How to treat sore throat in an adult

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How to treat a sore throat in an adult

Sore throat (tonsillitis) is a fairly serious infectious disease affecting the pharyngeal ring and palatine tonsils. Inflammation most often occurs in an acute form (with high fever and symptoms of intoxication), causing many complications.

Table of contents:

Therefore, treatment of sore throat in adults should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician, with bed rest and the use of antibacterial agents.

Causes and symptoms of sore throat

Sore throat is a contagious disease transmitted by airborne droplets or household contact. There are viral and bacterial lesions of the tonsils. The peak of infection is observed in the autumn-winter period. The cause of the illness is a patient or a carrier who has already recovered from the disease, but remains a source of infection for 1–2 weeks.

The first signs of the disease in adults are not detected immediately, but only 4–5 days after infection. There are general symptoms of inflammation that are characteristic of all forms of angina:
  • redness in the throat and pain when swallowing;
  • increased body temperature;
  • hoarseness, runny nose, nasal congestion;
  • enlargement of nearby lymph nodes;
  • weakness, weakness.

When the first signs of a sore throat appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to prescribe adequate treatment. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. Sore throat is very insidious and dangerous with serious consequences that can develop suddenly and end unpredictably.

Complications

Most often, tonsillitis in adults ends with complete recovery without any complications. But if the doctor’s recommendations are not followed, problems often arise. Therefore, treatment of tonsillitis must be competent and timely. This will help prevent the development of a number of serious consequences:

  • Heart defect.
  • Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
  • Joint damage, rheumatism.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Diseases of the ENT organs (otitis, sinusitis, sinusitis).
  • Damage to the liver, kidneys, dysfunction of the central nervous system.

General principles of treatment

Uncomplicated tonsillitis in adults is usually treated on an outpatient basis. If your temperature rises and you have a sore throat, you should stay home and call a doctor.

Bed rest is the key to a quick recovery

The main condition for successful therapy and complete recovery is bed rest for at least 5 days. The patient must be completely isolated from other family members to avoid infecting them. He needs to be provided with separate dishes, which are recommended to be disinfected periodically, and individual hygiene items.

Nutrition should be balanced and gentle. It is recommended to drink as much warm drink as possible: compotes, non-acidic fruit drinks, mineral water without gases, milk with honey.

During treatment, you should carefully follow all doctor's instructions and take prescribed medications.

Drug treatment

Before treating a sore throat in an adult, its cause should be clarified. Only after a visual examination, palpation of the lymph nodes and pharyngoscopy will the doctor be able to prescribe specific therapy, consisting of local and systemic antibacterial agents.

In addition to antibacterial drugs, the treatment regimen includes immunostimulating and antipyretic drugs, which quickly reduce the symptoms.

Treatment with antibiotics

When prescribing medications for sore throats to adults, doctors most often prescribe penicillin antibiotics:

  • Sumamed;
  • Oxacillin;
  • Amoxicillin Sandoz;
  • Ampicillin trihydrate;
  • Phenoxymethylpenicillin;
  • Amoxiclav.

These drugs act directly on the cause of the disease. The course of treatment usually does not exceed a week, but in difficult cases it can be increased to 10–12 days.

Antibiotics are the main drugs for treating sore throat in adults.

If a sore throat occurs with complications, the patient is most often sent to a hospital, where treatment with broader-spectrum antibiotics is prescribed: Cefuroxime, Levofloxacin, Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone. If after seven days there is no obvious improvement, it is necessary to recheck the diagnosis or prescribe another drug.

Among the local drugs that have a detrimental effect on the pathogen are:

  • lozenges - Septolete, Stop-Angin, Faringosept, Strepsils;
  • sprays with antibiotics or sulfonamides - Bioparox, Hexoral, Kameton, Ingalipt.

In case of mild sore throat, the antibiotic Bioparox can replace systemic medications, since it is both an antibiotic and a local drug at the same time.

As practice has shown, it is almost impossible to cure inflammation of the tonsils without the use of antibiotics. The most reliable and fastest-acting method is intramuscular administration of drugs. Injections are given to patients who have contraindications to oral administration of antibacterial agents or who have developed serious complications.

It is not recommended to prescribe antibiotics on your own. Only a doctor can choose what to drink for an adult with a sore throat.

Other medicines

Treatment of tonsillitis should be comprehensive. The prescription of additional drugs depends on the form and severity of the disease, the type of pathogen and the presence of allergic reactions to the components of a particular medicine.

Treatment of sore throat in adults should be comprehensive

In general cases, the treatment regimen for angina includes the following groups of medications:

  • solutions for lubricating the pharynx: Lugol, Iodinol, Vokadin;
  • gargling liquids: Chlorhexidine, Furacilin, Romazulan;
  • antipyretic drugs based on paracetamol: Ibuklin, Tylenol, Theraflu, Panoxen, Coldrex, Panadol, Rinza, Coldact;
  • antihistamines: Suprastin, Diazolin, Diphenhydramine, Claritin, Fenistil;
  • antifungal drugs: Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Flucostat, Nystatin, Levorin;
  • immunostimulants: Imudon, IRS-19, Anaferon, Methyluracil (tablets).
Many of these drugs contain an analgesic component, so they not only have a detrimental effect on the cause of the disease, but also relieve pain in the throat.

