Symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis
Pharyngitis in acute and chronic form is one of the most common ENT diseases in young patients. Chronic pharyngitis accounts for up to nine percent of the overall morbidity statistics in children.
Table of contents:
- Symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis
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- Tonsillitis and pharyngitis - symptoms and treatment of diseases
- Causes of tonsillitis
- Acute tonsillitis can occur due to:
- Symptoms of tonsillitis
- Causes of pharyngitis
- Pharyngitis can progress due to:
- Clinical manifestations of pharyngitis
- Diagnosis and treatment of diseases
- Treatment of tonsillitis
- Treatment of pharyngitis
- What is the difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis?
- Pharyngitis and its causes
- Causes of tonsillitis
- Symptoms of acute forms of diseases
- How to identify a chronic disease
- Treatment of the disease
- Which disease is more severe?
- Differences between tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis
- Tonsillitis
- Pharyngitis
- Laryngitis
- What are the other differences between pharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis?
- Effective prevention of throat diseases
- Cancel reply
- Treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis
- Causes of tonsillitis and pharyngitis
- What causes tonsillitis?
- What contributes to the occurrence of pharyngitis
- Symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis
- How does tonsillitis manifest?
- Clinical picture of pharyngitis
- Diagnosis of diseases
- Diagnostic examination for tonsillitis
- Diagnosing pharyngitis
- What treatment is prescribed
- Therapy of acute tonsillitis
- Treatment of chronic tonsillitis
- How is acute pharyngitis treated?
- Therapeutic measures against chronic pharyngitis
- Causes of tonsillitis
- Acute tonsillitis can occur due to:
- Symptoms of tonsillitis
- Causes of pharyngitis
- Pharyngitis can progress due to:
- Clinical manifestations of pharyngitis
- Diagnosis and treatment of diseases
- Treatment of tonsillitis
- Treatment of pharyngitis
- Characteristics of chronic sore throat
- Features and causes of chronic pharyngitis
- Chronic tonsillitis and its causes
- What characterizes chronic tonsillitis
- Methods and methods for treating chronic throat diseases
- Treatment with drugs
- Medicines used to treat tonsillitis
- Physiotherapy and home treatment
- Treating a throat with home remedies
- Prevention of chronic throat diseases
- Healthy lifestyle
- Exercise and Wellness Activities
And among children who get sick often, this disease accounts for more than forty percent of cases.
The acute form of pharyngitis is often a full-fledged disease that appears when drinking ice-cold drinks, after hypothermia, or being in a dusty or gas-filled place. The patient feels pain and soreness in the throat, and a nonproductive cough may occur. Body temperature often increases. In the case when acute pharyngitis is one of the manifestations of another illness ( for example, an acute viral infection ), in addition to unpleasant sensations in the throat, manifestations characteristic of the underlying disease are also observed. Then it is necessary to understand whether inflammation of the tonsils develops as an independent process or is it provoked by the main virus. Signs of acute inflammation of the tonsils during acute respiratory viral infections are usually combined with signs of acute respiratory viral infections: nasal congestion, signs of intoxication, increased body temperature, rashes.
During the examination of the throat, obvious redness of the throat walls is detected. Sometimes small ulcers are observed. In addition, the acute form of pharyngitis should be differentiated from the acute form of tonsillitis. If we are talking about acute tonsillitis, then only the palatine tonsils become inflamed. And with the first disease, inflammation covers large surfaces. If with tonsillitis you only have a sore throat and swollen tonsils, then with pharyngitis the throat also feels sore and there is also an unproductive cough.
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by the gradual onset of symptoms. One of the manifestations of the disease is periodic exacerbations due to physical or emotional overload, consumption of cold foods, and weakening of the body’s defenses. This disease in its chronic form is a permanent source of infection in the body, which is not destroyed by the body’s own forces. A similar process develops after incompetent or incomplete treatment of the acute form of the disease. Sometimes the process develops due to the presence of another source of infection in the body ( for example, in a carious tooth, with a chronic runny nose or sinusitis ). Bad habits also contribute to the development of the disease: drunkenness, nicotine consumption, and working in hazardous industries. Along with the chronic form of pharyngitis, the chronic form of tonsillitis also develops. The long-term presence of foci of inflammation is very harmful to the functions of the mucous membrane of the throat. The chronic process can occur in three varieties: catarrhal , atrophic and hypertrophic . The degree of damage to the mucous membrane of the throat at these stages is different.
The acute form of pharyngitis usually does not pose a danger to the patient. In babies, however, there is a possibility of developing swelling of the larynx and suffocation ( more often accompanied by illiterate treatment ), in this regard, mothers and fathers should carefully monitor the functioning of the baby’s respiratory system. If complications are suspected, you should immediately consult a pediatrician. Another complication of the acute form of the disease is the formation of abscesses ( ulcers ). Abscesses often form near the tonsils, under the back surface of the pharynx, and also in adipose tissue. The development of an abscess can be judged by the presence of a long-lasting elevated body temperature that does not change with the use of medications and with the improvement of the patient’s general condition. Treatment for such a complication is only surgical. The most severe complications of pharyngitis are associated with autoimmune processes that appear as a result of the body’s response to the pathogenic microflora that provoked the disease. Particularly common autoimmune disorders are tonsillitis caused by streptococci. Autoimmune disorders most often manifest themselves in the form of articular rheumatism, heart valve disorders, kidney dysfunction, and brain dysfunction. It must be said that the transition from an acute form of the disease to a chronic one, as well as the occurrence of complications, can be prevented if you consult a qualified doctor in time and strictly follow his instructions.
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Source: http://www.tiensmed.ru/news/simtom-faringit-tonzillit1.html
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis - symptoms and treatment of diseases
Tonsillitis, like pharyngitis, are the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are characterized by inflammation and pain in the throat. Both diseases are usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection, so they manifest themselves in the same way and without proper diagnosis they are difficult to distinguish from other diseases. Sometimes pharyngitis appears as a complication of tonsillitis.
Causes of tonsillitis
The main difference between tonsillitis and pharyngitis is the location of the lesion. With tonsillitis, inflammation is observed in the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, with pharyngitis - in the pharyngeal cavity. The main causes of diseases are viruses or bacteria that enter the respiratory system from the outside or are located in other parts of the respiratory system. The main causative agents of tonsillitis are streptococcus and staphylococcus, less often this occurs due to chlamydia, mycoplasma, viruses or fungi.
In the depths of the throat, at the base of the arch, there are 2 tonsils. What are tonsils? This is a collection of lymphocytes that take part in protecting the body. It is in the tonsils that sore throat or tonsillitis occurs. The moment a microorganism (usually streptococcus) enters and infects the throat, inflammation occurs. The tonsils, trying to fight the infection, increase in size and fight the microbe, as a result of which a purulent coating appears on their surface.
With tonsillitis, the tonsils become inflamed and pustules appear on them.
