Pharyngitis in adults - what is it, symptoms and treatment, photos, first signs of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis in adults is an inflammation of the mucous membrane and lymphoid tissue of the pharynx, predominantly of an infectious nature, with damage to the mucous membrane and lymph nodes. Rarely isolated, more often combined with acute inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract. The modern level of medicine allows you to completely get rid of inflammation in the throat, even with a constant recurrent course. In the article we will look at what kind of disease this is, show a photo of the throat, describe the symptoms and signs of pharyngitis, and also give recommendations for treatment of acute and chronic forms in adults.

Pharyngitis - what is it?

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory process of the pharyngeal mucosa of an acute or chronic nature. If it develops against the background of a cold, symptoms characteristic of a cold appear - cough, runny nose. Purulent discharge from the posterior wall of the pharynx is noted by ENT doctors when examining the patient’s nasopharynx.

In more than 70% of cases in adults, the culprits of pathological reactions are various viruses: influenza pathogens, adeno- and enteroviruses. Many simply do not understand that they are sick: the clinical picture is either blurry or absent altogether.

How long does it take to treat pharyngitis? If treatment is started in a timely manner, the acute form of pharyngitis goes away in 7-10 days; with more severe symptoms, complete recovery can occur in 2 weeks. The chronic type of the disease persists for a longer period and causes constant discomfort to the patient, alternating phases of remission and exacerbation.

How to treat pharyngitis, the cause of pharyngitis:

Always develops when the immune system is weakened, or during exacerbation of the diseases listed below:

• Development of infection (with a microbial infection, inflammation spreads to the pharynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses with sinusitis, runny nose).
• Bacteria (pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci).
• Hypothermia, cold.
• Irritants (tobacco, alcohol).
• Bad habits.
• Poisoning with chemicals (zinc, mercury, lead).
• Environment (water vapor, dry climate).
• Fungal diseases (candida).
• Resulting complications after caries, rhinitis, sinusitis.
• Deviations of the endocrine system (diabetes mellitus).
• Allergy (dust).
• Eating spicy, rough, hot food.
• Failure: cardiac, renal, pulmonary.
• Lack of body vitamins (vitaminosis)
• Tension of the vocal cords for a long time.

Causes

Doctors often associate the occurrence of pharyngitis with off-season periods, especially with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is at this time that a person’s immunity is weakened, the body lacks vitamins, and therefore any infection can lead to pharyngitis and other inflammatory diseases. But we must remember that pharyngitis in adults can be caused not only by pathogenic microorganisms, but also by a number of negative factors.

The main causes of development are considered to be prolonged inhalation of cold air (in severe frost), irritation of the throat with chemicals (for example, alcohol when drinking alcohol), and air pollution. The infectious etiology of the disease is observed when the body is damaged by viruses, bacteria (microbes) and fungi.

Acute pharyngitis develops when exposed to an infectious agent, in 70% of cases these are viruses, the remaining 30% are bacterial infections, fungal, allergic reactions and injuries.

The main factors that contribute to the transition of acute or subacute pharyngitis to the chronic form are:

• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• constitutional features of the pharyngeal mucosa, functional or organic diseases of the esophagus and stomach;
• prolonged stress;
• difficulty breathing through the nose and dry mucous membranes;
• hormonal disorders (menopause, thyroid pathology);
• vitamin deficiencies;
• severe somatic diseases of the lungs and heart, renal failure, diabetes mellitus;
• exposure to occupational hazards (steam, dust, smoke, strain of the nasopharynx and larynx).

Provoking factors for the occurrence of chronic pharyngitis can be:

• Frequent colds and ENT diseases that are not properly treated (sore throats, tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.);
• Carious lesions in the oral cavity;
• Chronic diseases of the lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, heart.

Another common cause is abuse (overdose or long-term use) of medications for rhinitis, which irritate the mucous membrane.

The disease can be indirectly assumed if the patient has certain provoking factors:

• Deviation of the nasal septum;
• Nasal polyps;
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• Chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer;
• Pathology of the thyroid gland;
• Colon dysbiosis.

Causes of the disease and risk factors

Before starting treatment for pharyngitis in children or adult patients, you must first find out what is causing the disease. The list can include:

• general weakening of the immune system due to infectious or viral processes;
• frequent pathologies of the upper respiratory tract;
• deformation of the nasal septum;
• lack of adequate nutrition, in which the body does not receive enough nutrients;
• stomach pathologies;
• improper treatment of a sore throat in the acute form of common pharyngitis.

Risk factors include hypothermia, alcohol abuse, smoking, prolonged exposure to a dusty room, stress, and constant uncontrolled use of medications (especially antibiotics).

It is not always possible to independently determine the unilateral type of pathology. In order not to confuse the signs of a sore throat and pharyngitis, the symptoms of which are very similar, you must consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

Smoking.

Classification

Currently, there are two main types: acute and chronic.

Acute pharyngitis in adults

Acute pharyngitis occurs immediately after the action of a pathogenic factor on the pharyngeal mucosa (viral, bacterial or fungal agent, the development of an allergic reaction or injury). In the acute form, the disease develops rapidly. It has a favorable course and in most cases is completely cured within a few days.

A characteristic symptom of pharyngitis in adults is “empty throat”: a person constantly makes swallowing movements due to the accumulation of mucus in the throat.

The acute form is divided into:

• Viral
• Bacterial
• Fungal
• Allergic
• Traumatic - caused by exposure to irritating factors.

Chronic pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis in adults can be a consequence of untreated acute pharyngitis, as well as an independent disease that occurs with prolonged irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa. In the development of HF there are phases of exacerbation and remission.

It worsens with a decrease in immunity, the presence of other infectious diseases that can occur in parallel, under stressful conditions, when the body is overcooled or under stress. Sometimes it develops as a consequence of allergies, as well as in patients with various endocrine disorders, diabetes, heart, pulmonary and kidney failure.

It is worth remembering that in the case of chronic pharyngitis, symptoms may wax and wane. Exacerbation usually occurs in autumn and spring. Before treating the disease, consultation with an otolaryngologist is necessary.

Also distinguished:

• Catarrhal pharyngitis is the most favorable option, which does not change the structure of normal tissues. Upon examination, the otolaryngologist can see swelling, redness and clearly defined vessels throughout the mucosa;
• Hypertrophic (lateral and granulosa pharyngitis) - upon examination, foci of hyperplastic lymphoid tissue are revealed, randomly scattered on the posterior wall of the pharynx or enlarged tubopharyngeal ridges located behind the posterior palatine arches. At the time of exacerbation, these changes are accompanied by hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane, but usually the paucity of objective findings does not correspond to the severity of the symptoms that bother patients.
• Atrophic pharyngitis is characterized by some thinning (atrophy) of the lining of the pharynx. They are usually pale pink, sometimes shiny varnished. Some of their areas become covered with crusts, viscous mucus, often with pus.

Treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis

F

Aringitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, which is accompanied by pain, soreness or discomfort in the throat. Since, from an anatomical point of view, the pharynx is divided into three sections - upper (nasopharynx), middle (oropharynx) and lower (hypopharynx), inflammatory processes developing here can also be divided according to their predominant localization. However, this division will be very conditional, especially in acute pharyngitis, due to the fact that acute viral and bacterial infections diffusely affect the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and are migrating, often descending in nature. Morphological changes in the mucous membrane in chronic pharyngitis usually have a predominant localization in one of the anatomical parts of the pharynx, which makes it possible to tentatively identify individual nosologies, for example, chronic nasopharyngitis.

Etiology and classification

According to the etiological factor, acute pharyngitis can be divided into viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic, traumatic (as a result of a foreign body or surgical intervention) and caused by exposure to irritating factors (hot liquid or steam, acids, alkalis, radiation, etc.). Chronic pharyngitis is usually classified not according to etiology, but according to the nature of the changes developing in the mucous membrane: catarrhal (simple), atrophic (subatrophic) and hypertrophic. These forms of chronic inflammation are often combined. Thus, the presence of diffuse atrophic changes in the mucous membrane can be combined with focal hyperplasia of the lymphoid tissue of the posterior pharyngeal wall or tubopharyngeal ridges.

The most common form of acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa is catarrhal pharyngitis during ARVI. It is known that approximately 70% of pharyngitis is caused by viruses, including rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses. The most common causative agent of acute pharyngitis is rhinoviruses. Research in recent years shows that their importance is growing rapidly, and now rhinoviruses are responsible for more than 80% of acute respiratory viral infections during autumn epidemics. Viral infection is often only the first phase of the disease, and it “paves the way” for subsequent bacterial infection. In Fig. 1 and below provide information about the main pathogens of acute pharyngitis.

Rice.
1. Bacteria and fungi - the causative agents of acute pharyngitis (according to CA Dagnelie, 1994) Viruses - the causative agents of acute pharyngitis
(in descending order of frequency):

Basic:

• Rhinoviruses
• Coronaviruses
• Adenoviruses
• Influenza virus
• Parainfluenza virus

Rare:

• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Herpes simplex viruses (types 1 and 2)
• Enteroviruses
• Coxsackie virus
• Epstein–Barr virus
• Cytomegalovirus
• AIDS virus

These generalized data, taken from foreign manuals on otorhinolaryngology and infectious diseases, are very conditional, since the concept of “sore throat”, used in English (the Russian-language analogue is acute pharyngitis or pharyngotonsillitis), is not a definition of a specific nosological form, but rather a collective term for several diseases [3–6,10]. In addition to the nonspecific form, there are other types of pharyngitis associated with specific pathogens, for example, Epstein-Barr virus in infectious mononucleosis, Yersinia enterocolitica

for yersenial and gonococcus for gonorrheal pharyngitis, as well as
Leptotrix buccalis
for leptotrichosis of the pharynx.

Clinic and diagnostics

For the clinical picture of acute pharyngitis

Characterized by soreness, dryness, discomfort and pain in the throat when swallowing (especially with an empty throat), less often - general malaise, a rise in temperature. When the tubopharyngeal ridges become inflamed, the pain usually radiates to the ears. On palpation, there may be pain and enlargement of the upper cervical lymph nodes. Pharyngoscopy reveals hyperemia of the posterior wall of the pharynx and palatine arches, individual inflamed lymphoid granules, but there are no signs of inflammation of the tonsils characteristic of angina. It should be remembered that acute pharyngitis may be the first manifestation of some infectious diseases: measles, scarlet fever, rubella measles. In some cases, differential diagnosis with Kawasaki disease and Stevens-Johnson syndrome is required.

For the clinical picture of chronic pharyngitis

An increase in temperature and a significant deterioration in general condition are not typical. The sensations are characterized by patients as dryness, soreness and a feeling of a lump in the throat, which causes a desire to cough or “clear the throat”. The cough is usually persistent, dry and easily distinguishable from the cough that accompanies the course of tracheobronchitis. Discomfort in the throat is often associated with the forced need to constantly swallow mucus in the back of the throat, which makes patients irritable, interferes with their normal activities and disrupts sleep.

With atrophic pharyngitis, the mucous membrane of the pharynx looks thinned, dry, and often covered with dried mucus. Injected vessels may be visible on the shiny surface of the mucous membrane. In the hypertrophic form, pharyngoscopy reveals foci of hyperplastic lymphoid tissue randomly scattered on the posterior wall of the pharynx or enlarged tubopharyngeal ridges located behind the posterior palatine arches. At the time of exacerbation, these changes are accompanied by hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane, but usually the paucity of objective findings does not correspond to the severity of the symptoms that bother patients.

Chronic pharyngitis is often not an independent disease, but a manifestation of the pathology of the entire gastrointestinal tract: chronic atrophic gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis. The entry of acidic gastric contents into the pharynx during sleep with gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia is often a hidden cause of the development of chronic catarrhal pharyngitis, and in this case, without eliminating the underlying cause of the disease, any local treatment methods provide an insufficient and short-lived effect. Smoking and tonsillectomy lead to the development of atrophic changes in the pharyngeal mucosa.

Pharyngitis often develops with constantly difficult nasal breathing. It can be caused not only by switching to mouth breathing, but also by the abuse of vasoconstrictor drops, which flow from the nasal cavity into the pharynx and have an unnecessary anemic effect there. Symptoms of pharyngitis may be present with the so-called postnasal drip (postnasal drip). In this case, discomfort in the throat is associated with the flow of pathological secretions from the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses along the back wall of the pharynx. In addition to constant coughing, this condition can cause wheezing in children, which requires differential diagnosis with bronchial asthma.

The main factors contributing to the development of chronic pharyngitis:

• constitutional features of the structure of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and the entire gastrointestinal tract;
• prolonged exposure to exogenous factors (dust, hot dry or smoky air, chemicals);
• difficulty breathing through the nose (breathing through the mouth, abuse of decongestants);
• smoking and alcohol abuse;
• allergy;
• endocrine disorders (menopause, hypothyroidism, etc.);
• vitamin deficiency A;
• diabetes mellitus, heart, pulmonary and kidney failure.