Features of therapy for various types of sore throats

There are many forms of tonsillitis, and the treatment for each of them has its own distinctive features.

Herpes sore throat

You should know that the cause of the herpes form is a virus, so antibiotic therapy in this case is ineffective.

When treating herpangina, antihistamines are prescribed to eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane, painkillers, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating drugs. In addition, your doctor may recommend a chamomile, calendula, or sage rinse.

Any thermal procedures for this form of sore throat are prohibited.

If complications develop—meningitis or myocarditis—patients are subject to mandatory hospitalization.

Viral sore throat

This form of sore throat is considered less dangerous because it causes complications much less often. It occurs most often in the cold season. Tonsillitis develops against a background of weakened immunity and has a viral cause, so antibiotics are not prescribed to the patient, since they weaken the immune system.

For treatment, interferons are used that increase the body's resistance and have antiviral activity: Viferon or leukocyte Interferon. The patient is prescribed gargling, inhalation and symptomatic therapy.

Interferons are used to treat sore throats caused by viruses.

Purulent sore throat

Unlike other tonsillitis, the purulent form is always acute. For treatment, penicillin antibiotics or drugs from the macrolide group must be used:

To reduce the symptoms of sore throat, corticosteroids, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol are prescribed, gargling and compresses are used, and lubricating the throat.

Other types

To treat the follicular form of tonsillitis, antibiotics and antipyretics, tablets and lozenges must be prescribed. It is recommended to gargle and make compresses.

The lacunar form is also treated with antibiotics, antipyretics and antihistamines. An increased dose of vitamin C is recommended.

For catarrhal form, anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, rinsing and lubricating the tonsils are prescribed.

Surgical method of treatment

As a rule, conservative therapy is quite effective in the treatment of sore throat in adults. But in some cases, the doctor may recommend surgery:

  • if inflammation of the tonsils develops several times a year;
  • the tonsils become so enlarged that it becomes difficult to breathe;
  • constant sore throats complicate the work of other organs;
  • A purulent inflammation in the throat (abscess) develops.

Surgery is a last resort. Before referring the patient for surgery, the doctor will recommend laser lacutonomy (laser cauterization of tonsil lacunae). The procedure is very effective and in most cases helps to get rid of tonsillitis forever.

Rinsing

For sore throat in adults, gargling is very useful. Irrigation well moisturizes and softens the mucous membrane, eliminates discomfort and removes purulent plaque from the tonsils.

Almost all known rinsing solutions perform these tasks, thereby significantly facilitating the course of the disease. It is recommended to carry out treatment for at least 2–3 weeks. This will enhance the effect of therapy and prevent the development of chronic tonsillitis.

Lubricating the throat

The procedure is intended to clean the surface of the tonsils from pus and pathogenic microorganisms and apply a medicinal substance.

Lubricating the throat with Lugol is one of the ways to treat sore throat in adults.

You should lubricate your throat 4-5 times a day, an hour before or after meals.

For adults, the procedure is not particularly difficult. For treatment you will need an unsharpened pencil, bandage or cotton wool and a medicine. A thick layer of sterile material is wrapped around the pencil and moistened generously in the solution.

Lubricate the tonsils with quick and confident movements so as not to trigger the gag reflex.

Inhalations

The effectiveness of inhalations for angina is not very high, and in some forms of tonsillitis the procedure is prohibited.

Inhalation of hot steam is contraindicated in the following cases:

  • if the inflammation has become acute;
  • purulent or herpetic sore throat is diagnosed;
  • increased body temperature.

Steam treatments will only be beneficial in the early stages of the disease. If purulent inflammation appears, it is better to refrain from inhalation.

Diet

Sore throat in adults should be treated comprehensively, using not only medications, but also a balanced diet.

Diet is very important when treating a sore throat.

The diet during illness should be light and varied. Foods that cause irritation to the throat mucosa are contraindicated: spicy, salty, excessively hot or cold dishes, solid foods.

The list of permitted products includes:

  • warm, sticky porridge with butter;
  • mashed potatoes;
  • pureed vegetable soups in weak broth;
  • honey;
  • boiled or stewed meat and fish;
  • cottage cheese, sour cream, milk;
  • eggs.

The therapeutic diet includes drinking plenty of fluids. It should be warm and not sweet. Cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks, milk with honey, and rosehip decoction are useful.

ethnoscience

Inflammation of the tonsils can be treated using unconventional means only as an addition to the main therapy. There are many effective recipes for sore throat in adults, which are very easy to prepare and use.

The most popular folk remedy for tonsillitis is gargling. For the procedure, you can prepare juice from fresh beets, sage infusion, oak bark or willow decoction, or a solution of apple cider vinegar in water. Irrigating the throat with a weak salt solution (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of liquid) is very effective.

A popular folk remedy is gargling with herbal decoctions.

For oral administration, use herbal teas, a mixture of radish or onion juice with honey, hot milk with honey.

Sore throat in pregnant women

Inflammation of the tonsils is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy. At later stages, the threat to the fetus decreases, but still remains real.

Treatment of tonsillitis during pregnancy is associated with considerable difficulties. Not all drugs for sore throat in adults are suitable for use by women expecting a child.

The main method of therapy still involves taking antibiotics. Today there are quite a few different medications that do not cross the placenta and do not harm the fetus:

  • antibiotics of the penicillin group: Amoxiclav, Sumamed;
  • Cefozolin;
  • Erythromycin.

