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Angina in children
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Angina is one of the forms of streptococcal infection with localization of the inflammatory process in the lymphoid tissue of the oropharynx, mainly in the palatine tonsils. It is accompanied by intoxication, fever, sore throat and reaction of regional lymph nodes.
Angina is a very common disease in childhood. In practical work, one should distinguish between angina as an independent disease and angina that occurs against the background of another infectious disease.
Streptococcal tonsillitis is considered an independent nosological form, but in children it usually occurs as a complication of acute respiratory viral infections or as a result of an exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis.
ICD-10 code
J02.0 Streptococcal pharyngitis.
Pathogenesis of angina
The ability of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus to affect predominantly the epithelial covering of the lymphoid tissue of the pharynx is associated with the direct local effect of one of the antigenic structures of the microorganism - lipoteichoic acid associated with the M-protein, which ensures fixation of the pathogen on the tonsils. The M-protein reduces the phagocytic activity of leukocytes at the site of the entry gate and thereby contributes to the child's increased susceptibility to streptococcus.
Symptoms of angina
Streptococcal tonsillitis begins acutely with a rise in body temperature to 38-39 °C, chills, headache and pain when swallowing. Clinical symptoms reach their maximum severity already in the first day from the onset of the disease. Patients complain of general weakness, loss of appetite, sore throat, sometimes radiating to the ear and lateral parts of the neck. In more severe cases, repeated vomiting, delirium, agitation, convulsions are possible. The patient's appearance is characteristic: dry skin, hyperemic face, blush on the cheeks, bright, red, dry lips, cracks in the corners of the mouth.
Diagnosis of angina
Streptococcal tonsillitis is diagnosed based on clinical data (severe intoxication, bright hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx, necrotic changes in the tonsils), epidemiological history (contact with a patient with streptococcal infection) and positive laboratory test results. Beta-hemolytic streptococcus is detected in mucus cultures from the oropharynx, and titers of antibodies to streptococcal antigens (antistreptolysins, antihyaluronidase, etc.) increase.
Treatment of angina
Patients with streptococcal tonsillitis are usually treated at home. Only children with severe forms of the disease or complications, as well as children in whom it is difficult to exclude diphtheria of the oropharynx, are subject to hospitalization. Patients are placed in a box. Bed rest for 5-6 days, mechanically gentle food, and multivitamins are recommended.
To rinse the oropharynx, use the bactericidal drug tomicide, decoctions of chamomile, eucalyptus, sage, St. John's wort, as well as solutions of furacilin, potassium permanganate, etc.
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