For persistent sore throat that cannot be treated with conventional therapy, differential diagnosis is required with a number of syndromes that develop in certain systemic diseases and diseases of the nervous system. Plummer–Vinson syndrome occurs in women aged 40 to 70 years against the background of iron deficiency anemia. Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease, accompanied, in addition to severe dryness of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, by diffuse enlargement of the salivary glands. Eagle syndrome (stilalgia) is characterized by severe, persistent, often unilateral pain in the throat caused by elongation of the styloid process, which is located on the lower surface of the temporal bone and can be palpated above the upper pole of the tonsil. A number of neuralgias (glossopharyngeal or vagus nerve) can also cause sore throat, especially in older people.

Treatment

In case of acute and exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis, not accompanied by pronounced disorders of the general condition, symptomatic treatment is sufficient, including a gentle diet, hot foot baths, warm compresses on the front surface of the neck, milk with honey, steam inhalations and gargling. Smoking should be stopped. Uncomplicated pharyngitis usually does not require systemic antibiotics. In this situation, it becomes justified to carry out not systemic, but local antimicrobial therapy, which can also be prescribed in the form of monotherapy. However, a survey conducted in Belgium showed that in general, 36% of doctors resort to prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory viral infections and pharyngitis [7]. This article will discuss drugs for the local treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis.

The main drugs for local antimicrobial therapy presented on the Russian market are listed in Table. 1. These drugs usually contain one or more antiseptics (chlorhexidine, hexetidine, benzydamine, ambazone, thymol and its derivatives, alcohols, iodine preparations, etc.), essential oils, local anesthetics (lidocaine, tetracaine, menthol), less often – antibiotics (fusafunzhin, framycetin) or sulfonamides, deodorizing agents. Preparations may also contain bacterial lysates (Imudon), natural antiseptics (plant extracts, bee products), synthesized factors of nonspecific protection of mucous membranes, which also have an antiviral effect (lysozyme, interferon), vitamins (ascorbic acid).

Antimicrobial drugs can be prescribed in the form of rinses, insufflations, inhalations, as well as tablets and lozenges. The main requirements for drugs applied to the mucous membrane are:

• a wide spectrum of antimicrobial action, preferably including antiviral and antimicrobial activity;
• lack of toxic effect and low rate of absorption from mucous membranes;
• low allergenicity;
• no irritating effect on the mucous membrane.

Most of those listed in table. 1 drugs (Hexalize, Drill, Septolete, Faringosept, Neo-angin, Strepsils, etc.) are available in the form of tablets, lozenges or lozenges. This form of drugs has relatively low activity, and their use is limited to mild forms of the disease. In addition, the doctor should remember the toxicity of chlorhexidine, which is part of many drugs (Antiangin, Drill, Sebidine, Eludril) and should not allow their unlimited, uncontrolled use by patients (especially children).

The prescription of a number of drugs is limited by their high allergenicity and irritating effect. This includes drugs containing iodine derivatives (iodinol, iox, vocadine, povidone-iodine), propolis (proposol), sulfonamides (bicarmint, ingalipt). Preparations containing herbal antiseptics and essential oils are effective and harmless, but their use is contraindicated in patients suffering from allergies to pollen, and the number of people with this disease in some geographic areas is up to 20% of the population.

Due to the fact that within the framework of this article it is impossible to give a detailed overview of all the drugs listed in Table 5, we will focus only on those drugs that are regularly used in our practice and the effectiveness of which has been confirmed by our own experience.

Inhalation antibiotic fusafyungin (Bioparox)

– a drug that combines antibacterial properties with anti-inflammatory properties and is produced in the form of a dosed aerosol, has been used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections for more than 20 years. Due to the very small size of aerosol particles, fusafunzhin is able to penetrate into the most inaccessible parts of the respiratory tract and exert its therapeutic effect there. The high antimicrobial effectiveness of fusafyungin in acute pharyngitis, laryngitis and tracheobronchitis has been confirmed by a large number of observations. The spectrum of antimicrobial activity of fusafyungin is adapted to microorganisms that are most often the causative agents of upper respiratory tract infections; it is also active against mycoplasma infections. The unique quality of this drug is the stability of its spectrum of action: during its use, no new strains of bacteria resistant to it have emerged. In addition to antibacterial properties, fusafungin has its own anti-inflammatory effect, which has been demonstrated in experimental studies [8]. It enhances phagocytosis of macrophages and inhibits the formation of inflammatory mediators. This explains the effectiveness of the drug for viral pharyngitis, although the drug does not have a direct inhibitory effect on viruses. When prescribing fusafunzhin, a smoother course after tonsillectomy was noted [1].

Imudon

fundamentally different from all drugs used for local treatment of pharyngitis.
It is a multivalent antigenic complex, which includes lysates of 10 bacteria, as well as two causative agents of fungal infections (Candida albicans and Fusiformis fusiformis),
most often causing inflammatory processes in the oral cavity and pharynx. Imudon activates phagocytosis, helps increase the number of immunocompetent cells, increases the content of lysozyme and secretory IgA in saliva. Data have been obtained indicating that the administration of imudon for acute, as well as catarrhal, hypertrophic and subatrophic forms of chronic pharyngitis is more effective than traditional methods of treatment, such as inhalation of alkaline and antibacterial drugs, cauterization of granules with a solution of silver nitrate and the use of other anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs [2]. If necessary, imudon combines well with local or systemic antibiotics, helping to reduce recovery time and maintain local immune defense, which is especially important during antibiotic therapy. Imudon is available in the form of lozenges.

Hexetidine

(Hexoral) is available both as a rinse solution and an aerosol. Unlike chlorhexidine, the drug is low-toxic. It is active against most bacteria - the causative agents of pharyngitis and tonsillitis, as well as fungi. In addition to being antimicrobial, hexetidine has a hemostatic and analgesic effect, which justifies its use not only after tonsillectomy and opening of a peritonsillar abscess, but also after extensive operations in the pharynx (for example, operations for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, etc.). The combination of the above-mentioned effects with the deodorizing effect of the drug is beneficial in patients with tumors of the upper respiratory tract, in particular, those receiving radiation therapy.

Antiseptic for mucous membranes octenisept

has, perhaps, the widest spectrum of antimicrobial action, covering gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, chlamydia, mycoplasma, fungi, protozoa, as well as herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis B and HIV. The effect of the drug begins within a minute and lasts for an hour. Octenisept has no toxic effect and is not absorbed through intact mucous membranes. We use a solution of octenisept, spraying this solution onto the mucous membranes using an insufflator [9]. Of course, the main disadvantage of this drug is that it is not available in forms convenient for independent use, and its use is mainly limited to the practice of specialized departments.

