Greening streptococcus: treatment and prevention

Each person lives in an environment of a huge number of microorganisms. They are the same inhabitants of our planet as we are people. Some bacteria are indispensable helpers and, living inside our body, help, for example, to digest food, even produce some vitamins. But there are some who, until a certain moment, do not cause anxiety, for example, a green streptococcus, which often settles in the throat. But if the bacterium begins to multiply intensely, then it can already bring a lot of trouble. Let's find out how to recognize the danger and how to treat the greening streptococcus.

What is streptococcus

Among all the bacteria that coexist with humans, this is the most common. You can find it on:

• Objects of everyday life;
• Skin integument;
• Mucous membrane of the nasal or oral cavity;
• In the digestive tract.

The bacterium has a spherical shape and belongs to the family of lactobacilli. Its persistence is explained by the fact that it is capable of forming a capsule, which is beyond the strength of our immune system. There are three types of streptococci in the human oral cavity:

• Alpha-hemolytic streptococcus;
• Gamma streptococcus;
• Beta-hemolytic.

The first type is also called alpha-greening streptococci, because they are capable of staining the blood environment in green because of partial hemolysis of red blood cells. This kind of microorganism often lives on the teeth and gums and leads to the development of caries. This is due to the fact that in its structure there are proteins capable of binding saliva, firmly attaching to the teeth. After eating, the bacteria intensively decompose the remains of food, releasing acid, which destroys our teeth. That's why it's so important after every meal to rinse your mouth with clean water.

Alpha- and gamma streptococci are more safe for humans, they can be cured, but the beta-form of bacteria causes the most serious pathologies.

Varieties of streptococci

If we consider the species of bacteria of this group, we can distinguish the following:

1. Hemolytic streptococcus. He is practically a permanent inhabitant of the skin and mucous membranes. Living in the throat, he can for a long time not make itself felt. But with a decrease in immunity begins to multiply intensively, leading to the appearance of angina, pneumonia, pharyngitis and other diseases.
2. Greasy streptococcus, or nonhemolytic. This bacterium makes up almost 60% of the whole microflora of the oral cavity. She can get into the intestines, but her penetration with the blood flow to the heart muscle is dangerous by the development of bacterial endocarditis.
3. Pyogenic streptococcus. More often found in the throat, but can go to the skin, the rectum or vagina. This is a rather dangerous variety, which in severe cases leads to deadly diseases.

The danger for the body of streptococci is that they can easily form a protective capsule that saves them from phagocytosis by leukocytes. They can also be easily changed and converted into an L-shape. By altering, bacteria are able to hide from attacks of the immune system for a long time.

The causes of streptococci in the throat

These bacteria along with other microorganisms are present around us and get into our respiratory ways constantly. No matter how we get rid of them, they will certainly settle again. They get streptococci in the following ways:

• Through the respiratory tract;
• With food products that were not subjected to heat treatment;
• From unwashed hands;
• From domestic animals, because they live on their wool;
• From another person with a kiss.

But if our immune system works normally, then it easily copes with uninvited guests and restrains their reproduction. In permissible amounts, green streptococcus is not a health hazard. But when the balance is broken, infectious diseases develop. There is a question, and whether it is possible to catch them?

Methods of infection with streptococcal infection

If the balance between the strength of the immune system and bacteria breaks down in the body, then it is possible to pick up the infection. But the following factors can lead to a violation of this balance:

• If a sick person sprays a large number of pathogenic microorganisms around him;
• Non-observance of personal hygiene;
• Use of other personal hygiene items;
• The use of finished products from the store, which are not subjected to heat treatment, for example ready-made salads;
• A viral infection that weakens the immune system;
• Relapse of herpes;
• Hypothermia of the body;
• Immunodeficiency states.

If there is already streptococcus viridance, which is green, the treatment in the nose from which has not given a positive result, the bacterium can easily move into the oral cavity.

I must say that individually, each of these factors is unlikely to lead to infection, but when you layer one into another - it is quite possible. For example, a patient is infected with the herpes virus and, after hypothermia, has come into contact with a carrier of streptococcal infection in the throat. Here in this case, the risk of getting infected is great.