Acute tonsillitis can occur due to:
- general hypothermia of the body, as well as against the background of taking cold foods, water, inhaling frosty air;
- weakening of protective functions;
- mechanical impact on the tonsils;
- previous colds;
- allergies.
This disease is extremely dangerous and can cause serious complications. Acute tonsillitis lasts about 1 – 2 weeks, after which the disease can become chronic. To prevent the transition of acute tonsillitis into a chronic form of the disease (this happens quite often), the disease should be treated at an early stage. Tonsillitis should be treated only with medications that the doctor will select individually.
Symptoms of tonsillitis
If pharyngitis differs from tonsillitis in cause and location, then their symptoms are often very similar. Initially, with tonsillitis, the body temperature rises to 38.5 and above. Afterwards, during the day, the symptoms worsen. A person begins to experience a feeling of soreness, constriction, and dryness in the throat. As a result of enlarged tonsils, there will be difficulty swallowing foods, liquids, and sometimes saliva.
Characteristic signs of tonsillitis or tonsillitis are the coating of the tongue with a gray coating, and the tonsils with white or yellow bubbles. The patient experiences symptoms such as pain and aches in the limbs, and a deterioration in overall health. There is an increase in the submandibular lymph nodes.
In the acute form of tonsillitis, when the temperature drops, all symptoms worsen. Improper treatment of the disease will invariably lead to the appearance of chronic tonsillitis, in which the surface of the palate becomes thicker, the lymph nodes become enlarged and begin to hurt, and the structure of the tonsils changes (their surface becomes loose, and adhesions may appear).
Chronic tonsillitis can occur with normal body temperature, but with a deterioration in the general condition of the patient. An exacerbation will occur with the slightest decrease in immunity and, as a result, conservative treatment will simply be powerless. In this case, adults and children can be treated through surgery.
You can learn more about tonsillitis, its causes and treatment from the article: Tonsillitis: symptoms, treatment and causes.
Causes of pharyngitis
Pharyngitis differs from tonsillitis in that it is caused by viruses. Most often it occurs against the background of:
Pharyngitis occurs most often in autumn or winter, during the seasons when colds worsen. Against the background of chronic pharyngitis, when correct treatment was not carried out in the acute period, a bacterial infection develops, which complicates the course of the disease and aggravates unpleasant symptoms.
Pharyngitis can progress due to:
- individual structural features of the mucous membranes of the digestive system and pharynx;
- constant inhalation of hot fumes, dust, smoke;
- regular contact with chemicals;
- dependence on certain medications that are used to treat nasal congestion or to relieve symptoms of sinusitis;
- smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol;
- allergic reaction;
- metabolic and endocrine disorders;
- pathologies of the kidneys, heart or blood vessels.
Chronic pharyngitis is often detected together with pathology of the digestive organs, in which food from the stomach returns back to the esophagus and enters the pharynx. This form of pharyngitis can be provoked by gastroreflux disease and hiatal hernia. Treatment of the disease in this case will take place in parallel with the main cause, which provokes the appearance of constant relapses. The cause of chronic pharyngitis may be pathology of the nasopharynx.
Clinical manifestations of pharyngitis
Symptoms of pharyngitis, in the acute period of the disease, are manifested by soreness, dryness and discomfort in the throat during swallowing. This main symptom of pharyngitis will accompany the disease throughout the entire period.
Depending on the cause of inflammation, symptoms such as:
- localization of pain in the throat and ears;
- enlargement and tenderness of the cervical lymph nodes;
- the back of the pharynx, palatine ridges, and lymphoid granules become inflamed. If tonsillitis is manifested by damage to the tonsils, then with pharyngitis they remain absolutely clean.
Chronic pharyngitis occurs due to lack of proper treatment during the acute period or when frequent colds occur. Against the background of chronic pharyngitis, adults experience a feeling of dryness and a lump in the throat. The patient constantly coughs, trying to get rid of the obstruction in the throat.
Chronic pharyngitis is also characterized by a deterioration in a person’s general well-being. This especially affects the emotional state, since he cannot get a good night's sleep due to discomfort in the throat. As a result, this leads to irritability and nervousness in adults.
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis should be carried out only after the underlying cause of the disease has been identified. It makes no sense to treat the manifestations of infection alone, since this will only bring short-term relief.
Diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Before treating a disease that has caused unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to conduct a correct diagnosis. To do this, they take blood for analysis, a smear from the tonsils in case of inflammation, an ECG, and radiography. To confirm tonsillitis, a visual examination of the throat is sufficient, which will be red, with a loose layer of tonsils and the appearance of a characteristic coating on them. If it is chronic, then adhesions will be observed on the surface of the tonsils, coloring them a rich scarlet color. In children, unlike adults, all signs will be more pronounced. If pharyngitis is suspected, a visual examination of the throat and pharyngoscopy will be performed.
Treatment of the disease is carried out only after the cause of inflammation has been identified and differential diagnostics have been carried out, helping to exclude diseases of the respiratory system with similar clinical signs.
Treatment of tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis should be treated with antibacterial agents, gargling with Furacilin or Miramistin, using antiseptics and painkillers that act directly in the throat (Lizak, Doctor Mom, etc.). Additionally, sprays are prescribed that irrigate the tonsils, such as Orasept, Tantum Verde, etc. Treatment with antipyretics is indicated during the acute period of the disease, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature. To do this, use Panadol, Nurofen or combination drugs that are administered intramuscularly.
Treatment of the chronic type of the disease consists of using an inhaler, rinsing and gargling, strengthening the immune system with the help of immunomodulators, and using physiotherapeutic procedures. Do daily nasal rinsing and gargling using medications or folk remedies. A good remedy that is prescribed to adults and children is sea salt, which is used to rinse and wash the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
Treatment of pharyngitis
Treatment of pharyngitis in the acute period is recommended to include gargling (using a decoction of chamomile or sage, soda solution), inhalation and throat irrigation with Angilex, Chlorophyllipt. A product produced in the form of lollipops, Septifril Darnitsa, helps relieve pain symptoms.
Treatment must be accompanied by drinking plenty of fluids and humidifying the air in the room. Dry compresses are used to warm the throat, relieve inflammation and relieve unpleasant symptoms. Treatment should be accompanied by a diet that excludes spicy, fatty and solid foods.
Chronic pharyngitis requires a careful examination of the body to identify factors that provoke relapses of the disease. First of all, treatment of teeth, gums, and correction of a deviated nasal septum, if any, is carried out.
What is the difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis?
Often, due to their inexperience, patients are not able to distinguish between pharyngitis and tonsillitis, the differences of which will seem obvious only to an experienced specialist. Both diseases are pathological processes in the throat of an inflammatory nature. Although the treatment is a little similar, it is still extremely important to know the difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis. This will make it possible to conduct differential diagnostics, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.
Pharyngitis and its causes
Knowing what pharyngitis is, a person can at least suspect it and consult a doctor in time.