Local antibacterial agents can be widely used in the treatment of pharyngitis.
The choice of the optimal drug is determined by the spectrum of its antimicrobial activity, the absence of allergenicity and toxic effect. Of course, the most effective local drugs will not completely replace the need for systemic administration of antibiotics for sore throat and pharyngitis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus. On the other hand, due to the nonbacterial etiology of many forms of pharyngitis, the emergence of an increasing number of resistant strains of bacteria, as well as the undesirable effects of general antibiotic therapy, local administration of drugs with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity is in many cases the method of choice. Literature:
1. Luchikhin L.A., Buyanovskaya O.A., Derevyanko S.N., Paukova M.V. The effectiveness of Bioparox treatment of acute inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Vestn. otorhinol., 1996; 2: 38–42.

2. Luchikhin L.A., Malchenko O.V. The effectiveness of the drug Imudon in the treatment of patients with acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the pharynx // Vestn. otorhinol., 2001; 3:62–4.

3. Dagnelie CF Sore Throat in General Practice. A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Study. Thesis. Rotterdam, 1994.

4. Hansaker DH, Boone JL Etiology of Infectious Diseases of the Upper Respiratory Tract. In: Ballenger JJ, Snow JB, editors, Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 15th edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1996, 69–83.

5. Gwaltney JM The common cold. In: Mandell GL, Bennet JE, Dolin R, editors, Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 4th Edition. NY: Churchill Livingstone - 1996, 561–6.

6. Gwaltney JM Pharyngitis. Ibid., 566–9.

7. de Melker R. Prescribing patterns for respiratory tract infections: Dutch data from international perspective. In: Program and abstracts of the 3rd International Meeting on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Crete, 1997, S1.

8. Otori N., Paydas G., Stierna P., Westrin KM The anti-inflammatory effect of fusafungine during experimentally induced rhinosinusitis in rabbit. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 1998; 255:195–201.

9. Piskunov GZ, Piskunov SZ, Lopatin AS Substantiation of the use of Octenisept in acute and chronic inflammation of nasal mucosa. In: Liber Amicorum. Prof. Dr. EHHuizing 1976–1997. Utrecht, 1997; 181–5.

10. Rice DH Microbiology. In: Donald PJ, Gluckman JL, Rice DH, Editors, The Sinuses. New York: Raven Press, 1995, 57–64.

Combined drug -

Imudon (trade name)

(Solvay Pharma)

Combined drug -

Strepsils (trade name)

(Boots Healthcare International)

Symptoms of pharyngitis in adults (photos)

The very first signs of pharyngitis are the appearance of unpleasant, painful sensations inside the throat: tickling, soreness, burning. In the morning, the need to get rid of viscous mucous accumulations - expectoration, coughing, can cause nausea and vomiting. Patients complain of pain when swallowing.

As the disease develops, adults experience severe symptoms. The main manifestations of pharyngitis include:

• sore throat, sometimes quite severe;
• discomfort when swallowing, more often observed when swallowing saliva or the symptom of an “empty throat”;
• unpleasant sensations in the form of tickling, tickling, burning and/or foreign body sensation;
• dry cough;
• accumulation of mucus in the throat.

These symptoms do not appear immediately. They occur as the disease progresses. Below, you can see a photo of a throat with pharyngitis.

Important: the symptoms of pharyngitis are very similar to other serious infectious diseases, so it is important to establish the etiology of the disease in time, excluding measles, scarlet fever, and rubella.

With catarrhal and hypertrophic chronic pharyngitis, patients complain of a feeling of rawness, soreness or a foreign body in the throat, and mild pain when swallowing. Thick mucous discharge constantly accumulates in the patient's throat, so the patient constantly coughs up. The cough worsens in the morning, in some cases accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

To confirm the presence of the disease and reliably determine its variant, additional diagnostics are necessary. A general practitioner or otolaryngologist can prescribe tests and partially conduct them when the patient first contacts you.

Prevention of pharyngitis:

• Hardening.
• Restoration of nasal breathing,
• Strengthening the immune system, getting rid of bad habits.
• Humidification of residential air.
• If you sleep with your mouth open, the nasopharynx does not moisturize your throat, leaving it dry and irritated.
• The head of the bed is raised by 10-15 cm.
• One of the causes of morning sore throat is the release of aggressive gastric juice at night. A high pillow does not solve this problem, but only increases pressure on the esophagus. Dinner 2 hours before bedtime.
• Frequently changing your toothbrush, which accumulates bacteria during use. When the gums are damaged, they enter the body. You need to change your brush especially often when you are sick. For prevention, once a month is enough.

Complications

Complications can be divided into local, nearby and distant, and general. The most common local complications in the neighborhood are:

• sore throat (purulent),
• peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess,
• acute otitis media (inflammation of the inner ear),
• swelling of the larynx,
• phlegmon,
• laryngitis,
• tracheitis,
• Chronical bronchitis.

In more rare cases, the salivary glands are affected and cervical lymphadenitis develops.

Carrying out diagnostics

Lateral pharyngitis can very often be combined with other pathologies of the ENT organs, so a comprehensive diagnosis is required. It means:

• determining the external condition of the pharyngeal mucosa, as well as examining the neck;
• palpation of the larynx area;
• general blood analysis;
• throat swab to determine the causative agent of the virus;
• laryngoscopy.

This disease occurs equally in children and adults, so when the first signs appear, you should visit a doctor. If comprehensive treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, complications may occur. The most severe consequence of the disease is tissue swelling, during which it becomes very difficult for a person to breathe and signs of respiratory failure appear.

Diagnostics

The doctor will make a diagnosis based on characteristic complaints and the picture that he sees when examining the larynx using mirrors - laryngoscopy. The main diagnostic method is pharyngoscopy, which reveals:

• redness and swelling of the posterior wall of the pharynx, palate and uvula;
• slime;
• granular, bright red surface of lymphoid tissue (with granulosa pharyngitis);
• redness of the lateral ridges behind the palatine arches;
• dry, white and thin mucous membrane of the pharynx with crusts in the atrophic form of the disease;
• purulent discharge and white plaque in the throat.

How to treat pharyngitis, associated laryngitis:

For pharyngitis of infectious origin, use:

Antiviral drugs:

• Isoprinosine.
• Amizon.
• Groprinosin.
• Ingavirin.