How to recognize streptococcal infection

There are many species of this bacterium, but there are some manifestations that are similar. If the disease causes a green streptococcus, the symptoms will be as follows, as in the case of damage to another species of this microorganism:

• A sharp increase in symptoms;
• At once there is weakness;
• The temperature climbs up sharply and reaches 39-40 degrees;
• A person then throws in the cold, then in a fever;
• Strongly swollen tonsils and covered with white coating;
• There is pain when swallowing;
• The voice becomes muffled;
• There are headaches;
• The muscles of the occiput become inactive, and soreness appears when the mouth is opened.

If you have these symptoms, you should call a doctor who, after carrying out the tests, will diagnose and prescribe a therapy.

How to make a correct diagnosis

All bacterial infections when diagnosed require recognition of the pathogen and its sensitivity to antibacterial drugs. Otherwise, therapy may not produce the desired result. To determine the type of bacteria in case of a throat infection, a smear is taken and studied after culturing under a microscope.

A specialist studies the colony, the characteristics of cells, varieties and determines how sensitive they are to antibiotics. Typically, this analysis takes several days. But to find out what destroys the greening streptococcus, you can not spend much time, Treatment should be started without waiting for results, since this microorganism is sensitive to all antibiotics. This allows you to immediately start therapy and quickly suppress the infection.

Greening streptococcus: treatment

If the cause of an infectious disease is a given bacterium, then the therapy is reduced to reception:

• Local antibacterial drugs;
• Systemic antibiotics;
• People's means.

If settled greening streptococcus in the throat, treatment must necessarily begin with the reception of antibiotics, which will quickly cope with the microorganism. If we talk about preparations of local importance, doctors often prescribe Bioporoks, which must be sprayed into the throat 4 times a day. Duration of application is about 7 days.

But lately there has been a lot of discussion around this drug, and there have been negative reviews of specialists who say that this drug destroys the entire microflora. In some countries, the production of drugs is suspended.

Greening streptococci in the oral cavity are amenable to therapy and systemic drugs, for example antibiotics of the penicillin series:

• Ampicillin;
• "Amoxicillin";
• "Amoxiclav";
• "Amosin".

The doctor appoints the patient 500 mg three times a day for 10 days. During therapy, it must be remembered that these agents have a disastrous effect on the entire microflora, so it is important to take probiotics at the same time, for example, "Linex", to normalize the balance of bacteria.

Greening streptococcus in the throat requires the intake and immunomodulators to stimulate the immune system. These are the following drugs:

• "Imudon";
• "IRS-19".

If against a background of a viral infection, greenish streptococcus was developed, treatment should be supplemented with antiviral drugs:

• "Ergoferon";
• "Cycloferon";
• "Ingavirin."

Auxiliary therapy

If the greening streptococcus in the throat, treatment should be supplemented with symptomatic therapy:

• Take antipyretics to knock off heat;
• Use a lot of liquid, but not very hot or cold;
• Gargle with aseptic solutions;
• To wash tonsils;
• Use to dissolve the lozenge for the throat;
• Apply vasoconstrictor.

If you follow all the recommendations of a doctor and undergo a full course of therapy, then, as a rule, by the fifth day the tonsils are considerably cleared of white plaque, the temperature is normalized, the pain in the throat recedes.

Taking the course of antibiotics, it must be remembered that early termination of treatment is fraught with a rapid return of infection and increased resistance of microorganisms, coping with streptococci will be much more difficult if they attack the body again.

Features of infection in children

Despite the fact that the symptoms of the disease are similar, the children have some features of the course of the disease and its treatment.

Symptoms of the disease in children are almost identical to adults, but children even more often lose their appetite during infection.

If a green streptococcus is found, the child should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. Dosage and duration of therapy are selected taking into account the severity of the pathology, age and weight of the baby. Now there are drugs that can be prescribed even to infants. To reduce the temperature, it is recommended to take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.

If the child already knows how to do this, then rinse your mouth and throat with "Furacilin" or "Chlorhexidine". You can use for these purposes broths of herbs, for example chamomile.

To strengthen immunity, children are prescribed vitamin preparations.

In the early days of the disease it is important to comply with bed rest.

