Acute and chronic pharyngitis - symptoms, treatment

The main signs of pharyngitis are sore throat, dryness, perspiration and irritation, dry cough. After a few days the cough becomes wet, there are secretions - mucus or pus. The causes of the disease can be different. Most often, inflammation is provoked by exposure to cold air. The causative agents of the disease can be both viruses and fungi, and bacteria - in particular, staphylococci, pneumococci and streptococci. She can and accompany other diseases: so, in ARVI, measles and scarlatina usually also there is an acute pharyngitis. Symptoms, treatment and course of the disease in this case depend on the underlying disease. For accurate diagnosis, additional research may be needed - for example, a swab from the throat.

The pharynx may also become inflamed due to the polluted air that a person must breathe for a long time, namely because of the presence of harmful substances or a large amount of dust (for example, in chemical or carpenter production). In this case, in addition to treatment, the patient may be recommended to change work - otherwise acute pharyngitis, most likely, go into a chronic form.

Acute pharyngitis, whose treatment , as a rule, simple, usually requires the use of only local antiseptics (Strepsils, Septotelet, etc.) and warm rinses - for example, calendula and chamomile broths, solutions of furacilin, chlorophyllite. Salt rinse is undesirable, since it can intensify irritation. Sprays are also useful (Ingalipt, Geksoral, Tantum Verde, etc.). In bacterial pharyngitis, oral antibiotics are prescribed.

Pharyngitis is traditionally considered to be not a very serious illness, but do not underestimate it and try to carry it on your feet, and also continue to lead at that time the old way of life (drinking cold or very hot drinks, smoking). With an untreated disease, chronic pharyngitis often develops. Symptoms, treatment and general picture of this disease depend on its form: distinguish catarrhal, granulosis and subatrophic chronic pharyngitis.

Symptoms of catarrhal chronic pharyngitis are characteristic for most of its forms: puffiness, redness and sore throat, worsening of the general condition. With granulosis pharyngeal, in addition, on the back wall of the pharynx appear small sizes of formation of bright red color - the so-called granules. In this case, in addition to physiotherapy procedures, the burning of granules is shown: otherwise it will be difficult to defeat this pharyngitis, the symptoms, treatment and course of which have their own specifics. Granules are treated with a solution of trichloroacetic acid or cauterized with liquid nitrogen. A good effect in this case is provided by laser treatment.

Older people often develop subatrophic pharyngitis. Symptoms, treatment and course of it are quite specific: in this case it is impossible to completely restore the mucosa due to atrophic changes in it. The mucosa during this form of the disease is partially replaced by a connective tissue. The main complaints of patients with subatrophic pharyngitis are the drying of the throat and the sensation of perspiration in it. Patients may be recommended a course of special injections into the mucosa of the pharynx, which stimulates the formation of mucus and eliminates the unpleasant sensations. For this purpose, for example, a solution of aloe with novocaine can be used.

Only a specialist will be able to conduct a detailed examination and appoint an adequate treatment, depending on the causes, that caused pharyngitis. Symptoms in children and adults of the chronic form of this disease are usually less pronounced and they are often not paid special attention, preferring to be treated independently. However, chronic pharyngitis may accompany diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or endocrine system, so consultation of a doctor in this case is necessary.