Signs of acute and chronic form of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease of the posterior wall of the larynx, resulting from the action of various factors. The most common among them are the inhalation of cold and polluted air, the activation of the activity of bacteria( streptococci, pneumococci, staphylococci), frequent contact of mucous membranes with chemical irritants( hot, cold, spicy food, alcohol, tobacco).In itself, the disease does not pose a particular danger - it is well susceptible to diagnosis and treatment. But if it is not cured in time, it can transform into a chronic stage with possible consequences in the form of lesions of various organs( nasopharynx, gastrointestinal tract and even cardiovascular system).In this article you will find information on how to recognize the disease and prevent complications.

How does the acute form begin?

The acute onset of any illness is always characterized by a rise in temperature. In the case of pharyngitis, it is not too high - 37.5 - 38.0 ºC and causes characteristic symptoms: body aches, headache, weakness. The patient experiences the following unpleasant sensations:

1. pain when swallowing;
2. dryness in the throat;
3. wheezing in a dream( in the presence of this symptom the ailment requires differentiation with bronchial asthma);
4. general malaise;
5. sometimes - pain in the ears.

If the first symptoms of malaise appear, you should immediately see a doctor-otolaryngologist. During pharyngoscopy, they will find an inflamed, reddened larynx, through the mucous membrane of which thickened blood vessels can be seen. To clarify the diagnosis, the doctor will take a swab from the throat, prescribe a general analysis of urine and blood, and if necessary - additional tests.

The video tells about the signs of pharyngitis:

How to treat acute pharyngitis? The cause of acute pharyngitis is most often viral infections, so his treatment always includes a set of measures to combat the provoked factor. Necessarily observance of an alimentary regimen: exception from a ration of hot, cold, sharp and acidic dishes, plentiful drink. With proper treatment, the disease can be defeated in 7-10 days.

Chronic form

Chronic form of the disease, in contrast to acute, can bother the patient for months, and sometimes for years. To those who provoke such long ailment, the factors include:

• prolonged residence / residence in a zone with a poor ecological background;
• harmful work at chemical and metallurgical enterprises;
• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• frequent colds, flu, SARS, sore throat, carried on the legs and not accompanied by adequate treatment;
• gastroenterological problems, accompanied by a periodic release of acid from the stomach into the larynx;
• tooth decay;
• susceptibility to allergic reactions.

On the photo - signs of pharyngitis in adults:

Forms of

Chronic pharyngitis has several varieties, each of which differs only in its symptoms:

• Catarrhal - characterized by a sense of "sand" and the presence of a foreign body in the throat, difficulty in swallowing. Patients often complain of stuffy ears, passing after several empty swallowings. The link describes the symptoms and treatment of catarrhal pharyngitis.
• Hypertrophic .When the patient's hypertrophic form is worried about dryness in the throat, especially manifested during prolonged conversation, when a person needs to urgently take a sip of water. The disease can be complicated by a harsh dry cough and an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth. If you do not start treating it on time, then after a while the patient gets a characteristic bad breath, which can not be neutralized by ordinary hygienic methods.
• Atrophic is characterized by thinning of the mucous membranes of the larynx. Because of this, it becomes overdried, pale, covered with crusts of dried mucus. On the contrary, thickened mucosa and an increase in the rows of epithelium are signs of a hypertrophic form of pharyngitis. The mucous membrane becomes denser with it, the blood and lymphatic vessels are enlarged, and the patient has an increased saliva secretion. Here the symptoms of atrophic pharyngitis are described in detail.
• Granule - is characterized by the formation on the pharyngeal walls of lymphoid granules - small capsules of dark red color, which are located on the hyperemia mucosa. Here is a detailed description of the symptoms of granulosa pharyngitis.

The video tells about the signs and treatment of pharyngitis:

Among the most common causes of chronic pharyngitis, it should be noted the difficult nasal breathing. In a healthy person, when inhaled, air enters the lungs through the nasal passages, where it is moistened and cleansed of pathogenic bacteria, but if the nose is permanently laid down due to allergic or viral rhinitis( read how to get rid of allergic rhinitis for good), adenoids( here drugs for treating adenoids are listedin children), curvature of the nasal septum, it is not capable of performing the functions of a "filter".In this case, the primary task of the doctor is to eliminate the causes that prevent the patient from breathing through his nose.