Pharyngitis is an acute inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane and lymphoid tissue of the posterior wall of the pharynx. The causes of the development of the disease can be infectious agents (adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, streptococci, staphylococci) or saprophytes, which are activated under the influence of unfavorable factors. These may be, for example, general or local hypothermia. It is also not uncommon for pharyngitis to occur against the background of acute respiratory infections, but it will be combined with laryngitis or rhinitis. The provoking factor may be the action of thermal or chemical irritants: cold air, spicy or hot food, cigarette smoke, dust, alcohol.
There are also a number of factors that create favorable conditions for the development of inflammation in the pharynx:
- nasal injuries resulting in a deviated septum;
- the presence of foci of inflammation in the body (sinusitis, caries, rhinitis);
- nasal polyps;
- lack of vitamins;
- hypothermia;
- decreased immunity;
- adenoids.
Causes of tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is an inflammatory lesion of the lymphadenoid tissue of the pharyngeal ring. More often you can hear the name “angina” for this disease. If nothing is written before the diagnosis, then it means inflammation of the tonsils, otherwise its location will be indicated before the word “tonsillitis”.
Unlike pharyngitis, tonsillitis is caused only by germs or viruses. The most common pathogen is group A B-hemolytic streptococcus. In very rare cases, sore throat is caused by a fungal infection.
Provoking factors are somewhat similar to those that cause pharyngitis:
- hypothermia;
- intoxication of the body;
- decreased resistance;
- hypovitaminosis;
- nasal obstruction;
- overwork.
Symptoms of acute forms of diseases
A person without special education and work experience can easily confuse tonsillitis and pharyngitis with each other. And this will lead to unpleasant consequences. That is why it is important to know what differences there are between diseases.
Acute tonsillitis is a disease with pronounced local changes in the throat and distant complications (heart, kidneys, joints). There are several forms of sore throat:
- catarrhal – the mildest form. It is most easily confused with acute pharyngitis. A distinctive feature is the absence of redness on the oropharynx;
- follicular – characterized by a more severe course. Yellow or yellowish-white patches form on the tonsils - festering follicles;
- lacunar - the clinical picture is similar to the previous one, but upon examination plaques are visible that can be easily removed. The surface will not bleed;
- ulcerative-membranous – the most severe form of the disease. With it, yellow-white films are formed on the surface of the tonsils, which, after removal, leave a bleeding wound. The danger of the disease is that it can lead to necrosis of the tonsils.
The disease begins acutely. Patients complain of dryness and tolerable pain in the throat, which may worsen when swallowing. Fatigue and mild headache are also noted. Occasionally, body aches and discomfort in the joints may occur. At first the temperature is low - up to 38 degrees.
If treatment for sore throat is not started in time, the symptoms worsen. Body temperature can reach high values - more than 40 degrees. The sore throat intensifies significantly and may radiate to the ear. Painful sensations appear that limit movement in the lower back and joints.
Using a blood test, leukocytosis, acceleration of ESR and a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left are determined. An oral swab helps identify the causative agent of the disease.
The picture of acute pharyngitis is quite similar to the initial symptoms of tonsillitis (catarrhal form) - there is a feeling of dryness and soreness in the throat, pain that becomes stronger during swallowing. Cough and ear congestion may bother you. There is a sensation of a foreign object in the throat. But pharyngitis differs from tonsillitis in that it does not cause an increase in temperature and disturbances in the general condition of the body. And upon examination, the redness is localized not only on the tonsils, but spreads throughout almost the entire pharynx.
It often happens that two neighboring organs are involved in the process. Then pharyngitis and tonsillitis occur simultaneously. In this case, the disease will be called pharyngotonsillitis. Clinically, it will manifest itself as symptoms of inflammation in both the pharynx and tonsils.
How to identify a chronic disease
The acute form can develop into chronic tonsillitis or pharyngitis. This occurs due to incorrect or untimely treatment, reduced body resistance, aggressiveness of the disease, and specific climatic conditions. Chronic disease proceeds sluggishly, with periods of exacerbation. It is almost impossible to cure it, but there are methods that prevent the process from escalating.
A major role in the development of chronic pharyngitis is attributed to the influence of occupational factors - temperature fluctuations, too dry air, the presence of gases, vapors or dust in the inhaled air. Diseases are divided into three types:
- Catarrhal - patients complain of tickling, dry throat, frequent coughing. Symptoms are intermittent, sometimes disappearing, sometimes appearing. During pharyngoscopy, swelling and redness are visible. The mucous membrane is thickened, the vessels are dilated, and mucous deposits are noticeable here and there.
- Hypertrophic – the above complaints are accompanied by stuffy ears after taking several sips in a row. Upon examination, growths of lymphadenoid tissue are determined, which look like humps protruding above the surface.
- Atrophic - symptoms are more pronounced in the morning, ears do not become blocked. There is an unpleasant odor from the mouth. The mucous membrane is thinned, it is pale, and may have a varnished appearance. In some places it may be covered with green or gray crusts.
The difference between tonsillitis and pharyngitis is that it requires the action of a virus or bacteria to occur. Inflammation can be specific - damage by infectious agents (tuberculosis, syphilis) or nonspecific - is infectious-allergic in nature.
Chronic tonsillitis is associated with the occurrence or worsening of a huge number of diseases. First of all, these are kidney and heart diseases. Rheumatism and thyrotoxicosis occur most often.
The clinical picture is characterized by frequent exacerbations, especially in the autumn-winter period. During remission, the disease practically does not bother the patient. In case of exacerbation, the symptoms are the same as in the acute form.
During the examination, a roller-like thickening of the palatine arches, cicatricial changes in the tonsils, pus in the lacunae, and enlarged regional lymph nodes are visible.
Treatment of the disease
As with any other illness, the most important thing is to see a doctor as soon as possible and not self-medicate. The symptoms are quite similar, but the treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis can be radically different. Only a specialist can tell you how to treat and care for a patient.
To properly treat pharyngitis, you must first remove the provoking factors. The following drugs are prescribed:
- lozenges – Falimint, Strepsils;
- throat sprays – Ingalipt, Yox;
- gargling – Furacilin, tinctures of medicinal plants.
It is important that the patient consumes only warm food and drink. It should not irritate the pharyngeal mucosa. Medicines should also be taken warm if possible.
For tonsillitis, the use of such tablets and procedures will be ineffective. Antibacterial therapy should be added to them - Erythromycin, Oxacillin. Antihistamines are also prescribed - Diazolin, Diphenhydramine. If regional lymphadenitis develops, then thermal procedures are performed - Solux, compress.
Which disease is more severe?
We can immediately say unequivocally that tonsillitis is much more severe than pharyngitis. And it entails much more dire consequences.
Antibiotics are rarely used for pharyngitis, so you should not swallow them immediately as soon as your throat hurts. But if a diagnosis of “angina” is made, then taking antibacterial drugs is mandatory, and the sooner the better.