Gargling:

• Chlorophyllipt alcohol 1%: the main enemy of staphylococci. For adults, use a dessert spoon for one glass of water. Rinse up to 4 times/day. 40 minutes after gargling, the throat is lubricated with Lugol's solution.
• An oil solution of chlorophyllipt is instilled into the nose, then it gets to the back of the throat where it begins to act.
• Chlorhexidine.
• Furacilin is diluted 1:5000, or 20 mg tablets diluted in half a glass of water. Gargle every 2 hours.
• Rotokan: (herbal gargling solution).
• Sea salt or eucalyptus solution (3 times/day after meals).

Throat sprays:

• Inhalipt.
• Cameton.
• Gaviscon.
• Tera - flu.
• Gevalex.
• Bioparox.
• Provost – N.

Lollipops for a sore throat:

Ingredients: (menthol, eucalyptus oil, mint, anise oil, anti-inflammatory components):

• Faringosept.
• Faringomed.
• Septolete.
• Falimint.
• Strepsils.
• Trachisan.
• Decathylene.

Some time after taking the lollipops, you can drink and eat.

Cough medications:

• Bromhexine.
• ACC.
• Lazolvan.
• Ambrobene.
• Fluditek.

All of them have an expectorant effect.

Herbal cough syrups:

• Gerbion.
• Eucabalus.
• Bronchipret.

Herbal syrups with expectorant action.

Inhalations using a home nebulizer:

• With saline solution.
• Ambroxol.
• Herbal decoctions (eucalyptus, chamomile).

In especially severe cases, antibiotics and sulfa drugs are prescribed.

Treatment of pharyngitis in adults

Treatment is comprehensive, aimed at reducing local symptoms of the disease and affecting the underlying cause that supports pharyngitis. The main task is to relieve discomfort. The treatment will involve anti-inflammatory, painkillers, antiseptic and antibacterial drugs.

For both forms of the disease, experts recommend adhering to certain rules:

1. Limit going outside and contact with others to prevent the infection from spreading. Don't complicate your situation with additional viruses.
2. Ensure proper rest at night. Make time for a nap during the day.
3. Fill your diet with lighter foods enriched with vitamins and minerals. Avoid salty, spicy, fried foods.
4. If you suffer from dry mucous membranes, drink milk with honey or warm green tea.
5. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
6. Limit smoking.

How long pharyngitis in adults is treated will depend on what caused the disease, what treatment was used, the presence of complications, and also on whether the influence of irritating factors was eliminated.

How to treat acute pharyngitis?

In case of acute pharyngitis, which is not accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition, local treatment aimed at eliminating pain and relieving inflammation is sufficient:

• Gargling with decoctions of chamomile, sage, and alkaline solutions.
• Lubricating with a solution of silver nitrate or Lugol.
• A gentle diet.
• Warming compresses on the neck.
• Steam inhalations.
• Drinking milk with honey.

All drugs used in the treatment of pharyngitis are designed to achieve the following effects:

• suppression of the focus of the inflammatory process;
• relief of symptoms;
• strengthening the immune system.

Among the popular drugs for the treatment of pharyngitis in adults are drugs such as strepsils, septolete, and hexaliz. They are most often sold in the form of tablets and lozenges that simply need to be dissolved in the mouth. Such medications are effective in the initial stages of pharyngitis.

For pharyngitis, the following are usually prescribed:

• Remedies for sore throat: lozenges made with medicinal herbs (Travisil) or with antiseptic properties (Faryngosept, Strepsils). The purpose of topical remedies is to relieve a sore throat, reduce pain, moisturize the mucous membrane, and suppress coughing attacks;
• Inhalations and rinses with an antiseptic effect: Iodinol, propolis tincture, baking soda solution, chamomile and calendula decoctions, Chlorhexidine, Bicarmint, Rotokan, Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt;
• Throat sprays: Tantum Verde, Ingalipt, Bioparox, Hexasprey;
• Antihistamines: Zyrtec, Loratadine, etc. (in the presence of edema, insomnia);

Acute inflammation, in which there is severe damage to the mucous membrane and an increase in temperature (over 39 degrees), requires more serious treatment and the use of antibiotics: Augmentin, Clarithromycin, Amoxiclav, etc. Antibiotics are prescribed exclusively by a doctor and only after it is precisely established that pharyngitis has bacterial nature.

Increasing the activity of the immune system and improving overall health will help overcome the disease faster, and can also be an excellent prevention of infectious diseases. To do this, you can eat a variety of fruits and vegetables containing large amounts of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin complexes and drugs to improve the functioning of the immune system can be very useful.

These methods are sufficient for the treatment of both acute and chronic forms of pharyngitis in adults. In the absence of allergies, traditional medicine methods give a good effect:

• Inhalations with salt and soda.
• Inhalation with simple water vapor.

It is imperative to treat almost always associated rhinitis by instilling drops into the nose prescribed by a pediatrician, since without this, treatment of pharyngitis will be ineffective due to the constant flow of infection from the nose.

How to treat chronic pharyngitis

The symptoms and treatment in adults of this form of the disease are somewhat different from the previous one. In this situation, the patient’s condition is much better than in the acute course. A person almost never experiences an increase in body temperature and weakness. However, the pain in the throat persists.

For atrophic inflammation of the throat, it is recommended to humidify the air where the patient is. When breathing through the mouth, the mucous membrane dries out. If you don’t have a humidifier at home, indoor plants and water containers are recommended.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy treatment of pharyngitis is prescribed to reduce swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, reduce the severity of the inflammatory process, and accelerate blood circulation. The main methods for this are:

• UHF therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• laser therapy;
• FUV irradiation;
• aerotherapy; thalassotherapy (moretherapy).

In the classical course, pharyngitis in adults does not cause problems during treatment. The uncomplicated form of the disease heals on its own. In severe cases, drug treatment is mandatory.

Gargling for pharyngitis

Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs are suitable for gargling: chamomile, calendula, plantain, sage. You can buy ready-made tinctures that need to be diluted with water. This could be Rotokan, Romazulan and others. In addition, Furacilin solution is used for rinsing. Aerosols and sprays, for example, Hexoral, do a good job.

You need to gargle at least 6 times a day, every hour if possible.

• To treat pharyngitis in adults, rinse the oropharynx with furatsilin, diluted 1:5000 or with alkaline solutions (0.5 tablespoon of baking soda with the same amount of table salt, dissolved in 250 grams of warm water).
• Rinses: baking soda (1 teaspoon per glass of boiling water), decoctions of calendula, sage, chamomile, infusion of onion peels (a tablespoon of peel is poured into a glass of boiling water).

Symptoms

Sore throat is the main symptom

. The pain is especially acute after waking up in the morning or when swallowing.