Levomycetin and antibiotics from the tetracycline group are not prescribed to pregnant women, as they are dangerous for the child.

Antipyretics you can use are Paracetamol and Panadol. Various lozenges, lozenges and aerosols are allowed. It is very important to maintain the correct dosage, avoiding excess medication.

Sore throat during pregnancy should be treated promptly and competently.

In addition to taking medications, the patient should follow other doctor’s recommendations:

  • maintain bed rest;
  • drink more fluids;
  • stick to a diet.
  • In parallel with drug therapy, you can gargle with an infusion of medicinal herbs, drink rosehip decoction, warm milk with honey.

With timely and competent treatment, the prognosis for angina is most often favorable. After 10–12 days, the patient completely recovers and can begin work. Otherwise, severe complications of a local and general nature develop, and chronic tonsillitis forms.

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ATTENTION! All information on the site is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be absolutely accurate from a medical point of view. Treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor. By self-medicating you can harm yourself!

Source: http://superlor.ru/medicamenty/lechit-anginu-vzroslogo

Symptoms and treatment of sore throat in adults

Treatment of sore throat in adults should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear. In this case, you can get rid of the disease in a fairly short time. A person is designed in such a way that each organ plays a certain role in his health. Any negative changes and disturbances in the condition of these organs pose a threat to the health of the entire organism.

The tonsils are located symmetrically on both sides in the human throat area. They are formations consisting of lymphoid tissue of the gland and have an oval shape. Their natural functions are to protect the body from ingestion of various negative substances and manifestations.

Characteristics of sore throat

Sore throat is an infectious disease of the tonsils, which is caused by two main types of microorganisms - staphylococci and streptococci. With angina, not only the tonsils are affected, but also other areas, the back wall of the pharynx. The severity of the disease is judged by the degree of damage to the tonsils. Another name for sore throat is acute tonsillitis. This disease is contagious.

Sore throat in adults, or tonsillitis, is divided into the following types:

  1. Catarrhal tonsillitis - affects the surface of the tonsils.
  2. Lacunar tonsillitis - with this form, the tonsils become very red, inflamed, and localized areas of white-yellow plaque appear on their surface. Lymph nodes are enlarged and painful.
  3. Follicular tonsillitis - it is also characterized by severe inflammation and redness of the tonsils, swelling and enlargement of the lymph nodes located in the front of the throat. When palpating the neck, swelling is felt. On the tonsils, areas with purulent formations up to 0.5 cm in size are visible.

The listed types of sore throat are different stages of the same process. When tonsillitis occurs, the lymphoid tissue is mainly affected, and the pharyngeal, laryngeal, and lingual tissues become inflamed quite rarely.

Causes of sore throat

Since tonsillitis is a contagious disease, pathogens enter the body through food, dishes, airborne droplets, and through contact with a patient. In some cases, a sore throat can be caused by overwork, stress, or poor nutrition. Sore throat in adults can also manifest itself as a complication after suffering from the flu.

Symptoms of the disease

Depending on the type of sore throat, the following symptoms differ:

  1. With catarrhal tonsillitis, dryness and soreness appear in the throat, then pain gradually occurs when swallowing, radiating to the ear; general weakness and malaise; headache. Usually there is no increase in temperature. In rare cases, enlarged lymph nodes and redness of the tonsils may occur. The disease lasts about 5 days.
  2. Lacunar tonsillitis occurs with a sharp increase in temperature up to 40°. Accompanied by severe pain in the joints, muscles, throat, chills, and pain in the heart. There is increased salivation, and some patients vomit. This type of sore throat occurs violently and lasts about 7 days.
  3. Follicular sore throat is characterized by severe sore throat, general intoxication of the body, aches in the joints and muscles, heart pain, chills, high temperature reaching 40°. Lymph nodes and tonsils become very swollen and painful. The duration of the illness is a week.

With any form of tonsillitis, general symptoms such as loss of appetite, deterioration in the taste of food, nasal congestion and runny nose, bad breath, difficulty swallowing, changes in the timbre of the voice, and inflammation in the teeth are noted.

Diagnosis of tonsillitis

To determine the form of the disease, consultation with a specialist is required. The doctor will examine the throat using special devices and listen to the patient’s complaints. Based on the collected data, treatment is prescribed. Many doctors recommend submitting a so-called throat culture for an extended biochemical examination. Thanks to this analysis, the type of microorganism is determined. Based on the examination, you can determine the body's sensitivity to the antibiotic. This is the basis for choosing a drug that will have a therapeutic effect and promote recovery.

How to treat sore throat in adults?

Treatment for tonsillitis depends on its form.

  1. The catarrhal form of sore throat is treated with anti-inflammatory, sulfonamide drugs, as well as rinsing, washing the tonsils and throat.
  2. For lacunar angina, treatment consists of taking antibiotics, antipyretics, antihistamines, and vitamin C.
  3. For follicular sore throat, the treatment method is also antibiotics and antipyretic drugs, and the use of absorbable medicinal lozenges.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs include: paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, nimesil, ibuprofen. Sulfonamide drugs are sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadimidine, sulfadimezin, etc.

Antibiotics recommended for the treatment of sore throat are amoxicillin, hiconcil, ecobol. There are cases when the causative agent of tonsillitis is resistant to these drugs.