It is important to remember that if you have tonsillitis, it is not recommended to lubricate your tonsils, as this can lead to the spread of infection.
Chronic tonsillitis, like pharyngitis or other throat diseases, can lead to cancer of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, patients need to undergo regular examinations.
Source: http://lorvdele.ru/gorlo/faringit-i-tonzillit-otlichiya.html
Differences between tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis
Sore throat, discomfort, loss or hoarseness of voice are a very common sign of many diseases. Tonsillitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis are accompanied by similar symptoms. These are the most common throat diseases. All of them are accompanied by very similar symptoms. It is important to correctly diagnose the disease; this largely determines how quickly a person can recover.
All of these diseases are associated with the throat, but there is a fundamental difference between them.
The main difference between these diseases is that the inflammation is localized in different places. Pharyngitis is an inflammation in the pharynx, laryngitis is in the larynx, tonsillitis is in the tonsils.
Any of these diseases appears and actively develops with reduced immunity. It is necessary to have an understanding of these pathologies, to be able to distinguish them, to know what differences exist between them in order to take the necessary measures in time. Even a doctor can sometimes make a mistake if he does not show a thorough and very attentive approach when examining a patient.
Let's look at the difference between pharyngitis, laryngitis, and tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis
It affects children more often than adults. This disease is localized in the tonsils (tonsils). The tonsils are an organ located in the pharynx. It is part of the immune system. The tonsils are a barrier to various viruses and infections entering the respiratory tract. However, with prolonged infections, they themselves can become inflamed, and this becomes the cause of the disease. This happens if measures to eliminate infections and viruses in this area are not taken in a timely manner.
You can become infected through airborne droplets, and you can also become self-infected if you have chronic diseases.
Chronic tonsillitis occurs when a person is hypothermic or as a result of a sharp decrease in the protective properties of the body.
The causative agents of the disease are most often staphylococci, streptococci, less often chlamydia, and various viruses.
It can occur after a sore throat, measles, or scarlet fever. Tonsillitis occurs when infection gets directly into the tonsils.
Symptoms of this disease:
- Significant enlargement of the tonsils.
- Unpleasant feeling in the throat.
- Swallowing problems.
- Fever.
- Swelling in the oral cavity.
- The appearance of an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
- Headache.
- General malaise.
- Possible enlargement of the liver and spleen.
- Purulent plugs on the tonsils.
- Swelling of the palatine arches.
- Pain in the area of the lymph nodes in the cervical region.
If the disease is neglected, this may lead to the fact that the tonsils will have to be removed in the future. Tonsillitis can cause complications on the kidneys, liver, and heart. Problems may arise in the future in the form of ear inflammation. If tonsillitis is not completely cured, it can eventually cause heart failure, rheumatism, and serious joint problems. Paratonsillitis and abscesses may appear at the site of localization.
Doctors believe that tonsillitis is an exacerbation of a chronic form of tonsillitis. Most often, the cause of tonsillitis is various respiratory or infectious diseases. But dental problems can also provoke its appearance: untreated teeth, problems with gums. Local injuries to the tonsils will also contribute.
If the disease is bacterial in nature, it can develop extremely quickly.
To diagnose tonsillitis, the doctor focuses primarily on the external signs of the disease and prescribes a clinical blood test. A significant excess in the number of leukocytes indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the patient’s body. In addition, the specialist will note swelling of the glands and their redness, and the presence of pain in the patient when palpating the lymph nodes in the neck.
Treatment depends entirely on the form of the disease, which is why it is so important to correctly diagnose tonsillitis. For chronic tonsillitis, if there are no complications, conservative therapy can be prescribed: removing plugs, rinsing the throat, various inhalations and rinsing with soda and saline solutions. To reduce pain, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of syrups or powders, they will help to significantly facilitate swallowing. At this time, it is important to maintain a drinking regime - you need to drink a sufficient amount of liquid, and it should be warm.
The effectiveness of treatment increases with the use of drugs that enhance immunity.
It is considered rational to use local antibacterial drugs when necessary. In difficult cases, surgical intervention is indicated.
Pharyngitis
This is inflammation in the uppermost respiratory tract, namely the pharynx. Despite the similarities with laryngitis, treatment methods will be different. Pharyngitis occurs as a consequence of the “lowering” of the runny nose during ARVI. Causes may include inhalation of tobacco or strong chemical odors. It can accompany rhinitis, sinusitis, and also occur due to dental problems. It often appears when inflammation already exists in an organ located near the pharynx. There are many types of pharyngitis. Its occurrence can be triggered by fungal diseases, viruses, pharyngeal injuries and much more. The symptoms of this disease are:
- Dryness in the pharynx, scratching sensation in the throat.
- Trouble swallowing.
- General weakness and malaise.
- Copious mucous discharge from the nose.
An increase in temperature occurs less frequently than with tonsillitis and laryngitis.
Treatment of pharyngitis usually includes the following measures:
- local sanitation (gargling);
- exclusion of cold drinks and food;
- dieting. It is necessary to exclude dishes that are too spicy or marinated, with a high content of spices.
The most common form is catarrhal pharyngitis in respiratory diseases. The reason for its appearance and rapid development is often rhinoviruses, that is, the disease is viral in nature. The bacterial form is much less common.
The manifestation of pharyngitis in some cases may indicate the onset of rubella or measles.
Laryngitis
Laryngitis also occurs as an accompanying disease with colds, as well as as a result of overstrain of the vocal cords or when exposed to allergens (dust, gases, tobacco). It is an inflammatory process in the organ located below the pharynx - the larynx. Inflammation occurs as a result of infection. It can occur after scarlet fever, flu, whooping cough, and also as a result of hypothermia of the throat. It can also be a consequence of allergies.
- Drooping voice or complete loss of it.
- Feeling of rawness in the throat.
- Dryness.
- Strong headache.
- Severe dry cough.
- Sometimes fever.
Laryngitis is also clearly indicated by swelling of the larynx and the presence of a large amount of mucus in this area.
With this disease, it is very important to observe the vocal regime: do not speak unless absolutely necessary, avoid any overstrain of the ligaments. It is also recommended to significantly increase the air humidity in the room where the patient is located. It is important that contact with any allergens is completely excluded. Do not allow the mucous membranes to dry out. When using folk remedies, prior consultation with a doctor is necessary. Do not use preparations containing mint or menthol. Various inhalations and rinses are also recommended, but it is worth remembering that in severe cases they do not help and can provoke even greater swelling, so in such a situation treatment in a clinic is necessary. Laryngitis is treated with topical drugs that have anti-inflammatory properties.
What are the other differences between pharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis?
The cause of all these pathologies lies, as a rule, in respiratory diseases, so the initial clinical picture is very similar.