Experts identify the following signs of pharyngitis:

• sore and dry throat;
• enlarged lymph nodes in the neck;
• dry cough;
• headache;
• general weakness;
• runny nose;
• nasal congestion;
• muscle pain;
• sensation of a lump forming in the throat
  ;
• a gray coating on the tongue.

The temperature with pharyngitis in adults is high. Usually it reaches levels from 37.5 to 38.5 degrees.
In acute cases, the symptoms are pronounced, the disease is severe

. The chronic form is usually not accompanied by high fever and deterioration in general condition.

What pharyngitis looks like depends on the form of the disease and the underlying cause.

On examination, redness of the throat mucosa and swelling are usually observed. Treatment in adult patients consists of eliminating the underlying cause of the disease and relieving symptoms.

Nutrition

Food during illness should be soft and gentle. It should not contain harmful products that will irritate your throat. In this case, nutrition for pharyngitis should be complete, and its amount should correspond to the age and gender of the patient.

What is healthy to eat?

• fruits (bananas, grapes, oranges, tangerines, apples) contain a large amount of vitamins that strengthen the immune system;
• vegetables (carrots, garlic, cabbage, onions, potatoes, parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes);
• fermented milk products (milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir);
• vegetable broth;
• soup (buckwheat, oatmeal, rice);
• meat products cooked exclusively by steam (veal, beef, pork);
• hot drinks (tea with lemon, raspberries).

Products to exclude:

• fried foods;
• various smoked meats;
• ice cream;
• spicy (pepper, tomato) food;
• too salty foods;
• alcoholic products (alcohol);
• carbonated drinks;
• hot food;
• cold drinks.

The main thing is that the drink is warm. In addition to water, it is pleasant and healthy to consume:

• natural fresh juices, diluting them with warm water;
• homemade jelly;
• compotes;
• decoctions of medicinal plants with antimicrobial activity;
• teas, maybe with honey;
• kefir;
• drinking natural yoghurt;
• drink produced by milk mushroom;
• Kombucha infusion, etc.

You should not drink alcoholic and carbonated drinks during illness, as they can further irritate the throat and contribute to the development of inflammation.

Treatment of the disease at home

Depending on the degree of development of the disease, its type - chronic or acute, pharyngitis is treated with various complex methods.

Acute pharyngitis

Treatment of acute pharyngitis includes:

• dietary nutrition (exclude foods that irritate the throat);
• do not drink cold, hot or alcoholic drinks;
• make foot baths;
• gargle after every meal;
• at night drink warm milk, with butter and honey (if you are not allergic to it);
• breathe over steam (herbal decoctions, plant branches, special preparations to relieve inflammation);
• use sprays (Inhalipt, Kameton, Bicarmint);
• use lozenges for resorption (Strepsils, Farigosept, Agisept);
• Bioparox inhaler (contains an antibiotic and has anti-inflammatory properties).

Chronic pharyngitis

A competent approach is required to treatment. Find out the cause of the disease and take the necessary measures:

• pharyngitis is a consequence of other diseases, the presence of infections in the body (you need to treat them);
• diet is required (give up bad habits, exclude spicy, salty, fried, sweet foods);
• do not drink too cold or hot drinks;
• use antibacterial drugs (Bioparox, Imudon);
• use solutions that have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects (sage, chamomile);
• absorbable tablets (Septolete, Strepsils, Faringosept);
• sprays that relieve inflammation (Hexoral, Cameton);
• inhalation with essential oils;
• UHF;
• taking vitamins, medications that strengthen the immune system.

To properly treat pharyngitis at home in adults, you must first visit a doctor. He will not only prescribe pharmaceutical drugs, but will also recommend certain home treatment methods. Folk remedies help cope with symptoms and restore general normalcy.

Purulent pharyngitis

Treatment of purulent pharyngitis should be comprehensive. This includes a diet throughout the entire course of therapy, and better after it (exclude salty, smoked, cold, hot, spicy, alcohol from the diet), drink more water, at least two liters per day. Also recommended:

• observe bed rest, do not burden the body;
• ventilate the room more often;
• antipyretics (Nimesil, Paracetamol);
• choose an antitussive drug depending on the nature of the cough (Sinekod, Doctor Mom, Ambrobene);
• anti-inflammatory (Bronchomax);
• painkillers for the throat (Adjisept, Strepsils);
• rinse (Furacilin, Miramistin, Chlorophyllipt, sage, eucalyptus);
• lubricate the affected areas of the throat with products containing glycerin or oil.

Fungal pharyngitis

First of all, fungal pharyngitis needs antifungal drugs:

• Diflucan, Flucanazole;
• Nistanin, Levorin;
• Pimafucin.

Since a common cause of fungus is a disturbed intestinal microflora, it is necessary to take the drugs Linex, Acipol, Baktisubtil.

Gargling, local treatment:

• Lugol's solution;
• Miramistin;
• herbs – chamomile, sage.

Gargling is not always possible, and is often inconvenient, so you can use Rotocan or Hexoral sprays. At the same time, it is recommended to take immunostimulants.

Folk remedies

Using traditional medicine recipes, you can treat a sore throat at home. For this purpose, decoctions and solutions are prepared based on medicinal plants. In the acute phase of the disease, it is recommended to rinse the mouth every hour.

The following folk remedies for pharyngitis are widely used:

1. Infusion of peppermint leaves – 10 g per 200 ml, infusion of yarrow herb – 10 g per 200 ml, decoction of viburnum bark – 15 g per 200 ml. Mix 50-100 ml of the mixture for inhalation.
2. If you have pharyngitis, try chewing high-quality propolis: it should cause a burning sensation in your mouth and a slight numbness of the tongue. Chew it after eating.
3. Inhalation of vapors of decoctions of medicinal herbs (eucalyptus, chamomile, St. John's wort, pine cones);
4. It is recommended to treat pharyngitis with aloe juice and propolis tincture. Aloe juice can be used pure or mixed with honey in a ratio of 1:3 and lubricate the throat.
5. For 2 parts coltsfoot take 1 part mint. 1 tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water. Use for rinsing and inhalation.

Treatment methods

Therapy for lateral pharyngitis should be comprehensive. Any medications are prescribed only by a doctor. In addition, you must stop drinking alcohol, smoking, and cold water for the duration of treatment. To prevent exacerbation, you should avoid places with polluted air.

To treat lateral pharyngitis, the doctor prescribes drugs from the following groups:

In some cases, surgical intervention may be prescribed (if the pathology is complicated by suppuration). To prevent this from happening, you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Methods of treating the disease.

Complications of the disease

If left untreated, pharyngitis can cause a wide variety of consequences, but the most common is the transition to a chronic form, when any, even minor, hypothermia can trigger a relapse of the disease.