If there is no improvement within 3 days after taking these antibiotics, it is necessary to use another drug with a wider spectrum of action.

These drugs include: azithromycin (sumamed, azimac), amoxiclav, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin. Antihistamines are represented by diazolin, tavegil, suprastin, zodak, etc.

General treatments for sore throat in adults

In addition to medications, there are other methods that help treat the disease:

  1. Drink plenty of warm drinks. Any drinking liquid is suitable - milk, tea, fruit juices, jelly, compotes, mineral water, kefir, liquid meat broths, etc. Be sure to take them in a warm, pleasant state. A large amount of fluid taken saves the patient from dehydration, especially at high temperatures. In addition, water flushes harmful toxins from the body.
  2. Food should be neither hot nor cold, but moderately warm. It is advisable that the patient’s diet consist of soft foods that do not irritate the mucous membranes and throat. These can be various soups, cereals, purees, pureed fruits and vegetables. Food should not be hot, spicy or salty.
  3. Compresses that are applied for a long time have a good effect on a sore throat - at night, for a day, for several days.
  4. If the patient has a fever, you should not wrap him too much in a blanket, make compresses, or give him hot tea. This can lead to excessive overheating of the body, which is already suffering from high fever.
  5. It is not recommended to lower the temperature below 38°. This temperature is the body’s natural reaction to attacking microorganisms. Thanks to this reaction, the virus dies. The exception is for patients suffering from heart disease. They need to bring down even a small temperature immediately after rising.
  6. Bed rest must be observed. During the period of illness, you cannot go outside, attend school, work, do physical work, etc. Firstly, a sick body will not withstand such stress; secondly, there is a threat of infection to surrounding people.
  7. As a complementary therapeutic measure, gargling with a warm solution is used. Usually this is boiled water to which baking soda, iodine, and salt have been added. In addition, infusions of brewed herbs - chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, sage - are used for rinsing.
  8. On the recommendation of a doctor, an inhalation procedure with the addition of eucalyptus, fir, and sea buckthorn oils may be prescribed.
  9. During illness, the immune system is significantly suppressed, and the body becomes weakened. To restore protective forces and increase immunity, you need to take vitamin and mineral complexes.
  10. Eating a variety of fruits will make up for the lack of essential vitamins.

A disease such as tonsillitis should under no circumstances be tolerated on one’s feet, much less let it go. Complications of this disease include otitis media, rheumatism, myocarditis and other heart diseases.

Source: http://gorlozdorovo.ru/tonzillit/lechenie-anginy-u-vzroslyx.html

Sore throat - photos, causes, first signs, symptoms and treatment of sore throat in adults, prevention

Sore throat is an infectious disease accompanied by acute inflammation of the tonsils and/or other lymphoid formations of the pharynx. For many people, all it takes to get a sore throat is to eat ice cream or get your feet wet. Development is also promoted by other diseases of the nasopharynx and irritating substances that enter the pharynx (alcohol, dust, tobacco smoke, and so on). The following pathogenic microorganisms can provoke the development of pathology: viruses, bacteria and fungi.

In the article, we will look in more detail at the causes and first signs of tonsillitis, talk about symptoms in adults, and also tell you which treatment is most effective.

What is a sore throat?

Sore throat is a common disease, second in frequency to acute respiratory viral infections and influenza. Most often the palatine tonsils become inflamed. This is a seasonal disease, usually manifesting itself in the autumn and spring periods.

About 75% affect people under 30 years of age, of which the largest percentage belongs to children under 15 years of age (about 60%).

Sore throat is very contagious, so isolation of the patient is mandatory.

A sore throat is caused by various microbes, mainly streptococci, which often enter the throat with household items used by a person with a sore throat (for example, dirty dishes, etc.).

In some cases, microbes that are in the throat and usually do not cause disease are activated under the influence of certain unfavorable conditions, for example, during cooling or sudden fluctuations in ambient temperature.

Types and forms

Depending on the clinical course, frequency of the disease and the cause of angina, they are divided into different groups.

In adults, there are 3 types of sore throat:

  • Primary tonsillitis. Primary angina is understood as an acute infectious disease of predominantly streptococcal etiology, with relatively short-term fever, general intoxication, inflammatory changes in the lymphoid tissues of the pharynx, most often in the palatine tonsils and the lymph nodes closest to them. The duration of the incubation period ranges from 12 hours to 3 days. Characterized by an acute onset with hyperthermia, chills, pain when swallowing, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.
  • Secondary or symptomatic. Damage to the tonsils in the pharynx is observed against the background of such pathologies: diphtheria, scarlet fever, agranulocytosis, leukemia, etc.
  • Specific sore throat. Caused by a specific infectious agent (fungi, spirochete, etc.).

