Pharyngitis: Overview of Information

Pharyngitis (Latin pharyngitis) (acute pharynx catarrh) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the lymphoid tissues and pharyngeal mucosa that occurs in a chronic or acute form. The disease of pharyngitis is accompanied by perspiration, severe discomfort and pain when swallowing. Pharyngitis - treatment is carried out by both traditional and alternative medicine.

ICD-10 code

• J00 Acute pharyngitis.
• J31.2 Chronic pharyngitis

According to the international classification of diseases, pharyngitis is isolated from tonsillitis, however, the unifying term "tonsillopharyngitis", which takes into account a combination of these two pathological states, is often used in the literature.

Epidemiology of pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is very common in middle-aged and elderly people. Children, as a rule, suffer from chronic pharyngitis rarely. In men, pharyngitis is observed more often. However, women are dominated by subatrophic forms of the disease.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]

Screening

Identification of persons with this disease is carried out taking into account the characteristic complaints, anamnesis of the patient and the results of pharyngoscopy.

What causes pharyngitis?

The main factor provoking the appearance of pharyngitis is contaminated and cold air, nicotine, other harmful substances. Pharyngitis often occurs along with tonsillitis (quite simply, angina) and can be caused by penetration into the throat of various infections.

Common causes of the disease are cold or dirty air, the aggressive influence of such irritants as tobacco or alcohol, pathogenic bacteria: staphylococci, streptococci, influenza virus and fungus "candida". Often inflammation of the mucosa develops in the presence of infection in the oral cavity and nasopharynx: caries, rhinitis.

Often, chronic inflammation is not a separate disease, it is the pathology of other internal diseases: pancreatitis, gastritis, cholecystitis.

Chronic inflammation also often occurs with difficulty breathing of the nose. The reason for this can be frequent and irrational use of nasal drops.

The development of chronic pharyngitis is facilitated by:

• Frequent exposure to mucous factors such as: hot or smoky air, dust, chemical. Matter
• Frequent use of decongestants, regular nasal congestion.
• Allergic manifestations
• Deficiency of vitamin A in the body
• Smoking and alcohol
• Diseases of the endocrine system
• Cardiac, renal and pulmonary diseases, diabetes

Diagnosis of pharyngitis is carried out by examination, and if necessary, a smear of the mucosa is performed.

Acute pharyngitis is divided into:

• Traumatic
• Virus-bacterial
• Allergic (due to the stimulus)
• Chronic pharyngitis:
• Atrophic
• Catarrhal
• Granuleous

One of the most common forms of pharyngitis is catarrhal, caused by catarrhal diseases. The causative agents of the disease in 70% are rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses and others. According to medical research, the most active agent of inflammation is the rhinovirus, which is especially evident during the autumn and spring epidemics.

Pharyngitis - Causes and pathogenesis

Symptoms of pharyngitis

The clinical form of acute inflammation is increased dryness in the throat, pershenia, tenderness in the pharynx. There may be malaise, fatigue, fever. Cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, which can be determined by palpation.

It should be borne in mind that acute inflammation can cause other, more serious infectious diseases: rubella, measles, scarlet fever.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis differ somewhat from the early form of the disease. There is no general malaise, and body temperature often remains normal. The disease is manifested by pain in the throat, dryness and sensation of a lump in the throat, which causes a desire to clear your throat. There is a dry, persistent cough. Chronic pharyngitis disturbs a restful sleep, since the mucus on the back of the throat requires constant swallowing.

With acute pharyngitis and exacerbation of a chronic patient, notes unpleasant sensations in the nasopharynx: burning, dryness, often the accumulation of viscous mucus, perspiration and sometimes mild pain in the throat (especially with an "empty throat"). When the inflammation spreads to the mucous membrane of the auditory tubes, there is congestion and pain in the ears. Often, a headache with localization in the occipital areas disturbs, there is difficulty in nasal breathing and nasal, especially in children. General symptoms are usually not very pronounced. The patient may be troubled by weakness, headache; a slight increase in temperature is possible. Sometimes there is an increase in regional lymph nodes, moderately painful on palpation.

