Purulent sore throat in children

Each type of disease has common symptoms, but has its own characteristics. Purulent tonsillitis in children is quite easy to determine by appearance - characteristic pustular lesions of a gray-yellow color appear on the tonsils. The pustules can look like a small rash or merge into large lesions.

Angina, or tonsillitis, is the most common disease among children of any age. It is caused by pathogenic microorganisms (pneumococci, staphylococci, adenoviruses, streptococci), and most often the tonsils are affected.

Tonsillitis is divided into several types: herpetic, purulent, necrotic, catarrhal.

This type of tonsillitis is divided into lacunar and follicular.

Purulent tonsillitis usually affects children of preschool and primary school age and is quite severe.

The disease begins with a sore throat, pain when swallowing, weakness, and a rise in temperature to critical levels. Cough, runny nose, swelling and pain in the tonsils and lymph nodes may also appear.

Another companion of the disease is joint and muscle pain, as well as heart pain. In addition, the baby develops an unpleasant smell from the mouth and a grayish coating on the tongue.

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Causes of purulent tonsillitis in children

Purulent tonsillitis in children is most often caused by bacteria (staphylococci, pneumococci, diplococci, streptococci, etc.). All these microorganisms are present in small quantities in the nasopharynx of every person, which is normal.

The disease can be caused by increased activity of pathogenic microflora, which can be provoked by influenza viruses, adenoviruses, as well as weakened immunity.

It is usually provoked by microbes that live on the tonsils and mucous membrane of the throat, so after the removal of the tonsils the disease practically does not develop.

In addition, there are a number of factors that can increase the likelihood of developing purulent tonsillitis in children: hypothermia, sudden climate changes, polluted air, dampness, various types of poisoning of the body, excessive exposure to the sun, poor living conditions, unhealthy diet, fatigue.

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Symptoms of purulent tonsillitis in children

Purulent tonsillitis in children has several main symptoms, including general weakness, pain and sore throat, difficulty swallowing, high temperature (up to 400C).

When examining the throat, you may notice enlarged tonsils and purulent plaque on them. In severe cases, the plaque affects the entire surface of the tonsils. It should be noted that in the first day after the disease, there may simply be enlarged tonsils.

Purulent tonsillitis in infants can occur due to hypothermia, especially if the baby's immunity is not sufficiently trained. Most pathogens that provoke the disease are normally present in the body, but unfavorable factors such as hypothermia, fatigue, and poor nutrition can activate the growth of bacteria.

In a one-year-old child, it can develop after a viral infection or due to adenoids.

Frequent purulent tonsillitis in children can occur with weakened immunity, especially against the background of unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

In addition, one of the causes of pathology may be frequent colds or the presence of a chronic source of inflammation, most often in the nasopharynx (sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis, adenoids, carious teeth).

Frequent illnesses, intoxication of the body caused by tonsillitis, significantly affect the immune system, so it is extremely important to pay attention to the recovery period (sufficient sleep, good nutrition, walks in the fresh air). If during the recovery period the baby gets cold, eats poorly, rests little, then the likelihood of frequent repeated episodes of tonsillitis increases.

Complications after the disease are difficult to treat. Among the frequent complications that can appear after tonsillitis are blood poisoning, heart disease, kidney disease, rheumatism, arthritis, toxic shock.

If the pathology develops again or if the treatment is incomplete, the child may develop chronic inflammatory diseases. It is also worth noting that long-term use of antibiotics leads to a decrease in the body's protective function.

Diagnosis of purulent tonsillitis in children

Purulent tonsillitis in children is diagnosed primarily during an examination by a specialist. The child's eyes and face turn red (which is typical for a high temperature), a coating appears on the tongue, the lips become dry, the tonsils are enlarged and reddened. The tongue may acquire a bright crimson hue. Also, when palpating, the doctor may detect enlarged and painful lymph nodes, and a rapid pulse.

To confirm the diagnosis, additional tests (blood, urine, throat swabs) are prescribed, which will help identify the pathogen and prescribe effective treatment.

If the disease is not treated properly, purulent tonsillitis becomes chronic, in which the clinical symptoms are not as strong (usually nausea, bowel disorder, enlargement of some lymph nodes, low fever, poor appetite are observed).

