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People at risk are more likely to get inflammation of the upper respiratory tract during the cold season – these are children and adults with a weakened immune system, as well as those who have a history of any chronic diseases. Often they are diagnosed with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, or pharyngitis. In most cases, it manifests itself simultaneously with influenza or SARS, since inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract are the most common complications of viral infections.
Bacteria in a small amount are always present on the walls of the pharynx. A chronic inflammatory process significantly increases their number, and any hypothermia leads to the emergence of a critical mass of pathogenic microorganisms. Effectively helps to normalize the condition of the throat with pharyngitis such a simple measure as rinsing with medicinal solutions. This local agent is often prescribed by pediatricians and otolaryngologists in the complex therapy of inflammation of the pharynx due to its high efficiency.
Features of rinsing with pharyngitis
The following symptoms negatively affect the well-being of a patient with pharyngitis:
Sore throat,
Pain sensations.
Burning,
Soft palate itching
Subfebrile temperature.
These manifestations are significantly smoothed out if the patient uses rinsing of the pharynx and oral cavity from the first hours of the onset of the disease. Elimination of the clinical symptoms of pharyngitis is the main symptomatic effect that occurs when rinsing.
The therapeutic effect of the procedure:
Medicinal systemic agents fall exactly into the inflammatory focus on the mucous membrane;
All types of edema are reduced, including allergic manifestations;
Viruses and bacteria are removed mechanically, washed out of the nasopharynx with a stream of therapeutic solution;
Increases local immunity and resistance to infections of the pharyngeal mucosa;
Rinse exhibits bactericidal and antiseptic action;
The inflammatory process becomes less intense;
Tissue regeneration is accelerated during hypertrophy and atrophy of the mucous membrane;
Rinses outside the acute phase reduce the likelihood of pharyngitis in the future, as well as the likelihood of chronic pharyngitis moving into the acute stage from the remission stage.
Regardless of which remedy is used for gargling, certain rules must be followed to get the full benefit of the procedure.
Recommendations for rinsing:
The temperature of the medicinal solution, infusion or decoction does not exceed and does not fall below +31+33?, it should feel warm;
In order for the remedy to wash the throat, and not just the inflamed tonsils, you should slightly tilt your head back;
The duration of rinsing with one portion is 20-30 seconds, the volume of the treatment solution for the procedure is at least 100-150 ml, the duration of the rinsing session is 2-4 minutes;
Frequency of rinsing: at the beginning of the disease – hourly, in the following days – 4-6 times a day with solutions of different composition;
To prevent exacerbations, the throat is rinsed 2 times a day, mainly in the morning and evening;
If pharyngitis occurs against the background of SARS, at the same time it is recommended to wash the nose with a saline solution so that the infection does not descend from the nasopharynx.
Due to the high effectiveness for all categories of patients with ENT diseases, rinses should not be excluded from the pharyngitis treatment regimen.
Contraindications to gargling with pharyngitis
There are no significant contraindications to this procedure, rinsing is used for both acute and chronic forms of the disease, as well as for all its types:
Hrybkov,
viral,
bacterial,
Allergic pharyngitis.
Not every child is able to carry out this procedure on their own, without swallowing a medicinal solution. Therefore, in the treatment of ENT diseases in children under 3 years of age, rinsing is not performed.
There are contraindications to the composition of drugs used in rinse solutions. To avoid a negative reaction of the body to the components of drugs, you need to carefully study the instructions for its use.
For example, contraindications to the use of the herbal preparation Rotokan can be given:
Liver failure,
kidney failure,
Allergy.
Iodine-containing rinses are contraindicated in the following conditions:
Pregnancy,
hyperthyroidism,
Childhood.
Folk recipes containing honey can harm people with a predisposition to allergies. Exceeding the dosage and abuse of products with vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, soda, salt and other active ingredients can, instead of being useful, cause a pathological reaction to inadequate treatment.
How to gargle with pharyngitis?