Chronic pharyngitis is not characterized by an increase in temperature and a significant deterioration in the general condition. The catarrhal and hypertrophic forms of inflammation are characterized by a sensation of perspiration, tickling, sore throat, awkwardness in the throat when swallowing, the sensation of a foreign body that does not interfere with the ingestion of food, but which often causes swallowing. With hypertrophic pharyngitis, all these phenomena are more pronounced than with the catarrhal form of the disease. Sometimes there are complaints about laying the ears, which disappears after several swallowing movements,

The main complaints with atrophic pharyngitis are a feeling of dryness in the pharynx, often a difficulty in swallowing, especially in the so-called empty pharynx, and often unpleasant odors from the mouth. Patients often have a desire to drink a sip of water, especially with prolonged conversation. It should be noted that not always complaints of the patient correspond to the severity of the process: in some cases, with minor pathological changes and even in the presence of a visible absence of them, a number of unpleasant side effects arise that cause the patient to be treated persistently and persistently, while in others, on the contrary, pronounced changes in the mucous membrane proceed almost unnoticed.

Lateral pharyngitis, or acute inflammation of the lateral pharynx

Lateral pharyngitis is often combined with inflammation of the lymphadenoid granules of the posterior pharyngeal wall (angina pharyngis granulosa). Usually, these lymphoid formations compensate for compensatory hypertrophy after removal of palatine tonsils, and if pathogenic microbiota nests in them, then under certain risk factors and provocative causes, its virulence increases, and inflammation of these formations arises, "serving," in the words of BS Perevozhensky, as if the equivalent of tonsillitis tonsillitis in those who have not operated. "

Most inflammation has a one-sided or predominantly one-sided character, when the lateral roller is involved in the process again.

With pharyngoscopy, the lateral ridges appear enlarged, hyperemic, can be covered with pseudo-film, which can be easily removed by a cotton swab. The general clinical picture resembles that of catarrhal angina.

Treatment: sulfonamides, antiseptic rinses, bed rest for 3-5 days, depending on the severity of the clinical picture.

Pharyngitis - Symptoms

Classification of pharyngitis

From the anatomical point of view, the pharynx is divided into three sections - the upper (nasopharynx), the middle (oropharynx), and the lower one (the laryngopharynx). Morphological changes in the mucosa during chronic pharyngitis usually have a predominant localization in one of the anatomical sections of the pharynx, so the inflammatory process developing here can be divided into nasopharyngitis, mesopharyngitis, hypopharyngitis. This division can be conditional, because the inflammatory process often infects the mucous membrane diffusely and has a migratory character.

Acute pharyngitis is divided into viral, bacterial, fungal and allergic. Viral pharyngitis is often a companion of any acute respiratory viral infection. On examination, reddening, loose surface of the pharynx are clearly visible, sometimes an increase in palatine tonsils is observed. Symptoms: dry cough, swallowing in the pharynx, enlarged lymph nodes, temperature can also increase. In more rare cases, bacterial pharyngitis may occur, which causes strepto-, staphylococcus and pneumococci. Fungal pharyngitis, or pharyngicosis, occurs when the mucous pharynx is affected by fungal pathogens. The impetus for the appearance of pharyngicosis can be such pathologies as diabetes, blood diseases, as well as intestinal disorders, etc. Allergic pharyngitis is characterized by frequent sneezing and lacrimation.

Acute pharyngitis can cause uncomfortable sensations in the ears, cervical lymph nodes are often increased.

Chronic pharyngitis can occur without a rise in temperature, the general condition is often normal.

Chronic pharyngitis is usually classified according to the nature of morphological changes developing in the mucous membrane of the pharynx, in connection with which catarrhal (simple), hypertrophic and atrophic (subatrophic) pharyngitis is isolated.

These forms of chronic inflammation often combine. Thus, the presence of diffuse atrophic changes in the mucosa can be combined with focal hyperplasia of the lymphoid tissue of the posterior pharyngeal wall.