Chronic pharyngitis in pregnant women

Despite the fact that pregnancy is a healthy physiological condition of a woman, it can provoke a number of diseases. This is due to a dramatically changing hormonal background, an increase in blood volume, the adaptation of the immune system to a pregnant woman. The disease can begin to bother in the first trimester - the future mother complains of severe sore throat, fever, headaches, a feeling of dryness when swallowing.

One of the reasons is the so-called common cold of pregnant women, often harassing a woman throughout pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the room is humid enough - dry air helps to dry out the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, which can lead to the development of pharyngitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. To maintain the optimum moisture level( at least 60%), it is better to buy a special ultrasonic humidifier. For the same reason, as well as to reduce the likelihood of allergies, it is necessary to regularly wet cleaning.

The disease is complicated by the fact that the list of drugs allowed for the treatment of pregnant women is very limited, so the patient will have to be content with local methods: rinses, lubrication of the larynx with natural preparations, inhalations.

To remove the pain in the throat will help lollipops with extracts of honey, eucalyptus, lemon. To reduce the temperature, Paracetamol and Ibuprofen may be used.

Larynx diseases in children: how not to confuse with angina

Children up to a certain age often suffer from various diseases of the upper respiratory tract. They can have similar symptoms and manifestations, so the final diagnosis is made by a pediatrician or an otolaryngologist. But still they have several differences that will help parents identify the disease at an early stage and begin to help the child even before the medical verdict.

• Sore throat .With pharyngitis, it has a non-permanent character and is not expressed severely, manifesting mainly under the stress of talking, swallowing solid food. In the case of angina, the child complains of persistent and severe pain, which can torment him even during sleep.
• Body temperature .If the child has acute tonsillitis, then it rises quickly and to very high values ​​- 39-40 ºC, it is hard to knock down. It is with increasing temperature that the disease begins predominantly. The first sign of pharyngitis, on the other hand, is a dry cough and a swelling in the throat, and a low-grade fever( 37-38 ºC) appears later. The exception is streptococcal pharyngitis - it is characterized by high fever, as in angina.
• In contrast to tonsillitis, pharyngitis as an independent disease in children is rare - most often it accompanies viral diseases.
• The enlarged, reddened amygdala , covered with a white coating, is definitely a sign of sore throat. With pharyngitis, the posterior wall of the larynx is more often affected.

Treatment

When prescribing treatment, the otolaryngologist is first of all repelled by the fact that it was the reason for the onset of the disease. If it is a bacteriological infection, you can not do without taking antibiotics, if the unfavorable ecological situation is possible, the patient will have to think about even changing his place of residence. When working in hazardous industries, you should never neglect personal protective equipment - you should always wear a mask or special respirator. If the disease progresses, the patient will be asked to change the scope of activity. Here you will find a list of medicines for pharyngitis. Also read how antibiotics are used for pharyngitis. Also read how to cough cough with pharyngitis.

The video tells about the signs of chronic pharyngitis in adults:

With any form of ailment the patient will have to quit smoking and forget about strong alcoholic beverages, since tobacco smoke and alcohol are the most powerful irritants for the mucous membranes of the larynx.

It is necessary to sanitize the oral cavity as soon as possible, to cure caries and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that provoke infection of the respiratory system. The abundant warm drink is shown - herbal infusions, tea and milk with honey, alkaline mineral water without gas, compotes from dried fruits, fruit drink from the viburnum, cranberries and other berries rich in vitamin C are very useful.

For the gargling of the throat, decoctions of chamomile, plantain, sage or pharmaceutical preparations - Rotokan, Romazulan, - diluted with boiled water will do. Furacilin solutions( 0.2 mg per 100 ml of water) and sea salt( 0.5 teaspoon per glass of water) are allowed.

Rinses give a pronounced antiseptic effect, and also moisturize the mucous throats, restoring their functionality and health.

Pharyngitis is a disease that often indicates the presence in the human body of other ailments or its unhealthy lifestyle .For all categories of patients it is very important to spend enough time in the fresh air, especially if the disease has already passed into the initial chronic form. Daily twenty-minute walks before bedtime, simple charging, dieting - these simple methods will help to improve the body and quickly bring your well-being back to normal. On the link you can read what to do if after pharyngitis does not pass a cough.