Classification of sore throats in adults:

  • Catarrhal sore throat. Usually develops very quickly and acutely. In most cases, a person falls ill suddenly, with malaise, dryness and a sore throat. Duration from 3 to 7 days.
  • Follicular tonsillitis. The most characteristic sign of this form of angina is the accumulation of fibrinous exudate in the lacunae. At the same time, whitish plaques form on the swollen and hyperemic mucous surface of the tonsils, localized at the mouths of the lacunae. More often they are separate formations, less often they merge together and cover most of the surface of these organs. The duration of the disease is 6 – 8 days.
  • Lacunar tonsillitis. The tonsils are affected in the area of ​​the lacunae, with subsequent spread of purulent plaque to the surface of the palatine tonsils. When performing pharyngoscopy, infiltration and swelling of the tonsils, severe hyperemia and widening of the lacunae are observed. This type of sore throat lasts 6–8 days.
  • Necrotizing tonsillitis. On the surface of the tonsils, large areas of dead tissue are visible, going deep and covered with a lumpy coating of gray or yellow-green color. Foci of necrosis become saturated with fibrin and become denser. After their removal, bleeding occurs, and then an ulcer up to 2 cm in size, with uneven edges, forms.
  • Phlegmonous - this type of sore throat most often occurs against the background of supposedly passing classic signs of sore throat - the tonsils begin to swell again, the soft palate turns red.
  • Herpetic sore throat. Most often develops in children. It is caused by the Coxsackie A virus and is a highly contagious disease. The virus carrier is a sick person; in rare cases, they can be pets.
  • Ulcerative membranous is a sore throat without fever. The patient usually experiences necrosis of one of the tonsils with the formation of an ulcer. The patient complains that he feels a foreign body when swallowing, his salivation increases, and there is a putrid odor from his mouth.

Causes

The primary focus of inflammation is formed in the lymphoid tissue of the oropharynx. Causes predisposing to the disease may be local and general hypothermia, dusty and polluted atmosphere, increased dryness of rooms, decreased immunity, etc.

In most cases, angina develops after acute respiratory viral infections, which reduce the protective functions of the epithelium in the respiratory tract, thereby opening the path to infection.

From person to person, sore throat is transmitted by airborne droplets or nutritional (food) routes. With endogenous infection, microbes enter the tonsils from carious teeth, paranasal sinuses (with sinusitis) or the nasal cavity. When the immune system is weakened, sore throat can be caused by bacteria and viruses that are constantly present on the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx.

Ways of infection entering an adult body:

  • Airborne (the most typical route of transmission).
  • Enteral (together with contaminated dairy products).
  • Hematogenous (with blood flow from organs and tissues infected with the pathogen).
  • Endogenous (in patients suffering from gastroenteritis, purulent sinusitis, tonsillitis and caries).
  • Artificial (during surgical operations on the nasopharynx and nasal cavity (traumatic tonsillitis)).

In addition, the following reasons can provoke the disease in adults:

  • improper and irrational nutrition;
  • severe fatigue of the body;
  • living in unfavorable conditions;
  • lack of sufficient sunlight;
  • constant dampness.

Considering that sore throat in the vast majority of cases is caused by streptococci, and rheumatism, glomerulonephritis and myocarditis occur precisely with streptococcal infections, treatment begins with penicillin antibiotics.

Symptoms of sore throat + photos

The incubation period (the time spanning the period of introduction of a pathogenic factor into the human body until the first clinical symptoms) lasts on average about an hour.

Common symptoms of sore throat in adults:

  • Temperature increase. Specific reaction of the human body to the pathogenic activity of bacterial agents. High temperature promotes the rapid removal of toxins from the body, enhances the immune response, and also reduces the rate of bacterial growth;
  • chills and malaise;
  • headache appears due to intoxication of the human body with waste products of pathogenic microorganisms;
  • increased fatigue;
  • pain in the joints (the symptom is typical for both children and adults).
  • Difficulty swallowing. This symptom develops as a consequence of inflammation of the tonsils. This reduces the opening of the oropharynx, which makes it difficult for food to pass through it. Also, when swallowing, pain increases, which causes the patient to be careful when making swallowing movements.
  • If the disease is severe, then areas of necrosis that have a dark gray color form on the tonsils. Dead tissue is rejected, being replaced by defective areas measuring 10 mm.

Adults become infected from a carrier of the infection who releases it into the external environment. A significant role here is played by a close team at work, the use of shared cutlery and dishes, and a careless attitude to the rules of personal hygiene.

In the photo below, you can see what a sore throat looks like in an adult:

The photo shows an accumulation of pus on the tonsils - this is a characteristic sign of tonsillitis

  • Low-grade fever (temperature rise to 37-38°C)
  • Mild malaise
  • Possible enlarged lymph nodes
  • Enlargement and redness of the palatine tonsils themselves
  • pain in the throat area,
  • increased swelling of the palatine tonsils,
  • rise in body temperature,
  • the appearance of signs of intoxication in the body in the form of headaches, attacks of nausea and vomiting,
  • an increase in the size of the lymph nodes in the submandibular region,
  • the appearance of plaque (yellow-white) at the mouths of the lacunae.
  • persistent fever
  • headache,
  • vomiting, confusion.

In addition, the patient experiences symptoms such as:

  • chills;
  • feverish condition;
  • sore throat;
  • grayish coating on the tonsils;
  • swelling of the neck;
  • bad breath;
  • voice change.

What to do when the first signs appear?

The first signs of a sore throat appear very quickly. In most cases, a bacterial form develops, in which the patient complains of a sore throat and plaque on the tonsils. Viral sore throat is often accompanied by lacrimation, runny nose and other signs of acute respiratory infections. Treatment depends on the type of pathogen (bacteria or virus).

The patient is isolated in another room and given separate dishes and care items. He must comply with the following rules:

  1. bed rest in the first days of illness, especially at high temperatures;
  2. limiting physical activity;
  3. non-irritating, soft food, mainly vegetable and dairy, plenty of warm drinks.