If infectious agents, together with the inflammatory process, go lower, tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchitis or pneumonia may develop. Bacterial lateral pharyngitis can lead to a retropharyngeal abscess, penetration of bacteria into the systemic circulation and the development of sepsis.

Other, more rare, complications of bacterial pharyngitis:

1. Sinusitis.
2. Inflammation of the salivary glands.
3. Purulent otitis.
4. Lymphadenitis.
5. Pericarditis.
6. Rheumatism.

In the chronic course of the disease, breathing becomes difficult due to extensive swelling. With atrophic pharyngitis, the functions of the pharynx decrease, and with a long course of the disease, the development of cancer increases.

Treatment of the chronic form

The chronic form of pharyngitis differs in that the patient feels slightly better than with a chronic course. A person almost never experiences weakness or fever. However, there is pain in the throat.

It is recommended to humidify the air. For this purpose, special devices are used - air humidifiers. If you don’t have them, you can simply hang wet towels on the radiator or place containers of water around the apartment. In addition, you need to use painkillers and antibacterial agents to eliminate inflammation and pain in the throat mucosa.

Some patients say that they cannot cure lateral pharyngitis with antibiotics, and are wondering what to do in this case. It is worth noting that the disease can be triggered not only by bacteria, but also by fungi, viruses, and allergens.

If an exacerbation of chronic pharyngitis is provoked by allergens, a course of antihistamines is prescribed, in particular, such as Diphenhydramine, Tavegil, Suprastin. If the disease is caused by a fungus, then antifungal drugs are used, for example, Nystatin, Livolin, Amphotericin.

Fungal pharyngitis

This type of pharyngitis is called pharyngomycosis and occurs as a result of damage to the tissues of the larynx by the Candida fungus.

Fungal pharyngitis has a different clinical course and requires a different approach to treatment.

The first signs of pathology appear 1-2 weeks after the end of long-term use of antibiotics (this reason provokes the development of pharyngomycosis in 90% of cases).

The patient experiences rawness and pain in the throat, a feeling of the presence of a foreign object there. The intensity of discomfort varies - from a slight soreness to the inability to swallow saliva.

The posterior laryngeal wall, tonsils and arches become sharply reddened and swollen, after some time a specific coating appears on the surface of the mucous membrane.

It has a cheesy, loose consistency, is white in color and can be easily removed with a spatula. In this case, under the layer of plaque, red, inflamed mucous membrane is found, but without signs of bleeding.

As a rule, there is no increase in temperature, general health rarely suffers (weakness may be observed).

Antibacterial drugs

For pharyngitis, systemic and local antibacterial agents are prescribed. Local remedies include aerosols and other throat medications that are used for treatment and irrigation. Systemic antibiotics can be taken orally or administered by injection.

The effect of antibiotics for pharyngitis is aimed at preventing the spread of infection throughout the body. However, you need to choose them correctly. Successful treatment of pharyngitis depends on how optimally the antibiotic is absorbed into the blood. Therefore, independent prescription of this group of drugs is unacceptable.

There are contraindications for the use of antibiotics:

• individual intolerance to all drugs or a specific group;
• pregnancy (especially 1st trimester);
• lactation period (if antibiotics must be taken, breastfeeding must be stopped while taking them);
• renal or liver failure.

All antibacterial products have their own specific contraindications, so you should carefully read the package insert before use.

In addition, you need to understand that antibiotics can cause certain side effects:

• allergic reactions;
• dyspeptic symptoms;
• fever;
• the occurrence of fungal infections;
• joint pain;
• when using topical antibiotics (for example, sprays), redness of the mucous membrane, suffocation, and laryngeal spasm may develop.

For acute pharyngitis, penicillin drugs are prescribed, sometimes cephalosporins are recommended - Cefazolin, Ceftriaxone. If patients are allergic to this group, then macrolides are prescribed - Azithromycin, Erythromycin, and Lincomycin is also widely used. In the chronic course of the disease, antibiotics are usually not prescribed until the disease worsens.

The dosage of drugs and the course of treatment are determined by the doctor depending on the form and severity of the disease.

Find out how not to harm your body by taking antibiotics.

Prevention

To avoid the diagnosis of acute pharyngitis, you need to follow preventive measures:

• timely treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases;
• strengthen the immune system (take vitamins, harden yourself);
• eat more fruits, berries, vegetables;
• do not abuse heavy foods (fatty, spicy, fried);
• avoid hypothermia;
• stop smoking, alcohol;
• observe personal hygiene rules (wash your hands, change your toothbrush more often);
• ventilate and moisten the room.

With proper treatment of the disease, the prognosis becomes favorable. And by following all preventive measures, you can completely avoid such diseases.

How to distinguish pharyngitis from sore throat

Before starting treatment of acute pharyngitis, the patient should exclude the presence of tonsillitis (synonym: acute tonsillitis). These conditions are somewhat similar in their presentation, which is why there is always a risk of diagnostic error. It is extremely undesirable to allow this, since the treatment of the listed pathologies somewhat contradicts each other. An incorrect assumption can significantly increase the duration of the disease and contribute to the development of a chronic form.

First of all, inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx differs according to the following characteristics:

• Pain – a sore throat is always accompanied by severe pain, which increases when eating. With pharyngitis, this symptom is insignificant and decreases with food, especially when drinking warm liquid;
• A tickling sensation – this symptom is not typical for tonsil infection;
• The nature of swallowing saliva - with angina, this process is almost always disrupted, due to severe swelling and pain. Inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa does not lead to significant changes;
• The presence of symptoms of otitis - hearing loss, discomfort and tinnitus are practically not found in isolated acute tonsillitis.

It should be remembered that two different diseases can occur in a patient simultaneously, under the influence of an active pathogen. In this case, the doctor optimizes the treatment regimen for this condition.

Causes of acute pharyngitis

In 70% of cases, the acute form of pharyngitis occurs due to a viral infection - it is caused by influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus, enterovirus, rhinovirus and coronavirus.

All these pathogens are extremely aggressive and contagious. They are transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets and household contact.

The disease also occurs in adults against the background of throat irritation from tobacco smoke, alcoholic beverages, household chemicals, dust and polluted air.

The cause of acute pharyngitis can be a throat injury - this includes burns with chemicals, thermal burns (steam, hot or too cold air).

Mechanical injury to the mucous membrane occurs when a foreign object enters the laryngeal cavity as a result of injury or surgery.

Bacterial form

The bacterial form of the disease is recorded in 30% of cases and is either isolated or occurs against the background of concomitant pathology.