The main difference between pharyngitis and tonsillitis is that different organs are affected. Pharyngitis affects the pharynx, laryngitis affects the larynx, tonsillitis affects the tonsils. Treatment of diseases also takes place in different ways. Laryngitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis have enough differences to differentiate these diseases:
- Sometimes with tonsillitis, particular pain may appear in the area of the ears and abdomen. In some cases, a rash appears that can spread throughout the body. With tonsillitis, the pain in the throat is so severe that the person can hardly speak or eat. By the white or yellowish coating on the patient's tonsils, one can judge whether he has tonsillitis.
- Pharyngitis also differs from tonsillitis in the manifestation of pain syndromes. With pharyngitis, the pain syndrome intensifies in the case of the influence of extraneous factors (eating, inhaling strong odors). Pharyngitis is activated by various overloads of the body, both emotional and physical.
To correctly identify the disease, doctors focus on the following external signs:
- condition of the tonsils, larynx and pharynx in general;
- condition of the throat tissues;
- color of mucous membranes.
It is advisable to treat pharyngitis, laryngitis and tonsillitis in adults with topical medications. The modern pharmaceutical industry offers many, but only a specialist should prescribe them. These are various sprays and drops that help not only alleviate the general condition and relieve unpleasant symptoms, but also help the body as a whole in the fight against disease. When carrying out inhalations, it is worth using a nebulizer to better get the medicine to the right place. Antibiotics for tonsillitis and pharyngitis are prescribed only if the inflammation cannot be removed by any other means.
If a sore throat is caused by a viral infection, then antibiotics will be completely useless. This is why you should not make your own diagnosis or self-medicate.
If necessary, the doctor may prescribe an additional examination to accurately determine the cause of the sore throat. Only a specialist can distinguish one disease from another.
There is a common misconception that all throat lozenges can be used for any of these three diseases. This is fundamentally wrong, since different drugs contain different active ingredients and many of them have different directions.
Treatment should not be one-day in nature, but take place over a whole course.
Even if it seems to you that the discomfort has passed, treatment must be completed without fail. If this is not done, then in the future chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis will definitely remind you of themselves more than once.
Effective prevention of throat diseases
The initial appearance or exacerbation of each of these diseases is possible in people of any age and at almost any time of the year. All of the above diseases can be prevented if you follow these simple recommendations:
- Maintain hand hygiene.
- Avoid hypothermia. During the cold season, try to close your throat and breathe through your nose and not your mouth.
- Monitor the cleanliness of the room and the air in it.
- Avoid exposure to any aggressive proteins (allergens).
- Check the cleanliness of filters in air conditioners and humidifiers installed in residential premises.
- Increase overall immunity.
- Follow the general rules of diet in your diet.
- During periods of exacerbation of diseases, try to avoid contact with carriers of diseases as much as possible. If you have to visit crowded places, then you need to use a gauze bandage in public places.
- At the first suspicion of pharyngitis, laryngitis or tonsillitis, you should consult a doctor.
It should be remembered that incorrect diagnosis leads to incorrect treatment. The consequence of this is complications, which will then take a long time to get rid of.
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Source: http://pulmono.ru/gorlo/tonzillit/razlichiya-tonzillita-faringita-i-laringita
Treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis are considered one of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by inflammation and pain in the throat.
Both of these diseases most often develop against the background of viral or bacterial infections and have similar symptoms, which without a comprehensive diagnosis are sometimes very easy to confuse with other diseases.
In some cases, pharyngitis may be a concomitant pathology with tonsillitis.
Causes of tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Despite the similarity in symptoms, tonsillitis has some differences from pharyngitis, primarily in the location of the lesion. In the first case, the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils are covered, and in the second, the pharyngeal cavity.
The main causes of the development of pharyngitis and tonsillitis are viral and bacterial pathogens.
They come from the environment or from infectious foci located in neighboring parts of the respiratory system.
What causes tonsillitis?
In the acute course of tonsillitis, the inflammatory process covers the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils, mainly the palatine tonsils, most often caused by streptococcal and staphylococcal infections, less often by chlamydia, mycoplasma, viruses and Candida fungus.
Chronic tonsillitis is accompanied by prolonged inflammation of the tonsils and occurs as a consequence of tonsillitis, scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, etc.
Factors contributing to the development of tonsillitis include:
general hypothermia of the body or local cooling of the mucous membrane as a result of eating cold food or inhaling frosty air; weakening of local and general immunity; mechanical impact on the tonsils (trauma, surgery); disorders of the nervous system; violation of nasal breathing; previous colds; allergies (can be a cause and consequence of chronic tonsillitis).
Chronic tonsillitis can develop from an acute type of illness, therefore the most important method of preventing chronicity is considered to be timely and correct treatment of exacerbations.
What contributes to the occurrence of pharyngitis
Unlike tonsillitis, pharyngitis, as a rule, is provoked by viral pathogens, among which are:
rhinovirus; adenovirus; coronavirus; influenza virus; parainfluenza
Acute pharyngitis is considered a seasonal disease, occurring mainly in the autumn-winter period, when exacerbations of ARVI are observed.
If adequate treatment is not carried out at an early stage of the acute course of the disease, a bacterial infection is added to the viral inflammation.
The following factors can provoke the progression of pharyngitis:
individual characteristics of the structure of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and digestive system; systematic inhalation of dusty, hot, dry or smoky air; constant work with harmful chemical components; dependence on nasal vasoconstrictors; smoking and alcohol; allergic reactions; endocrine and metabolic disorders; pathologies of the kidneys and cardiovascular system.
The chronic form of pharyngitis can occur against the background of pathologies of the digestive system, when during sleep the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus and penetrate the pharynx.
Such processes can occur with gastroreflux disease or hiatal hernia.
In this case, treatment of pharyngitis must be accompanied by the elimination of the main cause, otherwise all methods of therapy will bring temporary and insufficient results.
Very often, chronic pharyngitis develops due to pathologies of the nasopharynx, when mucous secretions flow down the back wall of the pharynx and infect it.
Symptoms of pharyngitis and tonsillitis
Tonsillitis and pharyngitis have similar external manifestations and symptoms; in order to differentiate these diseases and prescribe the correct treatment, the doctor carries out a comprehensive diagnosis.
How does tonsillitis manifest?
The initial stage of acute tonsillitis is characterized by an increase in temperature from 38 °C; symptoms intensify during the course of the disease:
sore, dry and constricted throat; painful swallowing, discomfort when drinking liquids and food, in severe cases the patient cannot even swallow saliva; During pharyngoscopy, pronounced swelling of the mucous membrane, hyperemia of the palatine tonsils, and narrowing of the lumen of the pharynx are noted; the tongue becomes covered with a serous coating; depending on the form of the disease, the tonsils may become covered with a mucous white film, yellowish bubbles and a gray-yellow coating; there are painful sensations, aches in the muscles of the whole body and general malaise; submandibular lymph nodes enlarge.
A distinctive feature of acute tonsillitis is that with a decrease in temperature, damage to the mucous surface of the throat becomes more pronounced.