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Treatment of purulent tonsillitis in children

As already mentioned, purulent tonsillitis in children is divided into follicular and lacunar. Both forms of the disease greatly worsen the baby's well-being. One of the differences between follicular tonsillitis is yellow pustules on the tonsils, while in the lacunar form, the lacunae located between the tonsil lobes are affected, and the pustules in this case have a white-yellow tint.

Treatment in both cases is almost the same, the main task is to choose the right antibacterial drug.

In case of tonsillitis, a specialist should prescribe a culture, which will determine the sensitivity of the microorganisms that caused the disease to a particular drug.

In very severe conditions or when it is impossible to perform a bacterial culture, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.

As a rule, children from 1 to 3 years old are prescribed inpatient treatment under the supervision of a specialist; the basis for hospitalization is also the child’s serious condition and concomitant diseases.

At high temperature antipyretics are prescribed (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), at high temperature (more than 38.50C) you need to give the baby an antipyretic and call an ambulance. Small children are prescribed drugs in the form of syrup or sech, older children - in the form of syrup or tablets.

Other medications for the treatment of sore throat are prescribed by a specialist, usually this includes an antibacterial drug, local agents (inhalation sprays, lozenges, gargling solutions, etc.), as well as a vitamin and mineral complex.

Penicillin, phenoxymethyl, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin are often prescribed as antibiotics. Penicillin antibiotics are prescribed first, and if there is an allergy to these drugs or the pathogen is not sensitive to them, drugs from the macrolide group (erythromycin) are prescribed. Cephalosporin drugs (ceftriaxone) are prescribed when the first two groups have not shown the desired effect or the pathogen has been found to be resistant to antibiotics of this group.

The course of antibiotics is usually 7-10 days.

In case of tonsillitis, it is not recommended to apply warming compresses to the throat, since the blood flow to the affected area can provoke the spread of infection throughout the body.

Gargling is one of the main treatment methods. You can prepare solutions for gargling yourself or buy a mixture at a pharmacy.

Often, for tonsillitis, a soda solution with added salt and iodine is prescribed, which helps reduce pain (200 ml of water, 1 teaspoon of salt and soda, a few drops of iodine). Gargling with a soda solution can be done five times a day. Furacilin solution is well suited for gargling, which can be used an unlimited number of times.

A solution with propolis tincture (200 ml of water and a few drops of tincture), a solution of manganese (200 ml of water and manganese on the tip of a knife), stomatodin, and eucalyptus tincture (15 drops, 200 ml of water) help well.

Pediatricians recommend gargling as often as possible, alternating solutions.

In case of purulent tonsillitis, gargling helps to remove pus from the tonsils, which poisons the blood and reduces the effectiveness of drugs; in addition, pustules lead to severe intoxication of the body.

Also, with tonsillitis, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm (not hot) drinks. You can give your baby dried fruit compote, tea with raspberries, honey or lemon. Warm drinks will not only help warm and soften a sore throat, but also remove toxins from the body. If there is no fever, you can give warm milk with honey and butter at night, which will soften the throat and relieve inflammation.

Prevention of purulent tonsillitis in children.

For prevention, it is recommended to increase the body's defenses and follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle - walks in the fresh air, physical activity, healthy and balanced nutrition, eat more vegetables and fruits (if necessary, you can take a course of vitamin and mineral complex).

It is also necessary not to overcool and keep your throat warm.

Prognosis of purulent tonsillitis in children

Purulent tonsillitis in children occurs in a severe form and can lead to complications. Therefore, after recovery, it is recommended to undergo an examination (electrocardiogram, blood and urine tests), and it is also worth consulting with pediatric specialists such as an immunologist, nephrologist, and rheumatologist.

As a rule, if the child is treated in a timely manner and fully, the disease will completely disappear. If the treatment is not completed, tonsillitis can become chronic and lead to a number of complications.

Purulent tonsillitis in children is a common pathology that requires mandatory treatment. The disease poses a danger to the baby's health with its complications, both early (otitis, abscesses) and late (rheumatism, arthritis, etc.)