We use folk remedies against streptococcus

As an adjunct to drug treatment you can use folk remedies that will help to defeat the greening streptococcus. They will reduce the manifestations of symptoms of an infectious disease, strengthen immunity, reduce the inflammatory process and bring out pathogenic microorganisms and products of their vital activity from the human body.

The most effective means are the recipes below.

You can make an infusion of a tablespoon of wild rose berries, raspberry leaves, a small amount of cranberries and a glass of boiling water. After an hour of insisting, take it warm twice a day.

You can rinse your throat with such a composition: brew on a tablespoon of willow bark and turns in 300 ml of water, insist a couple of hours and can be used.

It is useful to chew a piece of propolis for 5 minutes, repeat the procedure three times a day.

Wipe the beets and pour boiling water in a ratio of 1: 1. Leave for 6 hours under the lid, then add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, strain and use to rinse your throat every hour.

Use for gargling of throat ready alcoholic infusions of eucalyptus and calendula.

Take decoctions and infusions to stimulate immunity, for example decoction of wild rose berries, tincture of Eleutherococcus or Echinacea.

In combination with drugs, traditional methods of therapy will help to get rid of the infection faster.

Complications of the disease

If you do not engage in streptococcal infection therapy, then it will very quickly begin its advancement to the lower parts of the respiratory system and lead to the development of the following complications:

• laryngitis;
• tracheitis;
• bronchitis;
• otitis.

If there is a greening streptococcus, pneumonia is another of the complications that it can cause.

There may be more late complications that develop after 2-4 weeks after recovery. This may be due to an unfinished course of treatment or a refusal to take antibiotics. Most often, the following complications are dangerous:

• Myocarditis and endocarditis;
• rheumatism;
• Glomerulonephritis;
• meningitis;
• osteomyelitis.

If it concerns a small child, streptococcal bronchopneumonia can lead to pleurisy, empyema of the pleura, which in premature babies is fraught with even fatal outcome.

If the disease begins to heal in a timely manner, then such complications can be completely avoided.

Streptococcus in gynecology

It is not uncommon when a woman picks up a streptococcal infection while in the gynecological ward for treatment. In the presence of pathologies in the reproductive system, the body is weakened, so it is much easier to penetrate microorganisms and cause the development of an infectious disease.

Pathology can for a long time not manifest itself, and the woman does not suspect about the presence of streptococci, until they declare themselves bright symptoms:

• Burning and soreness during urination;
• The body temperature rises;
• General weakness appears;
• During the gynecological examination the uterus is painful, it increases in size due to the formation of a purulent tumor in its cavity;
• There are discharge of a yellowish color, sometimes with an admixture of blood;
• A woman feels pain in her lower back and lower abdomen;
• The menstrual cycle is broken.

If a woman turns to a doctor in a timely manner, the greening streptococcus in gynecology is easily treated without any consequences for the body.

What is not recommended to take if there is strep infection in the body

To ensure that the therapy was more effective and there were no complications, during the disease, you will have to follow certain recommendations:

• Do not refuse to take antibacterial drugs after contact with a sick person, especially if there is diabetes, immunodeficiency or age over 65;
• Care should be taken to ensure hygiene of the oral cavity and body;
• Do not overcool;
• Do not eat cold food and drinks;
• It is desirable to comply with bed rest;
• You can not rely on the help of only folk remedies, the symptomatology may be resolved, but it will not be possible to completely cope with the infection;
• It is desirable to be from bad habits;
• Sharp and irritating foods;
• Do not go to the sauna or sauna;
• Urgent call a doctor when the first symptoms of the disease appear.

Compliance with these simple rules will help to recover faster and not to get complications.

Prevention of Streptococcal Throat Infection

It is possible to prevent the development of an infection if:

• To be engaged in adequate therapy of colds, for this purpose it is necessary to visit the doctor, instead of to be engaged in a selftreatment;
• A runny nose and other infections in the nose should be treated promptly;
• For prevention, twice a year, you need to take immunomodulators on the recommendation of a doctor;
• If there is a tendency to catarrhal diseases, then it is warmer to dress in a cool time to avoid hypothermia;
• lead a healthy lifestyle;
• do sport;
• Carry out hardening procedures.

Streptococci almost always reside in our body and do no harm, so it's worth every effort to not let the bacteria take over and lead to the development of an infectious disease.