The doctor usually recommends ready-made pharmaceutical preparations as a rinse. Most often, these are drugs from the category of liquid antiseptics, produced in the form of tablets or powder for dilution.
Means used in diluted form:
Boric acid,
tinctures of eucalyptus, propolis,
Alcohol extract from Kalanchoe juice,
Hydrogen peroxide,
Solution of potassium permanganate (“manganese”),
Aquirin,
Iodinol,
furacillin,
Chlorophyllipt,
Malavit,
Povidone-iodine.
Rinsing preparations that do not require dilution:
Chlorhexidine,
Tantum Verde,
aqualor throat,
gexoral,
Teraflus,
Miramistin,
tenflex,
Yox,
Dolphin.
The combination of rinses with inhalations usually complements the use of antibiotics in the traditional regimen for the treatment of pharyngitis. The above funds are used in a dosage strictly determined by the doctor, so as not to provoke the development of candidiasis and overdrying of the pharynx. The most acceptable treatment option is the alternation of pharmaceutical products with solutions prepared according to folk recipes.
Rinsing the pharynx during feeding and pregnancy
Infections during pregnancy are a high risk to the health of the mother and fetus, since in their treatment it is necessary to keep on the fine line between the positive effect of drug therapy and the danger to the development and full life of the fetus. Women who practice breastfeeding face no less difficulties, since, penetrating into the blood, the chemicals of the drugs harm the health of the child.
Most antiseptics, emollients and painkillers used for pharyngitis have no contraindications for lactating and pregnant women.
Exceptions to this list:
Preparations containing iodine;
Aloe juice in its pure form without dilution;
Rinsing with a solution of soda in large quantities.
Safe products approved for use in lactating and pregnant women:
Herbal infusions with anti-inflammatory effect (chamomile, plantain, sage, St. John’s wort and others with a similar effect);
Ready herbal preparations for rinsing: Malavit, Rotokan, Akvirin, Romazulon;
Medicinal solutions of Miramistin, Furacillin, Chlorophyllipt, Hexoral.
The safety of drugs for pregnant and lactating women has been confirmed by doctors and pharmacists, however, before using them, you should consult a doctor.
How to gargle a child’s throat?
Throat diseases, including pharyngitis, are more common in children than in adults. That is why local symptomatic treatment in young patients is actively used in the complex therapy of pharyngitis. In children, as well as in adults, both folk and pharmaceutical rinses are used. Children’s dosage is calculated by a pediatrician or otolaryngologist in much lower doses than in adults.
New drugs, especially those based on herbs, can only be used after a skin test. It is carried out on the inside of the elbow, the skin of which is lubricated with a test agent and bandaged. The absence of a skin reaction after an hour and a half suggests that the drug or herbal decoction can be used without fear.
Not every child understands the essence of the rinsing process, this procedure is not available to young children, when the baby can choke or swallow the healing solution. It is advisable to start learning to rinse not with solutions of drugs, but with plain water.
In pediatrics, in addition to pharmaceuticals, alternative rinses are used:
honey solution,
Salt and soda solution
Infusion of coltsfoot, chamomile, eucalyptus;
Cranberry juice dissolved in water;
A decoction of blueberries.
The main thing you need to know when using this procedure is that rinsing alone should not be limited to the treatment of pharyngitis in children. They must be supplemented with conservative therapy on the recommendation of a pediatrician or otolaryngologist.
Dr. Komarovsky about gargling
A well-known media personality, Dr. Komarovsky, believes that the main function of rinsing is to moisturize the parched mucosa of the pharynx. It doesn’t matter what is added to the water, the well-known pediatrician believes, rinsing in any case will fulfill the function assigned to it. But, if you still want to make a remedy for rinsing, then he prefers the following two solutions:
1 tsp soda in a glass of water;
“Sea water” – for a glass of water you need to take 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 drops of iodine.
Dr. Komarovsky believes that rinsing is not of fundamental importance for viral infections: