Pharyngitis – symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment [EXPLAINED]

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Pharyngitis is – next to bronchitis, earaches and abdominal pain – one of the most common ailments in childhood. The most common cause of pharyngitis are viral infections that occur in the fall-winter and winter-spring periods. The onset of the disease is preceded by a watery-mucous runny nose, which is accompanied by low-grade fever or high fever and sore throat.

Pharyngitis – symptoms

The throat is the common part of the respiratory and digestive systems. Here are the palatine tonsils (including the so-called third tonsil). Nasal discharge runs down the back of the throat. There are also the outlets of the pipes connecting the throat with the middle ear, the so-called Eustachian tubes.

The symptoms of pharyngitis are often visible to the naked eye. If the parents are able to see the toddler’s throat, they will see redness on the back of the palate, tongue and tonsils, and sometimes also lumps – red in color, resembling raspberry seeds. By viral pharyngitis however, there is no significant enlargement of the tonsils and the presence of white, dotted blooms on the vivid red substrate – such an image is typical for bacterial pharyngitis caused by streptococcus, or strep throat.

In time throat viral infection the most commonly reported symptoms are:

1. severe sore throat;
2. Headache;
3. joint and muscle pain;
4. slight fever;
5. runny nose and cough;
6. conjunctivitis or diarrhea may also appear.

Both viral and bacterial pharyngitis may be accompanied by painful enlargement of the lymph nodes on the side of the neck or submandibular lymph nodes – in their back part.

Pharyngitis in the course of infectious mononucleosis is very characteristic. The tonsils are then large, but not very clearly red. The tarnish present on them looks like “streaks”, painted with pearl or white paint. The cervical lymph nodes are greatly enlarged, sometimes causing the head to tilt backwards and the neck becoming very thick.

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Pharyngitis – causes

Pharyngitis is most often caused by viruses and bacteria. Among the bacteria responsible for pharyngitis, streptococci should be mentioned, but viruses are responsible for most of the diseases. Bacterial pharyngitis accounts for approx. 15 percent. of all cases among children and about 4-10 percent. in adults.

The pharyngitis usually occurs through droplets. You can catch the disease through contact with a sick person who coughs and sneezes, or by drinking from the same vessel with this person. The incubation period of viruses lasts from 1 to 6 days, therefore the symptoms of inflammation may appear up to 6 days after contact with the sick person. It should also be remembered that the person becomes infected two days before symptoms appear and may not stop after 3 weeks.

Non-infectious causes of pharyngitis they happen very rarely. However, it is worth knowing that pharyngitis can occur as a result of irritation of the throat by cigarettes, alcohol, or regurgitation of gastric contents in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition, pharyngitis can develop in people with allergies, as a result of drug side effects, or a side effect of radiation or chemotherapy.

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Pharyngitis – diagnosis

Pharyngitis can be pre-diagnosed based on the symptoms your child reports. Additionally, bacterial pharyngitis can be diagnosed with rapid streptococcal tests or pharyngeal cultures.

Pharyngitis – treatment

Viral pharyngitis does not require antibiotics. Symptomatic medications are used to relieve pain and reduce fever. You can give your child topical “anesthetics” in the form of sprays with a convenient dispenser. You should not force your little one to eat. However, it is necessary to provide an adequate amount of cool liquids to drink.

Infectious mononucleosis requires treatment with antibiotics, despite the persistence of a high fever for a long time. It is a disease caused by a virus.

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Pharyngitis – home remedies

Pharyngitis can be treated with home remedies, especially when we notice the first symptoms. They can be mitigated:

1. gargle with common salt solution;
2. infusions of various plants – dried blackberry leaves, oak bark, sage and chamomile are perfect in this case;
3. onion syrup – a popular remedy for a sore throat known to our grandmothers. Onion has antibacterial properties, and additionally is a source of vitamin C. If we prepare it on the basis of honey, it will gain even more beneficial properties.

First of all, you should drink a lot. It is also worth reaching for over-the-counter drugs available at any pharmacy.

Pharyngitis – angina

Bacterial pharyngitis is most commonly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. This means that the pharyngitis takes the form of streptococcal angina. It should be remembered that the source of infection can be both a sick person and a healthy person who is a carrier of the bacteria.

Symptoms of streptococcal angina they appear 1-4 days after contact with the source of infection. How long a person can infect depends on the treatment. In the case of administration of effective antibiotic therapy, the sick person may stop infecting after the first day. If the appropriate antibiotic therapy is not applied immediately, it is possible to become infected for up to 7 days, that is, until the symptoms disappear.

Symptoms of bacterial pharyngitis They differ from symptoms of a viral throat infection. Its course is much more intense. Symptoms of a bacterial throat infection have:

1. very quick start;
2. intense sore throat;
3. difficulty swallowing;
4. headaches;
5. nausea and vomiting;
6. stomach pain.

It should be remembered that there is no cough or runny nose during bacterial pharyngitis.

In the case of angina, it is necessary to administer an antibiotic – the duration of the treatment, the type of antibiotic used and the form of its administration (orally or by injection) are selected by the doctor. Streptococcal infections are at high risk of complications, such as the appearance of abscesses, transmission of the infection to other organs and possible immunological complications.

It is very important to choose the end of the antibiotic, even if the patient’s condition has improved and the symptoms have disappeared. At the same time, it should be remembered that the use of an antibiotic may lead to bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.

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