Complications for the body

Despite the fact that sore throat seems to be a minor disease and many people ignore its comprehensive treatment, it is fraught with numerous complications. Complications of angina are conventionally divided into local and general.

Local complications of sore throat:

  • abscesses of surrounding soft tissues (formation of large cavities filled with pus);
  • phlegmon (diffused accumulation of pus, unlimited);
  • otitis;
  • swelling of the larynx;
  • bleeding from the tonsils.

Are common:

  • rheumatism;
  • kidney damage;
  • gastrointestinal tract damage;
  • penetration of infectious agents from the throat into the chest;
  • spread of infectious agents into the cranial cavity;
  • Sepsis is the most severe complication of tonsillitis.

To avoid these complications, it is necessary to consult a specialist in time to choose the right tactics for treating sore throat.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should contact an ENT doctor or an infectious disease specialist. If this is not possible, a general practitioner or pediatrician, as well as a family doctor, can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. If complications develop, a cardiologist, nephrologist, and rheumatologist participate in the treatment of the patient.

When making a diagnosis, the clinical picture of the disease, anamnesis data are taken into account, and the patient is prescribed pharyngoscopy and a bacterial culture test. A differential diagnosis of sore throat with ARVI, acute pharyngitis and pharyngeal diphtheria is mandatory.

The main signs to identify a bacterial infection:
  • severe redness and swelling of the tonsils and uvula;
  • purulent sore throat with areas of gray plaque;
  • coating on the tongue;
  • enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
  • the formation of a peritonsillar abscess, in which one tonsil is pushed towards the center of the soft palate, towards the uvula, is a sign of severe disease;
  • pain accompanied by drooling, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing and breathing.

Treatment of sore throat in adults

In most cases, treatment of angina is carried out on an outpatient basis, but in case of severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in the infectious diseases department. Do not forget that you should limit the patient’s communication with family members so as not to spread the infection.

Provide the patient with separate dishes and a towel. With proper and timely treatment, recovery occurs in approximately seven days.

Medicines are prescribed to the patient depending on what symptoms he or she experiences. In case of severe pain, he needs to take anesthetic substances.

Drugs for the treatment of sore throat:

  1. Fusafungin (bioparox) - inhalation, 4 inhalations by mouth every 4 hours for 4-5 days. May cause irritation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, bronchospasm, and allergic reactions.
  2. Ambazon - keep the tablet in your mouth until it is completely dissolved (adults 3-5 tablets per day, children from 3 to 7 years old 1 tablet 3 times a day for 3-4 days). After taking the tablet, refrain from eating and drinking for 3 hours.
  3. Gramicidin - the tablet is kept in the mouth (behind the cheek) until it is completely dissolved. Use 2 tablets (one after the other for 20-30 minutes) 4 times a day for 2-3 days.
  4. In severe cases of the disease, the use of the following drugs is recommended: Hexoral Stopangin Strepsils Luxury Lugol.
  5. Antihistamines. The following drugs are indicated: Suprastin, Tavegil, Fenkarol, Loratadine, Claritin, etc.
  6. To reduce body temperature and reduce pain, antipyretic drugs and analgesics are prescribed.
  7. For sore throat, the symptoms subside thanks to absorbable tablets with menthol-based drugs. Instead, you can use special aerosols. Their use helps relieve pain that occurs in the throat during a sore throat.

If the body temperature persists for more than 5 days, the treatment regimen should be changed, as this indicates its ineffectiveness.

Antibiotics

In adults, antibiotics may not be used at the first sign of illness. They are indicated only in case of bacterial nature of the infection. With properly selected antibacterial therapy, the patient's condition improves quickly. But the doctor’s task is not only to quickly recover the patient, but also to prevent the development of complications. This is achieved by completely destroying the pathogen, which occurs when antibiotics are used for at least 10 days.

How many days, in what way, and what dosage of the medicine should be taken is prescribed by the attending physician.

Gargling

It is important to remember that when gargling, pathogenic microorganisms are washed out from the mucous membrane, so this must be done as often as possible. When gargling at home, you can use the following solutions:

After recovery, the patient is prescribed a control laboratory test, and if signs of complications are detected, consultation and subsequent treatment with a specialized specialist is strongly recommended.

Diet

For sore throat, liquid, pureed, warm, fortified food without hot seasonings and spices, drinking plenty of fluids (preferably alkaline mineral waters) are recommended; smoking must be avoided!

This meal includes the following dishes:

  • Porridges made with water or milk (oatmeal, rice, semolina) are liquid in consistency, reminiscent of jelly.
  • Puree soups, broths (with pieces of bread).
  • The bread should be white, without yeast and not too fresh, but not stale.
  • Boiled and preferably pureed or pureed vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkin.
  • Pasta, but small ones are better.
  • Boiled eggs, omelettes.
  • Dietary fish varieties: bream, pollock, cod.
  • Steamed or boiled dishes: cutlets, meatballs. They are prepared from dietary meat: chicken, veal, rabbit.
  • Dairy products should be low in fat. Cottage cheese is taken to a cream-like consistency.
  • Fruits need to be baked or boiled.