Its development is facilitated by infection of the throat by streptococci, chlamydia, Haemophilus influenzae, gonococcus, mycoplasma, staphylococci and other pathogens.

Fungal

A separate group is fungal pharyngitis, which develops under unfavorable external and internal factors. This is a long-term use of hormonal drugs (glucocorticoids) and antibacterial agents.

Patients with diabetes mellitus, disorders of the thyroid gland and immunodeficiency states of the body are susceptible to fungal infections of the throat.

Allergic

An atypical, but still occurring form of pharyngitis is allergic. Irritation of the throat mucosa occurs as a response to close contact with the allergen.

These include food products, medications, plant pollen, animal hair, mold spores, insects, etc.

If the components that cause the regular occurrence of acute pharyngitis are not identified in time, the disease enters the chronic stage.

Carrying out prevention

Properly carried out preventive measures will help avoid the development or exacerbation of lateral pharyngitis. To do this, you must follow these recommendations:

• smoking cessation;
• you need to try to stay less in a dusty room;
• avoid contact with sick people during seasonal cold epidemics;
• it is important to strengthen the immune system;
• promptly treat all inflammatory processes in the body.

If you experience dryness and a sore throat, you need to take immediate action. The preventive effect can be enhanced by hardening the throat. To do this, you need to gargle with cold water 3 times a day. On the first day, the water temperature should be 25 degrees, and then reduced by 1-2 degrees every week. Hardening can also have a healing effect if you use a salt solution or herbal decoctions.

Causes

The main etiological factor of acute pharyngitis is viruses. Most often these are pathogens of ARVI, or acute respiratory viral infections, namely adeno-, rhino-, coronaviruses, parainfluenza and influenza viruses. Less commonly, the disease is caused by enteroviruses, herpes simplex viruses, cytomegaloviruses, Coxsackie viruses, and HIV.

The development of the disease can be facilitated by:

• imbalance of hormones in the body (in particular, menopause);
• allergic diseases;
• general hypothermia;
• severe somatic pathology;
• bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking).

In addition to viruses and bacteria, acute pharyngitis can be caused by:

• fungi;
• injuries to the pharyngeal mucosa;
• allergens;
• chemical irritants.

Pharyngitis, the nature of which was initially viral, after a few days from the onset of the disease can become viral-bacterial - secondary flora from the oral cavity or from foci of chronic infection in the body joins. Streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci are most often found in acute pharyngitis.

Forms of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is classified according to various criteria: the cause of occurrence, localization and stage of development of the disease. Depending on the main signs, symptoms and lesions, several main forms of pharyngitis are distinguished - catarrhal, hypertrophic and atrophic.

The catarrhal form is considered the initial and mildest. As a rule, its appearance is caused by harmful fumes inhaled by humans. This could be tobacco smoke, car exhaust, chemicals in factories, or even household chemicals used for cleaning. The first signs of catarrhal pharyngitis are dryness in the throat and mouth, a feeling of cutting and burning in the throat, a feeling of tickling or something foreign.

If catarrhal pharyngitis is not treated in time, it can develop into the next form - hypertrophic. Its main symptom is an increase in the mucous membrane of the throat. Mucus and purulent formations may appear on inflamed tissues. Patients with this form of pharyngitis complain of a sore throat and a severe dry cough. A subtype of hypertrophic pharyngitis is the granulosa form, in which granular inflammation consisting of dead cells forms on the walls of the throat.

The third form from the list of main ones is atrophic, considered the most severe and difficult to treat. Its characteristic signs are thinning of the throat tissue. Accumulations of mucus form dry clots that interfere with free breathing. The patient tries to remove them by coughing. A dry cough haunts the patient almost constantly, further irritating the mucous membrane and aggravating the condition.

There are different forms based on the causative agent of the disease: pharyngitis can be viral, bacterial or fungal (each form occurs under the influence of the corresponding microorganisms), as well as allergic (arises from irritation of the mucous membrane by various allergens) and traumatic (this form is provoked by an external impact on the throat tissue, for example , ingress of foreign objects).

Based on the source of inflammation, three forms are also distinguished: nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nasopharynx), mesopharyngitis (when the disease is localized in the middle part of the pharynx) and hypopharyngitis (inflammation covers the entire area).

Diagnosis of pharyngitis

An effective approach to diagnosing pharyngitis is an examination by an ENT doctor, family doctor, or pediatrician.

To determine the nature of the pathogen, swabs are taken from the throat. The disease is differentiated from catarrhal and purulent tonsillitis, ARVI, influenza, Plummer–Vinson, Sjögren, and Eagle syndromes. In children - with diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles.

Treatment during pregnancy

Many people are interested in how to treat lateral pharyngitis during pregnancy, since in such cases various potent medications are strictly contraindicated. That is why it is necessary to fight the disease in such ways as:

• gargling with saline solution;
• lozenges;
• taking vitamin A;
• inhalations with alkaline mineral water;
• physiotherapy.

If the submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged, mud applications can also be used.

Complications of pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis often becomes a complication of acute pharyngitis, which was not cured in time. At the same time, the chronic form of the disease over time provokes the development of a number of other unpleasant diseases. With streptococcal pharyngitis, a complication can be a peritonsillar abscess, in which there is soreness in the throat, unilateral swelling and erythema.

Complications of chronic pharyngitis are often laryngitis , tracheitis (respectively, inflammatory processes of the larynx and trachea). of chronic bronchitis is also possible .

Some forms of pharyngitis (in particular, the form of the disease caused by group A b-hemolytic streptococcus) subsequently also provoke the development of acute articular rheumatism .

Another unpleasant complication of chronic pharyngitis is a general decrease in quality of life. A patient with a chronic form of the disease cannot speak for a long time. Therefore, for people whose profession involves the need to give lectures and other types of public speaking, such an illness can become a very big problem. In case of chronic pharyngitis, tonsil removal is contraindicated. Therefore, inflammation can worsen over time, and as a result, the timbre of a person’s voice changes noticeably.

Gargling

For lateral pharyngitis, rinsing is very effective. You can gargle with pharmaceutical products and herbal decoctions. To do this, you can use tools such as:

• "Furacilin";
• "Dioxidin";
• "Romazulan";
• "Chlorhexidine."

Before use, the drug "Dioxidin" must be diluted according to the instructions in order to achieve the required concentration. Furacilin is considered one of the safest products. You can buy it in the form of a ready-made solution and gargle 3-5 times a day. To prepare it yourself, you need to dilute Furacilin tablets in hot water.

The drug "Romazulan" is made on the basis of chamomile extract. It does not contain any synthetic or artificial components, so it can be safely used to treat pharyngitis in children and pregnant women.