Untimely treatment of acute tonsillitis leads to chronic inflammation of the tonsils, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:
compaction of the surface of the sky; soreness and enlargement of lymph nodes; loose structure of the tonsils with the formation of thread-like adhesions on their surface; discharge of purulent formations on the mucous membrane of the tonsils; normal temperature readings.
Clinical picture of pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis begins with soreness, dryness and discomfort in the throat when swallowing; as the disease progresses, unpleasant painful sensations in the throat accompany the patient constantly.
Depending on the etiology of inflammation, the following symptoms may occur:
irradiation of pain to the ears; enlarged and painful cervical lymph nodes; redness of the posterior surface of the pharynx, palatine ridges, inflammation of lymphoid granules. But unlike tonsillitis, inflammation in the tonsils is not observed.
Often the cause of chronic pharyngitis is untimely treatment of the acute form of the disease, as well as frequent colds.
With the development of chronic pharyngitis, the patient is constantly tormented by dryness and a feeling of a lump in the throat, he feels the need to cough, and is often forced to swallow mucus that is secreted on the back wall of the throat.
Due to these factors, the patient's sleep is disturbed and he becomes irritable.
Chronic pharyngitis rarely develops as an independent disease, so its treatment should be aimed not only at relieving symptoms, but also at eliminating the underlying cause.
Diagnosis of diseases
Before prescribing treatment for tonsillitis or pharyngitis, the otolaryngologist conducts a comprehensive diagnostic study, which allows one to assess the severity of the disease and identify concomitant pathologies.
Diagnostic examination for tonsillitis
To diagnose chronic tonsillitis, a clinical blood test is prescribed, which reveals a characteristic increase or decrease in leukocytes.
For the toxic-allergic form of tonsillitis, a blood test is prescribed for O-antistreptolysin, C-reactive protein, and rheumatoid factor.
A smear on the microflora is also taken from the mucous surface of the tonsils, which can reveal the presence of diphtheria bacillus, which causes the formation of thick films on the tonsils.
In some cases, an ECG and x-ray of the paranasal sinuses are performed. During pharyngoscopy the following phenomena are noted:
inflammation of the palatine ridges; when pressing on the tonsil, plugs or purulent mucus are released; tonsils in children are enlarged, have a crimson or reddish tint and a loose structure; in adults, tonsils are of medium size and have a pale surface.
Diagnosing pharyngitis
Examination of a patient with pharyngitis may reveal the following signs:
hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane; granular structure of the pharynx, secretion of mucous exudate; hypertrophy of lymphoid follicles.
A clinical blood test may show an increase in lymphocytes, which indicates the viral nature of the inflammation; an increased content of leukocytes and an acceleration of ESR indicate a bacterial etiology.
Pharyngoscopy can reveal the spread of inflammation to the palatine arches and tonsils, and swelling of the uvula is observed.
With lateral pharyngitis, lymphadenoid ridges and granules, increased in size, are noted on the side walls of the pharynx, which is more typical for exacerbations of chronic inflammation.
Sometimes complications of pharyngitis are diagnosed, spreading to the hearing organs, larynx, nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses.
What treatment is prescribed
In order to prescribe the correct treatment for tonsillitis or pharyngitis, it is important to clearly differentiate them from other diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as to identify the true cause of the development of inflammation.
In both cases, complex therapy is provided, including symptomatic and etiotropic treatment methods.
Therapy of acute tonsillitis
Therapeutic effects for acute tonsillitis are aimed primarily at alleviating symptoms and are based on local remedies:
taking systemic antibiotics (Amoxicillin, Amoxicar); gargling with drugs with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects (Furacilin, Miramistin, Eludril, Rivanol); use of local antiseptic and painkillers (Falimint, Strepsils, Septolete); irrigation of the tonsils with antiseptics (Ingalipt, Kameton); antipyretic drugs to combat temperatures above 38.5°C (Paracetamol, Theraflu, Rinza, Panadol); treatment of tonsils with products containing higher temperature iodine (Lugol, Iodinol); immunomodulatory drugs (Anaferon, children are prescribed rectal suppositories Viferon, Genferon).
As an auxiliary treatment of acute tonsillitis, folk remedies are highly effective.
One of the most common products used in this case is lemon; at the initial stage of the disease, it is recommended to gradually chew half the fruit along with the zest, and then do not eat food for an hour.
Gargling with decoctions of chamomile, sage leaves, mint, calendula and coltsfoot has also proven effective for tonsillitis.
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis is as follows:
washing the palatine tonsils with antiseptic solutions (Octenisept, Chlorhexidine); regular rinsing of the mouth with a copper-silver aqueous solution; use of local immunomodulators (Ribomunil); adding essential oils to solutions for inhalation and rinsing; physiotherapeutic procedures for the throat and lymph nodes (ultrasound, laser therapy, magnetic therapy, FEF); Daily sanitation of the mouth, nose and paranasal sinuses.
How is acute pharyngitis treated?
Therapy for acute pharyngitis does not involve the use of antibiotics unless a bacterial infection has occurred.
The standard treatment regimen for pharyngitis includes the following means and methods:
gargling at least 6 times a day (Furacilin, solutions of soda and sea salt, decoctions of chamomile and calendula, mineral water); inhalation and throat irrigation with antiseptic solutions (Chlorophyllipt, Angilex); tablets and lozenges containing sulfonamides (Faringosept, Septifril); immunostimulating antiviral drugs (Viferon, Kagocel, Arbidol); plenty of warm drinks; dry compresses on the neck area; following a diet that excludes hard, spicy and fatty foods; regular wet cleaning of the patient's room.
Therapeutic measures against chronic pharyngitis
Treatment for chronic pharyngitis involves, first of all, eliminating the factors that caused the development of the disease; for this it is necessary to sanitize infectious foci in the oral cavity and nasopharynx, correct the deviated nasal septum, and treat the digestive system.
Taking antibiotics is indicated only in cases of hyperthermia and severe enlargement of lymph nodes. The most common and effective broad-spectrum drugs are Summed and Amoxiclav.
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis involves taking antihistamines to reduce swelling of the pharynx (Suprastin). To relieve an intense cough, drugs that reduce the cough reflex (Codelac) are used.
A mandatory method for pharyngitis is rinsing every half hour; for this you can use pharmaceutical antiseptics (Lugol, Hexoral), alkaline solutions or herbal decoctions.
Tonsillitis, like pharyngitis, are the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are characterized by inflammation and pain in the throat. Both diseases are usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection, so they manifest themselves in the same way and without proper diagnosis they are difficult to distinguish from other diseases. Sometimes pharyngitis appears as a complication of tonsillitis.
Causes of tonsillitis
The main difference between tonsillitis and pharyngitis is the location of the lesion. With tonsillitis, inflammation is observed in the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, with pharyngitis - in the pharyngeal cavity. The main causes of diseases are viruses or bacteria that enter the respiratory system from the outside or are located in other parts of the respiratory system. The main causative agents of tonsillitis are streptococcus and staphylococcus, less often this occurs due to chlamydia, mycoplasma, viruses or fungi.