When treating tonsillitis it is necessary:

  • reduce the amount of proteins (up to seventy grams), carbohydrates (up to three hundred grams), fats (up to about sixty grams);
  • increase the number of meals up to five times, eat in small portions;
  • boil food, steam it, and then serve it in chopped form;
  • eat vegetables, various cereals;
  • do not eat hot or cold foods;
  • drink drinks containing vitamins: fruit drinks, herbal teas, sugar-free jelly.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of treatment are aimed at reducing inflammation in the pharynx, strengthening the body's defenses, and speeding recovery after illness. For these purposes, decoctions of plants with anti-inflammatory effects (chamomile, sage, oak bark), teas and infusions of berries with a high content of vitamins (currants, cranberries, rose hips) are used.

  1. Calendula inflorescences, plantain leaves, wormwood grass - equal amounts of everything. Pour 1 tablespoon of the mixture into 1 cup of boiling water, simmer over low heat for minutes, strain. Gargle with warm solution every 2 hours.
  2. Beetroot juice. Grate the beets, squeeze out the juice and gargle with it. Using the same analogy, you can prepare carrot juice, either used alone or diluted with beet juice.
  3. Sage leaf - 3 parts, chamomile flowers - 3 parts, love spell herb - 3 parts, brew 1 teaspoon of the mixture with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain. Gargle for sore throat and pharyngitis.
  4. Pour 3-5 pieces of spicy cloves into a glass of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Take 50 g of the infusion, but you can take the whole infusion depending on the severity of the disease.
  5. Grate a glass of beets, pour in a tablespoon of vinegar, and let the mixture settle. Then squeeze out the juice, gargle with it and swallow 1-2 tablespoons.

Forecast

As for the prognosis of treatment, for catarrhal tonsillitis the prognosis for treatment is favorable in all cases. The disease goes away especially quickly if treatment is started in a timely manner. Favorable prognosis for the treatment of follicular and lacunar tonsillitis. But still, they can lead to the development of chronic tonsillitis.

Severe complications are caused by necrotizing tonsillitis of any form of complexity. The most common complications are rheumatism and glomerulonephritis.

Prevention

Preventing a disease is always more profitable and easier than treating it. Prevention of sore throat is no exception. At home, you can carry out some simple procedures and follow rules that reduce the risk of getting sick:

  • In order to avoid contracting a sore throat, it is also important not to maintain contact with a person with a sore throat, not to use common household items, etc.
  • Daily exercises, walking in the fresh air, wiping and dousing with cold water, contrast showers - all this can work wonders on the immune system;
  • Proper nutrition. It directly affects the immune system, therefore, it should be rich in healthy food that carries vitamins and minerals to the body, and not fat and cholesterol.
  • And one of the basic rules for adults is sanitation of the oral cavity, timely treatment of diseases such as caries, nasal congestion, and adenoiditis.

At the first symptoms of a sore throat, be sure to consult a therapist or ENT doctor for proper treatment.

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Source: http://simptomy-i-lechenie.net/angina/

Treatment of sore throat in adults

What is called a sore throat is not always what it is. In some cases, with any pain in the throat, people, trying to make a correct diagnosis for themselves, call it sore throat, not wanting to deal with the real diagnosis. Sore throat is most often confused with pharyngitis, laryngitis, and colds. To avoid such misconceptions, you need to know what symptoms of sore throat occur in adults and how it develops. If you have signs of a sore throat, of course, you need to see a doctor to get recommendations for treatment.

Causes of sore throat in adults

Sore throat in adults occurs when streptococci or staphylococci, and sometimes both at once, enter the human body. As a rule, infection occurs through contact with a person who is a carrier of the infection. In addition, you can become infected from a person who has recovered from a sore throat, because virulent streptococci will remain in his body for another 2-3 weeks. The mucous membrane is the first barrier that encounters pathological bacterial microorganisms.

When these microorganisms settle on the tonsils, lymphoid tissue begins to work, actively secreting antibodies to the invading bacteria. In view of the fact that tonsillitis most often occurs in the autumn-spring period (explained by hypothermia and contact with sick people), it is clear that people have weakened immunity and slight vitamin deficiencies. In a weakened body, the lymphatic system is not able to cope with harmful bacteria on its own, so they will provoke inflammation of the tonsils (in some cases purulent), negatively affecting the functioning of other systems.

Symptoms of sore throat in adults

The main symptoms include:

  • Sore throat and difficulty swallowing;
  • Sore throat;
  • Headaches, loss of appetite;
  • Abdominal pain and vomiting;
  • Heat;
  • Sore throat with fever;
  • Enlarged lymph nodes without signs of infection in the upper respiratory tract;
  • Enlarged lymph nodes with signs of infection;
  • Stuffy nose and runny nose;
  • Bad breath.

In adults, tonsillitis can develop due to irregular and unhealthy diet, as well as due to disorders of the immune system.

If you have signs of a sore throat, you should immediately consult a doctor. Some dangerous symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing;
  • Swelling of the tongue and neck;
  • Skin rash;
  • Problems with swallowing saliva;
  • Stiff neck or trouble opening the mouth.

Many people with tonsillitis are advised to avoid treatment altogether.

Treatment of patients with sore throat

To prevent dangerous complications from developing due to a sore throat, it is necessary to begin treatment of the disease in a timely manner, without waiting for the health condition to worsen. First of all, the sick person must be isolated because this disease is very contagious. If the patient remains at home, then he needs to be provided with separate dishes and a towel. The room in which he sleeps and stays needs to be ventilated more often, as well as wet cleaning done twice a day. All these measures can help the patient himself and the people around him.

