Pharyngitis in adults: symptoms, treatment, prevention
The content of the article:
- The reasons for the development of pathology
- Pharyngitis symptoms in adults
- Diagnostics
- Pharyngitis treatment in adults
- Prevention
- Video
In middle-aged and elderly people, pharyngitis develops more often than in children. What it is? What are the symptoms of pharyngitis in adults? What therapies are most effective?
The main manifestations of the disease are discomfort, burning and dryness in the nasopharynx.
Pharyngitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the mucous and lymphoid tissue of the pharynx. The disease can be caused by a viral, bacterial or mycotic infection, as well as develop as a result of mechanical, thermal and chemical damage to the pharynx.
ICD-10 code (International classification of diseases of the 10th revision): J02 and J31.2 - acute and chronic pharyngitis, respectively.
Depending on the etiology, pharyngitis can be:
- acute: viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic, traumatic;
- chronic: catarrhal, hyperplastic, subatrophic, atrophic, mixed.
The reasons for the development of pathology
Acute pharyngitis can occur not only as an independent disease, but also be concomitant with inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, infectious diseases and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
The contributing factors are:
- inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx;
- general or local decrease in immunity;
- pathology of the nasal cavity;
- common infectious diseases;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- chronic foci of infections (osteomyelitis, chronic tonsillitis, carious teeth).
Non-infectious factors that contribute to the development of inflammation include:
- mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the pharynx and upper respiratory tract;
- tobacco smoke;
- alcohol abuse;
- air pollution;
- hypothermia of the body;
- prolonged mouth breathing;
- a sharp change in the temperature of the inhaled air;
- burns of the upper respiratory tract;
- overstrain of the vocal apparatus;
- alimentary irritation, for example, after the use of spices.
In 70% of cases of infectious lesions of the mucous tissue of the pharynx, viruses are the etiological factor: adenovirus, enteroviruses, influenza viruses, etc. And only 30% are bacterial infections: staphylococci, streptococci, haemophilus influenzae, diphtheria bacillus, diplococci, gonococci, mycoplasmas, chlamydia.
Viruses and bacteria can act as an infectious agent of the disease.
The disease is characterized by edema and infiltration of the mucous membrane, expansion and increased vascular permeability, desquamation of the epithelium. The inflammatory process is especially pronounced in places of accumulation of lymphoid tissue - on the posterior wall of the pharynx, lateral ridges behind the palatopharyngeal arches. The inflammation can quickly spread to the mucous membrane of the auditory tubes, and also have a descending character (tracheitis, bronchitis).
Pharyngitis symptoms in adults
The main signs of pharyngitis include:
- discomfort, burning and dryness in the nasopharynx;
- sore throat and sore throat;
- increased pain syndrome when swallowing and irradiation into the ear;
- an increase in body temperature to subfebrile numbers - 37.1-38.0 ° C (depending on the etiology, but in some cases the disease can proceed without a temperature);
- nasalness;
- headache;
- general malaise.
The symptoms of the disease can disturb the patient for a long time. In case of untimely diagnosis and treatment, negative consequences may develop.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is established by a doctor based on complaints, anamnesis data and the results of laboratory and instrumental research methods.
The main diagnostic methods include:
- physical examination;
- epi-, meso-, hypopharyngoscopy;
- bacteriological culture with determination of antibiotic sensitivity of the separated surface of the pharyngeal mucous tissue.
According to indications, the following can be additionally assigned:
- cytological examination;
- endoscopy of the nasopharynx and hypopharynx;
- esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
Endoscopic examination may be required to diagnose the disease
On examination, enlarged, moderately painful regional lymph nodes are usually found on palpation. What the throat looks like during illness can be seen when the ENT performs an endoscopic examination and takes a photo of the affected areas.
The bacteriological method of examining the scraping of the pharyngeal mucosa reveals the nature of the agent that caused the inflammation. In this case, rapid determination of streptococcal antigen plays an important role.
On examination, signs of an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the pharynx of bacterial or viral etiology are revealed
With pharyngoscopy, there is hyperemia and swelling of the mucous tissue of the pharynx, the back wall is covered with mucous or mucopurulent discharge. Hyperemia and edema of the palatine tonsils, arches, and the mouth of the auditory tubes are also possible. On the posterior and lateral walls of the pharynx, lymphadenoid follicles are determined in the form of rounded bright red elevations (granules).
With the atrophic form of the disease, dryness, pallor and thinning of the pharyngeal mucosa are noted.
Pharyngitis treatment in adults
Therapy is prescribed taking into account the severity of the process, the general condition of the body, the presence of concomitant somatic diseases (diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, etc.).
Non-drug treatment means quitting smoking, drinking alcohol. An important role is played by a balanced diet with the exclusion of hot, cold, fried, salty, spicy or acidic foods, which can irritate the mucous membrane of the pharynx, as well as provoke gastroesophageal reflux. It is necessary to observe the gentle voice mode.
Medical therapy is selected individually by a specialist. Drugs for the treatment of pharyngitis in adults include the following groups:
- local antiseptics and immunomodulators (IRS-19);
- drugs that increase the general resistance of the body (Imudon, Tonsilgon N);
- broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antihistamines (for an allergic form of the disease).
To rinse the throat, solutions of Chlorhexidine or Miramistin, preparations with sea salt, physiological or hypertonic solutions are used. To reduce the edema of the mucous membrane, the posterior pharyngeal wall is lubricated with a 3-5% solution of silver protein (Protargol).
One of the effective methods of therapy is gargling.
Among antibiotics of a wide spectrum of action, agents of the penicillin series are effective (in the absence of allergies to them). It is penicillins that are the drugs of choice in the presence of streptococcal infection in order to prevent rheumatic complications. Cephalosporins and macrolides are also actively used.
In the presence of dry crusts, different types of inhalations are used based on the following drugs or substances:
- proteolytic enzymes;
- vegetable oils;
- retinol;
- vitamin C.
For the treatment of pharyngitis in adults at home, it is possible to use a nebulizer - a device for spraying a drug into the upper respiratory tract. Positive reviews indicate that already in 1 day of inhalation, the main symptoms of inflammation are stopped. How many sessions are required, the specialist decides.
At home, you can inhale with a nebulizer
Among folk remedies, rinsing with infusion of sage, calendula, chamomile, eucalyptus are considered the most effective in the treatment of acute pharyngitis and exacerbation of chronic. Treatments can be done at home.
What is the danger of the disease for others? It should be remembered that acute inflammation may be the first manifestation of some infectious diseases, such as measles, rubella, scarlet fever.
Prevention
Prevention of inflammation includes:
- therapy of concomitant diseases, such as the gastrointestinal tract;
- identification and treatment of chronic foci of infection of the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract.
You should also follow the principles of proper nutrition, lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and carry out vitamin therapy in the cold season.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Alina Ervasova Obstetrician-gynecologist, consultant About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University. THEM. Sechenov.
Work experience: 4 years of work in private practice.
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