[9], [10], [11], [12]

Diagnosis of pharyngitis

With pharyngoscopy in a patient with acute pharyngitis and exacerbation of chronic inflammation, the mucous membrane of the pharynx is hyperemic, edematous.

The process can spread to the palatine arches, tonsils : the palatine curtain and the tongue can be swollen, enlarged in volume. Often, on the posterior and lateral walls of the pharynx, separate lymphadenoid follicles are visible in the form of bright red rounded elevations (granules) - granulose pharyngitis.

Pharyngitis - Diagnosis

[13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]

Treatment of pharyngitis

If the pharyngitis disease has no pronounced manifestations, then symptomatic treatment is prescribed, which includes an easy diet, warming compresses, inhalations, rinses, foot baths. Any aggressive effect on the mucosa should be discontinued. The list of taboos includes smoking, dry, cold food. The pharyngitis treatment is performed without antibiotics, if the inflammation does not have complications.

The list of antibiotics prescribed for treatment includes several antiseptic drugs: ambazone, chlorhexidine, thymol, iodine preparations, etc. Anesthetics are used: lidocaine and tetracaine. Also natural, natural antiseptics, ascorbic acid, interferon can be prescribed.

Antimicrobials are rinses, inhalations, tablets and lozenges for absorption. Requirements for this category of drugs:

• Absence of toxic effect, low allergenicity
• A broad antimicrobial effect that has antiviral activity
• Absence of mucosal irritants

Most tablets and candies have low activity and are prescribed for mild illness. In addition, many drugs have toxic chlorhexidine, so you should limit the intake of these drugs, especially in children.

Some medications have a high allergenicity and can not be prescribed to allergic patients. Such preparations are propolis, as well as vegetable antiseptics and essential oils.

Alternative treatment of pharyngitis

If you do not have allergies to propolis, you can conduct such treatment:

Lubricate the mucosa of the pharynx and nose within 2 weeks. It is necessary to lubricate only the cavity cleared of the mucus, with alcohol impregnated with propolis. Such a prescription has become very popular due to such data: 75% of patients recovered, the others felt a significant improvement.

For treatment, a 10% propolis solution will be needed, 35 drops of which are diluted in a quarter of a glass and drip 4 drops into the nose, drawing in deeply. It should be noted that with such treatment there is soreness, but it quickly goes away.

The effectiveness of this treatment is that, by lubricating such a solution with a throat and dripping the nose, the gastrointestinal tract is simultaneously cured.

Collect the medicinal bouquet: eucalyptus, calendula, sage - each according to a teaspoonful. It is necessary to pour the herbs 300 ml of boiling water and to insist 25 minutes. In hot herbal tea, add half a spoonful of honey and gargle. After 4-5 rinses, the patient marks a significant improvement.

If you are concerned about a dry, painful cough, garlic and honey will help you. Cut the half a cup of garlic, pour it with honey and put on a small fire. Tomato should be, stirring for 30 minutes. Take a dessert spoon after eating.

Pharyngitis - Treatment

[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24]

How to prevent pharyngitis?

Acute pharyngitis can be prevented if prevention is carried out taking into account the main pathogenetic factors. It is necessary to exclude the hypothermia of the body and the effect of drafts, as well as irritation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx by agents of an alimentary nature. Preventative measures are represented by general and local hardening of the organism by cold, timely treatment of purulent-inflammatory diseases of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx. Important is the sanation of the mouth.

Prevention of chronic pharyngitis, first of all, elimination of local and general causes of the disease. It is necessary to exclude the effect of possible irritating factors, such as smoking, dust and gas contamination of the air, irritating food, etc. Proper treatment of common chronic diseases, including diseases of internal organs (heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract), metabolic disorders, as the development and flow of chronic pharyngitis is associated with the general condition of the body.

What is the prognosis of pharyngitis?

Pharyngitis has a favorable prognosis, but chronic atrophic pharyngitis requires the systematic conduct of symptomatic therapy.