In the depths of the throat, at the base of the arch, there are 2 tonsils. What are tonsils? This is a collection of lymphocytes that take part in protecting the body. It is in the tonsils that sore throat or tonsillitis occurs. The moment a microorganism (usually streptococcus) enters and infects the throat, inflammation occurs. The tonsils, trying to fight the infection, increase in size and fight the microbe, as a result of which a purulent coating appears on their surface.
With tonsillitis, the tonsils become inflamed and pustules appear on them.
Acute tonsillitis can occur due to:
general hypothermia of the body, as well as against the background of taking cold foods, water, inhaling frosty air; weakening of protective functions; mechanical impact on the tonsils; previous colds; allergies.
This disease is extremely dangerous and can cause serious complications. Acute tonsillitis lasts about 1 – 2 weeks, after which the disease can become chronic. To prevent the transition of acute tonsillitis into a chronic form of the disease (this happens quite often), the disease should be treated at an early stage. Tonsillitis should be treated only with medications that the doctor will select individually.
Symptoms of tonsillitis
If pharyngitis differs from tonsillitis in cause and location, then their symptoms are often very similar. Initially, with tonsillitis, the body temperature rises to 38.5 and above. Afterwards, during the day, the symptoms worsen. A person begins to experience a feeling of soreness, constriction, and dryness in the throat. As a result of enlarged tonsils, there will be difficulty swallowing foods, liquids, and sometimes saliva.
Characteristic signs of tonsillitis or tonsillitis are the coating of the tongue with a gray coating, and the tonsils with white or yellow bubbles. The patient experiences symptoms such as pain and aches in the limbs, and a deterioration in overall health. There is an increase in the submandibular lymph nodes.
In the acute form of tonsillitis, when the temperature drops, all symptoms worsen. Improper treatment of the disease will invariably lead to the appearance of chronic tonsillitis, in which the surface of the palate becomes thicker, the lymph nodes become enlarged and begin to hurt, and the structure of the tonsils changes (their surface becomes loose, and adhesions may appear).
Chronic tonsillitis can occur with normal body temperature, but with a deterioration in the general condition of the patient. An exacerbation will occur with the slightest decrease in immunity and, as a result, conservative treatment will simply be powerless. In this case, adults and children can be treated through surgery.
You can learn more about tonsillitis, its causes and treatment from the article: Tonsillitis: symptoms, treatment and causes.
Causes of pharyngitis
Pharyngitis differs from tonsillitis in that it is caused by viruses. Most often it occurs against the background of:
rhinovirus; adenovirus; influenza virus; parainfluenza; coronavirus.
Pharyngitis occurs most often in autumn or winter, during the seasons when colds worsen. Against the background of chronic pharyngitis, when correct treatment was not carried out in the acute period, a bacterial infection develops, which complicates the course of the disease and aggravates unpleasant symptoms.
Pharyngitis can progress due to:
individual structural features of the mucous membranes of the digestive system and pharynx; constant inhalation of hot fumes, dust, smoke; regular contact with chemicals; dependence on certain medications that are used to treat nasal congestion or to relieve symptoms of sinusitis; smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol; allergic reaction; metabolic and endocrine disorders; pathologies of the kidneys, heart or blood vessels.
Chronic pharyngitis is often detected together with pathology of the digestive organs, in which food from the stomach returns back to the esophagus and enters the pharynx. This form of pharyngitis can be provoked by gastroreflux disease and hiatal hernia. Treatment of the disease in this case will take place in parallel with the main cause, which provokes the appearance of constant relapses. The cause of chronic pharyngitis may be pathology of the nasopharynx.
Clinical manifestations of pharyngitis
Symptoms of pharyngitis, in the acute period of the disease, are manifested by soreness, dryness and discomfort in the throat during swallowing. This main symptom of pharyngitis will accompany the disease throughout the entire period.
Depending on the cause of inflammation, symptoms such as:
localization of pain in the throat and ears; enlargement and tenderness of the cervical lymph nodes; the back of the pharynx, palatine ridges, and lymphoid granules become inflamed. If tonsillitis is manifested by damage to the tonsils, then with pharyngitis they remain absolutely clean.
Chronic pharyngitis occurs due to lack of proper treatment during the acute period or when frequent colds occur. Against the background of chronic pharyngitis, adults experience a feeling of dryness and a lump in the throat. The patient constantly coughs, trying to get rid of the obstruction in the throat.
Chronic pharyngitis is also characterized by a deterioration in a person’s general well-being. This especially affects the emotional state, since he cannot get a good night's sleep due to discomfort in the throat. As a result, this leads to irritability and nervousness in adults.
Treatment of chronic pharyngitis should be carried out only after the underlying cause of the disease has been identified. It makes no sense to treat the manifestations of infection alone, since this will only bring short-term relief.
Diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Diagnosis and treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Before treating a disease that has caused unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to conduct a correct diagnosis. To do this, they take blood for analysis, a smear from the tonsils in case of inflammation, an ECG, and radiography. To confirm tonsillitis, a visual examination of the throat is sufficient, which will be red, with a loose layer of tonsils and the appearance of a characteristic coating on them. If it is chronic, then adhesions will be observed on the surface of the tonsils, coloring them a rich scarlet color. In children, unlike adults, all signs will be more pronounced. If pharyngitis is suspected, a visual examination of the throat and pharyngoscopy will be performed.
Treatment of the disease is carried out only after the cause of inflammation has been identified and differential diagnostics have been carried out, helping to exclude diseases of the respiratory system with similar clinical signs.
Treatment of tonsillitis
Acute tonsillitis should be treated with antibacterial agents, gargling with Furacilin or Miramistin, using antiseptics and painkillers that act directly in the throat (Lizak, Doctor Mom, etc.). Additionally, sprays are prescribed that irrigate the tonsils, such as Orasept, Tantum Verde, etc. Treatment with antipyretics is indicated during the acute period of the disease, which is accompanied by an increase in temperature. To do this, use Panadol, Nurofen or combination drugs that are administered intramuscularly.
Treatment of the chronic type of the disease consists of using an inhaler, rinsing and gargling, strengthening the immune system with the help of immunomodulators, and using physiotherapeutic procedures. Do daily nasal rinsing and gargling using medications or folk remedies. A good remedy that is prescribed to adults and children is sea salt, which is used to rinse and wash the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
Treatment of pharyngitis
Treatment of pharyngitis in the acute period is recommended to include gargling (using a decoction of chamomile or sage, soda solution), inhalation and throat irrigation with Angilex, Chlorophyllipt. A product produced in the form of lollipops, Septifril Darnitsa, helps relieve pain symptoms.
Treatment must be accompanied by drinking plenty of fluids and humidifying the air in the room. Dry compresses are used to warm the throat, relieve inflammation and relieve unpleasant symptoms. Treatment should be accompanied by a diet that excludes spicy, fatty and solid foods.
