhinitis or pharyngitis. Nevertheless, due to the fact that these anatomical sections are located very close to each other, inflammation of one of them never proceeds in isolation, as a rule, and adjacent sections are involved in it.
Therefore, the diagnosis of rhinopharyngitis will be more correct and logical. The pharynx is anatomically related to the digestive organs, but, in fact, it is the area where the respiratory tract begins. During the occurrence of inflammatory lesions of the nasal cavity, the pathological process in almost every case extends to those departments that are located below - that is, the larynx, pharynx and trachea. This usually happens either mechanically, when the fluid from the nose flows into the throat, or by contact: direct spread of pathogens from the diseased mucous membrane to the healthy one.
Symptoms of rhinopharyngitis are quite unpleasant.
Forms of ailment
Like many other pathologies of the inflammatory nature of the upper respiratory departments, this disease can occur in acute and chronic form. The first develops suddenly, as a rule, a short period after the occurrence of the causative factor, and is characterized by very pronounced symptoms, and the second form is long-term, when the clinical manifestations of the pathological process are weakly expressed. Chronic rhinopharyngitis is most often a consequence of acute.
Symptoms of acute rhinopharyngitis depend on the form. It has two varieties - purulent and catarrhal. Chronic inflammation of the nasopharynx can also be catarrhal, and can be atrophic and hypertrophic. Classification into the above forms of the disease is carried out mainly by the type of inflammatory process, and in medical practice it does not have special significance. Symptoms of rhinopharyngitis will be discussed below.
The main causes of the pathological process
The occurrence of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and nasal cavity can occur according to the following scenarios:
- The inflammatory process on the layers of cells lining these areas from the inside can occur as a result of various injuries and the addition of a concomitant infection. A large number of infectious agents live on the internal surfaces of the respiratory tract, and this is considered the norm. A healthy mucosa is able to successfully resist various attacks of harmful microorganisms on its own and the disease does not develop. Its occurrence may be due to a number of certain factors, which include temperature extremes, the ingestion of foreign bodies or dust particles into the respiratory organs, irritation with chemicals, and tobacco smoke - directly during smoking, or when it is inhaled passively.
- The disease can be triggered by vital activity on the mucosa of highly pathogenic microbes: a variety of viruses, fungi, bacteria, mycoplasmas, which cannot multiply on healthy mucous membranes, since their reproduction is suppressed by the normal microflora of the body. These pathological microbes fall on the mucosa, as a rule, by airborne droplets. With these infections, a person can be infected from a patient by direct contact, through saliva with kisses, as well as coughing or sneezing.
- In addition, there is also an allergic form of the disease. It is a direct consequence of a violation of the functions of the human immune system. Rhinopharyngitis in this situation occurs after exposure to allergens on the mucous membranes and an improper reaction of the immune defense to them. In this case, the trigger factor for the disease is allergic rhinitis, which can be complicated by pharyngitis and inflammatory processes that occur in other parts of the respiratory tract.
One of the most common types among the viral types of this disease is rhinovirus, and among bacterial types - pneumococcal, staphylococcal, meningococcal, streptococcal. In most cases, the pathological process begins with infections of viral origin, after which a bacterial or fungal infection joins it.
Factors contributing to the development of the disease
The prerequisites for the occurrence of symptoms of rhinopharyngitis are any factors that reduce the natural defense of the human body and contribute to the introduction of infections. These include:
- Digestive diseases.
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- Violation of the functions of the endocrine system.
- Hypothermia.
- Frequent stressful situations.
- Hypovitaminosis caused by starvation and monotonous poor-quality nutrition.
- Alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction.
Clinical symptoms of rhinopharyngitis
The main manifestations of this disease in both adults and pediatric patients are:
- Excessive secretion of mucus from the nose of various colors and character.
- Unpleasant pain in the nasal cavity and throat - burning, tickling, dryness.
- Cough of various etiologies.
- Difficulty in nasal breathing, congestion.
Symptoms of chronic rhinopharyngitis are just such.
Pain syndromes of varying severity are also possible, especially with purulent processes, which are observed not only when swallowing, but also at rest. The patient may be disturbed by headaches, frequent sneezing, lethargy and weakness, fever, and with the development of a purulent form of rhinopharyngitis, the patient's condition may be accompanied by severe chills and fever.
This disease occurs the same in people of all age categories. However, in newborns and children in the first years of life, this pathology can proceed very rapidly, accompanied by a sharp increase in temperature and quickly spread to other parts of the respiratory tract - the trachea and bronchi. In the absence of adequate treatment, rhinopharyngitis can cause serious complications, up to the most serious inflammatory pathologies of the middle ear and lungs.
Now we know the symptoms. Treatment of chronic rhinopharyngitis will be considered a little later.
Diagnostic methods for determining the disease
Diagnosis with the development of this disease, as a rule, is not required. The diagnosis is made on the basis of patient complaints, as well as data from a visual clinical examination by a specialist. Its results may include the detection of certain signs of the disease in the complex, or one of those. These signs are considered:
- Swelling and redness of the nasal cavity and throat.
- Nasal discharge.
- Changes in voice features.
- The presence of mucous or purulent plaque on the back of the throat.