The basic rule for treating sore throat is bed rest. It is forbidden to carry this disease on your feet. The duration of bed rest should exceed 4-5 days, in especially severe cases - about 10 days. The patient should be given warm drinks to prevent dehydration, vitamins and dietary nutrition.

Sore throat is treated primarily with antibiotics. Among the most effective drugs today that can improve the patient’s condition are: Tetracycline, Bicillin, Erythromycin, Cephalexin, Ampicillin. In addition to oral administration, it is necessary to irrigate the throat with Hexasprey, Faringosept, Hexoral, Orasept. The use of these sprays must be alternated with rinsing the mouth with solutions of baking soda, furacillin, hydrogen peroxide, and infusions of medicinal herbs - sage, calendula, chamomile. To ensure an analgesic effect, it is recommended to use Ketonal, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Paracetamol, Panadol.

The use of medications should be carried out against the background of improved immunity. Adults must be prescribed vitamin B, ascorbic acid, and antihistamines that reduce allergic manifestations.

Treatment will be considered successful if there are no side effects from other organs and systems of the body, when the patient’s urine and blood tests are normal, the temperature remains normal for more than a week and there are no pathological complications in the oral cavity.

What antibiotics are recommended for sore throat in adults?

Of course, antibiotics cause some harm to the body. Especially if used without purpose. Independent use of any type of medicine is unacceptable, especially antibiotics. According to international studies, more than 50% of patients with angina stop taking antibiotics immediately after the first relief of the condition, and only about 20% continue to strictly follow the course, taking the drugs until recovery.

At the same time, in cases where inflammation in the oral cavity is particularly severe, it is simply impossible to do without antibiotics. But such drugs should only be prescribed by a doctor, based on the severity of the disease, duration of treatment, dosage, age and weight of the sick adult or child. The choice of a specific antibiotic for a sore throat will depend on the type of bacteria that caused the sore throat, as well as on whether the patient is allergic to a particular drug. The duration of the course of antibiotics is usually 7-14 days.

If the patient is not allergic to penicillin-type antibiotics, then it is recommended to use them because they cause minimal harm to the body (Amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, Penicillin). New generation antibiotics (the same Amoxiclav) are best suited. But sometimes it happens that the causative agent of sore throat is resistant to certain drugs. Therefore, if no noticeable improvement in health is observed within 2 days, the use of other broad-spectrum antibiotics is recommended:

  • Klacid, Fromilid, Clarithromycin, Ecositrin, Clerimed, Klabaks (rubles);
  • Ceftriaxone (1 bottle 20 rubles), Lendatsin (5 bottles 1.2-1.3 thousand rubles), Rocephin (1 bottle 500 rubles), Oframax (160 rubles);
  • Erythromycin (40-80 r.);
  • Cephalexin (40-80 rubles);
  • Tsiprolet, Tsifran, Siphlox (r.);
  • Sumamed, Azicide, Azitrox, Zitrolide, Zi-Factor (r.);
  • Amoxiclav (400 rub.);
  • Cefazolin (1 fl.).

If there is no antibacterial treatment, then dangerous complications will develop due to sore throat, which are glomerulonephritis, sinusitis, and otitis media. For angina, antibiotics quickly alleviate the course of this disease. At elevated temperatures, the use of antipyretic and analgesic drugs is also recommended to reduce pain when swallowing, headaches, and reduce weakness from intoxication:

  • Panadol;
  • Efferalgan Upsa;
  • Paracetamol;
  • Ibuprofen tablets;
  • Acetylsalicylic acid.

It is widely believed that if the temperature during a sore throat is less than 38 degrees, then it is not recommended to bring it down, because at this temperature the body will produce antibodies to the viruses and bacteria that cause the disease. Therefore, if the condition can be tolerated, it is better not to lower the temperature.

Treatment of sore throat with folk remedies

Some recipes for treating sore throat with folk remedies:

  • In the initial stages of the disease, it is recommended to chew comb honey;
  • Chew cloves;
  • Gargle with calendula tincture (preferably diluted with water);
  • A compress of cabbage leaves on the throat, change the leaves every 2 hours, secure with a scarf on top;
  • Gargle with beetroot juice;
  • Drink a tablespoon of onion juice twice a day. Make a compress of onion squeezes on your throat at night.

How to treat a sore throat with lemon?

Sore throat in adults can be easily cured with the help of the following folk remedy: scald 1 lemon with boiling water and eat it completely, because it will seem insipid if you have a sore throat. The temperature will subside and the sore throat will go away.

Another similar recipe: squeeze the juice from a lemon and drink it without washing it down with anything. After 10 hours we repeat. After another 10 hours we repeat again. The sore throat will completely go away, and the product will help cure a sore throat in just two days.

How to treat a sore throat with honey and propolis?

Honey and propolis will help completely get rid of chronic tonsillitis and sore throat. Before going to bed, you need to mix a spoonful of propolis alcohol tincture and a spoonful of honey. The mixture should be eaten in small portions, dissolving, slowly. Course duration: 10 days. Next - a week's break and another course. This course of treatment will avoid surgical removal of the tonsils.

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Source: http://neprostudis.ru/g/lechenie-anginy-u-vzroslykh