Chronic pharyngitis requires a careful examination of the body to identify factors that provoke relapses of the disease. First of all, treatment of teeth, gums, and correction of a deviated nasal septum, if any, is carried out.
Treatment is also carried out for the digestive organs, having previously undergone an ultrasound and gastroscopy. Antibacterial therapy for the chronic form is indicated only when the lymph nodes are enlarged. To reduce swelling of the pharynx, antihistamines are prescribed. The antitussive drug Bromhexine or Codelac helps relieve a severe cough. Gargling is carried out regularly, at least 3-5 times a day, using medications, infusions or decoctions based on herbal ingredients.
Sore throat and throat
Chronic pharyngitis and tonsillitis, as a consequence of infectious diseases, are observed as separate diseases or appear simultaneously. For example, if during an acute respiratory infection the entire mucous membrane of the nasopharynx is affected by inflammation, then it can also affect the larynx.
In fact, when the disease is infectious, its acute course can cover all areas of the throat.
Characteristics of chronic sore throat
When pharyngitis and tonsillitis occur at the same time
Pharyngitis and chronic tonsillitis are severe manifestations of bacterial infection, their treatment is based on classification and symptoms. If there is severe chronic pharyngitis, then it is not necessarily accompanied by tonsillitis and vice versa. Simply put, in most cases, pharyngitis and tonsillitis are considered as separate diseases, but their complex treatment has much in common.
Features and causes of chronic pharyngitis
Let's consider chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis as separate diseases in order to better understand the characteristics of their course and methods of treatment. Chronic pharyngitis should be considered a complication because usually the acute form ends without consequences.
Clinical picture of chronic pharyngitis:
Chronic pharyngitis occurs more often than it is diagnosed. The peculiarity of this disease is that the manifestations cause some discomfort, but are not critical for well-being.
Chronic tonsillitis and its causes
The bacterial nature of tonsillitis has been proven, so it occurs when the immune system is weakened. Frequent tonsillitis in children is due to the fact that their immunity has not yet fully developed, like that of an adult.
The tonsils in the throat are a special organ that belongs to the immune system. That is why doctors try to treat tonsils conservatively, since removing them weakens the body’s protective potential.
What characterizes chronic tonsillitis
Table. Characteristic features of tonsillitis:
hypothermia; weakened immune system; damage to the tonsils; deviated nasal septum; sinusitis; frequent sore throats; caries, periodontitis; hypersensitivity, allergies; improper treatment of sore throat
The appearance of tonsillitis is caused primarily by improper functions of the immune system. Understanding this allows you to apply appropriate treatment methods.
Methods and methods for treating chronic throat diseases
Modern methods of treating tonsillitis
Treatment of chronic tonsillitis and pharyngitis is based on getting rid of painful symptoms, eliminating the cause of the disease, and restoring temporarily lost immunity. For these purposes, comprehensive treatment of tonsillitis is carried out.
Treatment with drugs
Drugs are chosen only with the help of a doctor
In principle, all medicines produced by the pharmaceutical industry are tablets or capsules, which contain the main active ingredient and auxiliary ones that enhance the therapeutic effect. These chemicals integrate into cellular biochemical mechanisms and correct the damage caused by the infection.
Medicines used to treat tonsillitis
Table. Modern anti-inflammatory drugs:
Each medicine has instructions; these drugs can reduce the symptoms of the disease and stop degenerative processes. Antibiotics are also used in complex treatment to eliminate the cause of the disease.
Table. Recommended antibiotics for tonsillitis, their mechanism of action:
In addition to antibiotics, sulfonamide drugs are used, which are effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
Physiotherapy and home treatment
Photo. Laser treats pharyngitis and tonsillitis equally effectively
Physiotherapy is widely used to treat pharyngitis and tonsillitis since this method is safer for the body and does not affect the biochemical processes occurring in cells. To influence the course of the disease, special equipment and equipment are used. The video describes physiotherapy.
Basic methods of physiotherapy for pharyngitis and tonsillitis:
mechanical therapy; treatment using hardware heat; treatment with light rays; treatment with electric and magnetic current.
Table. Features of physiotherapeutic effects:
Physical therapy for chronic pharyngitis eliminates swelling of the mucous membrane, produces an analgesic effect, and inflammation goes away. With tonsillitis, the formation of plugs in the tonsils stops and they dissolve. The general condition improves, the body tone increases.
Treating a throat with home remedies
Chronic infectious diseases of the throat are treated at home by gargling with decoctions of medicinal herbs, steam inhalation and using a nebulizer. In addition to rinsing, honey is used, which is used to add to decoctions for drinking.
Of the herbs that are used to prepare decoctions with your own hands, they are best suited for rinsing:
sage; chamomile; plantain; mint; calendula; coltsfoot; Linden blossom.
Compresses applied regularly to the throat help with severe symptoms of the disease. For the treatment of chronic pharyngitis and tonsillitis with home remedies, propolis is very useful if you simply chew it in small portions several times a day.
Prevention of chronic throat diseases
Chronic pharyngitis and tonsillitis can be prevented if you follow preventive measures. Preventing a disease is a much lower price than what you have to pay for treatment.
Healthy lifestyle
Running to health
Chronic pharyngotonsillitis with a healthy lifestyle goes away much faster, the patient regains his health, while simultaneously creating a reserve of it. A healthy lifestyle includes behavior and nutrition, adherence to simple rules that do not require material costs.
Rules for a healthy lifestyle:
You definitely need a good night's sleep, which requires at least 8 hours on average. Sleep is an integral part of our life, when self-regulation of the body occurs, its fine tuning. Meals should be organized so that you do not overeat, and the food itself is, if possible, hot and contains dietary fiber, vitamins, fruits, and vegetables. Sugar and spices are added to dishes in minimal quantities. Try not to eat at night. After eating, it is not recommended to drink water for an hour. Strong tea and coffee should be excluded from the daily diet. Stop drinking alcohol and tobacco. Do not eat canned foods. active motor mode is required. Even if the work involves a sitting position, you need to provide breaks for warm-up exercises. Observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash your hands with soap when coming home, after eating and using the toilet. Positive emotions are essential for health, so you need to avoid unpleasant situations. For a healthy lifestyle, it is imperative to spend two hours a day in the fresh air.
Exercise and Wellness Activities
Physical exercise helps restore blood supply and microcirculation in organs and tissues. The best exercise for getting healthy is, of course, running. There is a system by Arthur Lydiard, which consists of jogging every day for half an hour.
This type of running strengthens the heart and blood vessels and cleanses the lungs. Yoga exercises help improve health. Even simple health-improving walks through a pine grove have a strengthening effect, and if you combine them with gymnastic exercises, the healing effect will not be long in coming.
Source: http://net-prostuda.ru/2017/11/05/lechenie-tonzillita-i-faringita/