- In childhood, swelling of the tongue. This is a common symptom of rhinopharyngitis in children.
- An increase in cervical lymph nodes and their pronounced soreness when palpating.
For the diagnosis, as a rule, a general blood test is performed, as a result of which the main signs of the presence of inflammatory processes in the body are revealed.
In severe forms of infectious damage, a specific diagnosis is carried out, which implies the determination of the variety of microbes that provoked this disease, and their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs is also determined. These measures are necessary for the appointment, so that the specialist can prescribe the most effective antibiotics to the patient. For such studies, smears taken from the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, throat, and also sputum, if any, are used.
In determining the causes of chronic long-term rhinopharyngitis, additional medical diagnostics may be required. This is done in order to identify factors that led to a decrease in immune defense.
If these studies determined the allergic nature of the disease, special tests are carried out to identify the type of allergen.
Therapeutic methods for eliminating pathology
Therapeutic measures to eliminate rhinopharyngitis are complex. In classical medical practice for this disease, there is a very wide range of drugs that directly affect the causes of the pathological process. However, rhinopharyngitis is a disease in which folk remedies are quite effective. It is very common to use a variety of decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs for gargling, as well as ingestion.
Symptoms and treatment of rhinopharyngitis in adults are also interrelated.
Thus, traditional medicine uses the following methods:
- Gargle with a weak solution of baking soda, as well as with non-carbonated mineral water.
- For the same purposes, infusions of herbs such as sage, chamomile, oak bark, calendula, St. John's wort are used.
- Instillation of beetroot juice, as well as extracts of Kalanchoe or aloe in the nasal passages.
- For oral administration, infusions and decoctions of various parts of medicinal herbs are used (plantain, coltsfoot, marshmallow, eucalyptus, chamomile, licorice, elecampane and others).
Conservative medical treatment
When a disease such as rhinopharyngitis occurs, specialists prescribe drugs from various pharmacological groups. Basically, they are medications that eliminate the symptoms in acute forms of rhinopharyngitis, which is not accompanied by all kinds of complications. In this case, antibacterial drugs are almost never used.
The basis of therapy for uncomplicated rhinopharyngitis is the following medications:
- Painkillers.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Antiseptics (containing iodine and others).
- Antihistamines
- Drops for nasal drops that reduce swelling of the mucous membranes (the so-called decongestants).
Antitussive medications are used only in cases where the patient has an obsessive cough that disturbs him greatly. For children, this group of drugs, as a rule, is not used due to the development of multiple side effects.
Auxiliary treatments for rhinopharyngitis
These measures are also very effective and are prescribed in order to remove the main unpleasant symptoms of this disease. These usually include all kinds of inhalations using moist hot air with the addition of herbal extracts or without them, as well as in the form of rubbing with warming ointments. The intake of a large amount of warm liquid is also recommended.
For chronic symptoms of rhinopharyngitis in adults, it may become necessary to use topical corticosteroid drugs, which are available in the form of ointments or sprays.
In some cases, treatment of this disease may require the use of antibacterial drugs, however, the decision on the appropriateness of their use is made solely by a specialist. The choice of the drug and its dosage is also carried out by the doctor.
We examined the symptoms and treatment of rhinopharyngitis in adults. Photos of people who have encountered this ailment are presented in the article.
Disease prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of this pathological process, it is necessary to implement individual protective measures against various kinds of respiratory infections. Such measures usually include:
- Wearing a mask at the height of the incidence.
- Avoidance of contact with sick people.
- The use of oxolinic, as well as other antiviral ointments, which are applied to the inner surface of the nose.
- The use of fortifying agents and multivitamin complexes.
- You need to establish the right diet.
- Compliance with sleep patterns.
- Fighting bad habits.
- Avoiding hypothermia by wearing natural clothing and shoes seasonally.
- Maintaining clean rooms.
Symptoms, causes and treatment of rhinopharyngitis in children
The disease in infants may manifest the following symptoms:
- nasal congestion;
- swelling of the mucosa;
- mucus from the nose;
- redness of the eyes and lacrimation;
- coughing
- difficulty breathing.
Children often suffer from colds. Rhinopharyngitis in babies up to a year occurs as a result of ARVI. Breasts should be treated with extreme caution.
The following drugs are used:
- "Vibrocil";
- Tsefekon;
- Erespal;
- Adrianol;
- Otrivin;
- Panadol
- "Nazivin";
- Nurofen
- Protargol.
Take care of a sick baby as follows:
- Mucus from the nose is regularly removed, the child needs to be washed often.
- At night, a gruel of garlic is placed in the head area near the crib.
- Onion solution is instilled into the baby’s nose with a pipette.
We continue to study the symptoms and treatment of rhinopharyngitis in children.
Children older than a year suffer from this ailment more often due to numerous contacts with other children. The risk of viral infection increases.
The following therapeutic measures are carried out:
- Steam inhalation (it is better to use a nebulizer).
- Drug solutions are used to rinse.
- Feet soar in the bath.
- Broths of medicinal herbs are taken orally with honey.
It is important to remember that with viral infections, antibiotics are ineffective.
The symptoms and treatment of rhinopharyngitis, as well as preventive measures, we examined in detail.