Catarrhal Sore Throat - Symptoms In Children, Treatment

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Catarrhal sore throat

The content of the article:

1. Causes of catarrhal sore throat and risk factors for its development
2. Forms of the disease
3. Symptoms of catarrhal sore throat
4. Diagnostics
5. Treatment of catarrhal sore throat
6. Possible complications and consequences
7. Forecast
8. Prevention

Catarrhal sore throat is an acute inflammatory disease of the oropharynx in which the superficial layer of the tonsils (mucous membrane) is affected.

Puffiness and diffuse hyperemia of the palatine tonsils are the main signs of catarrhal sore throat

In the oral cavity, on the border with the pharynx, there is an accumulation of lymphatic formations, the so-called tonsils. The set of these structures is designated as the Pirogov-Valdeyer lymphoid ring and consists of the palatine, tubal, lingual, pharyngeal tonsils and lymphoid ridges on the posterior pharyngeal wall. The main function of the tonsils is to maintain local immunity and protect the underlying structures from the effects of pathogenic microorganisms.

When a number of pathogenic agents enter the oral cavity, they, as in a kind of filters, are retained in the tonsils. Most often, the paired palatine tonsils are involved in the pathological process, which is clinically manifested by angina.

Catarrhal sore throat is a disease that affects men and women equally, children and young people are more likely to get sick. After 50 years, due to age-related involution of lymphoid tissue, the incidence decreases significantly. A characteristic feature is also the extremely low incidence of catarrhal sore throats in children under one year old, since at this time the immunity received from the mother during breastfeeding is still preserved.

In different regions of Russia, angina (including catarrhal) is recorded in 4–7% of cases of medical assistance, and in the structure of infectious pathology, the proportion of patients with angina is 20–40%.

Catarrhal angina can develop as an independent pathology, but it can also act as one of the symptoms of another disease.

Causes of catarrhal sore throat and risk factors for its development

The causes of catarrhal sore throat are infection with pathogens from the outside or the activation of their own opportunistic microflora.

Most often, catarrhal sore throat is of bacterial origin, much less often the disease is provoked by viruses, fungal etiology (fungi of the genus Candida) is also possible, more often in conjunction with pathogenic bacterial or viral influences.

Bacteria that cause catarrhal sore throat:

• β-hemolytic streptococcus group A, GABHS (is a disease provocateur in more than 70% of cases);
• streptococci of groups C and G (along with GABHS cause up to 40% of all cases of catarrhal sore throat in children);
• arcanobacteria (most often provoke catarrhal sore throat in the age group under 30);
• neisseria;
• pneumococci;
• meningococci;
• coli influenza;
• Klebsiella, etc.

The following viruses usually cause acute viral catarrhal sore throat:

• adenovirus;
• rhinovirus;
• coronavirus;
• influenza and parainfluenza viruses;
• Epstein-Barr virus;
• Coxsackie virus A.

Exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis is also manifested by acute angina. The cause of angina in this case is the activation of group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, the carriage of which in the internal structures of the tonsils is determined in 2/3 of patients with chronic tonsillitis, under the influence of provoking external and internal factors.

Catarrhal sore throat is caused by viruses and bacteria

In addition, the internal cause of catarrhal sore throat can be a chronic focus of inflammation in the ENT zone (sinusitis, otitis media, pharyngitis, etc.) or another factor in reducing local immunity, against the background of which opportunistic microflora is activated.

More often, infection with pathogenic microorganisms occurs by airborne droplets or through dirty hands (i.e. alimentary), however, a contact method of infection is not excluded.

Risk factors contributing to the development of catarrhal sore throat:

• general hypothermia or local exposure to extremely low temperatures;
• acute psycho-emotional overstrain or prolonged chronic stress;
• previous acute infectious and inflammatory diseases (especially with the involvement of ENT organs);
• burdened allergic anamnesis;
• work in hazardous production;
• hypo- and vitamin deficiency;
• unfavorable environmental conditions (smoke, high levels of gas pollution, the presence of toxic substances in the inhaled air or its bacterial contamination, etc.);
• unfavorable climatic conditions (cold, damp weather or excessively high air temperature along with low humidity, lack of sunlight);
• previous mechanical damage to the tonsils;
• autonomic maladjustment;
• chronic inflammatory diseases of the ENT-zone organs;
• immunodeficiency states;
• severe chronic diseases (decompensated diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, malignant neoplasms, etc.);
• young age (maximum functional activity of lymphoid tissue);
• stay in places where a large number of people congregate (kindergartens and educational organizations, offices, health camps, public transport, shopping centers, markets, etc.).

Forms of the disease

There are several classifications according to which various forms of catarrhal sore throat are distinguished.

Depending on the causative factor:

• an episodic form that arises as a result of the activation of its own conditionally pathogenic flora under the influence of aggressive environmental factors, leading to a decrease in local immunity;
• an epidemic form that develops when infected from another person;
• exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis.

Depending on the presence or absence of the underlying disease, the following forms are distinguished:

• primary catarrhal sore throat, developing independently;
• secondary, which includes angina, which is a symptom of a general infectious process or diseases of the hematopoietic system.

Symptoms of catarrhal sore throat

Symptoms of catarrhal sore throat are distinguished by an acute onset, moderate severity (in most cases), the absence of significant intoxication phenomena:

• swelling and diffuse hyperemia of the tonsils, palatine arches, uvula;
• a feeling of discomfort in the throat, soreness, burning;
• moderate intensity pain when swallowing;
• headache, deterioration in general health, drowsiness, feeling of weakness;
• an increase in body temperature to subfebrile numbers;
• moderate increase in regional lymph nodes (submandibular, anterior and posterior cervical, parotid), slight pain on palpation is possible.

The disease, as a rule, has a mild nature, lasts an average of 3-5 days, is not accompanied by a significant deterioration in health.

Catarrhal sore throat is characterized by sore throat and fever.

Catarrhal sore throat in children is characterized by a rapid course, the temperature often rises above 38 ° C, and pain in the throat leads to refusal to eat.

The clinical manifestations of catarrhal sore throat are similar to the picture of acute pharyngitis, inflammation of the pharynx. The main distinguishing feature of angina is the limited inflammatory process by the tissue of the tonsils, while the posterior pharyngeal wall is not changed.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of catarrhal sore throat is based on an assessment of the clinical picture of the disease and the results of laboratory research methods:

• general blood test (slight leukocytosis with neutrophilic shift to the left, moderate acceleration of ESR);
• microscopy of a smear from the oropharynx and inoculation of material on a nutrient medium in order to clarify the type of pathogen and differential diagnosis of follicular tonsillitis and other infectious and inflammatory processes in which angina is one of the symptoms;
• determination of streptococcal antigen in smears by agglutination;
• immunodiagnosis of increased titers of anti-streptococcal antibodies.

With catarrhal angina, a blood test shows an acceleration of ESR and an increased number of leukocytes

Detection of β-hemolytic group A streptococcus in smear materials is carried out in order to determine the tactics of treatment, since this type of microorganism is the most pathogenic of the group of streptococci, it is capable of provoking a number of serious infectious and inflammatory diseases, therefore its timely detection and eradication are necessary to prevent the development secondary complications.

Treatment of catarrhal sore throat

Treatment of catarrhal sore throat in the vast majority of cases is carried out at home without the use of systemic antibacterial drugs and includes the following measures:

• adherence to bed rest, limiting physical activity for the period of treatment;
• adherence to a fortified diet with the exception of mechanical (coarse food), thermal (hot or cold food) and chemical (carbonated drinks, seasonings, spicy foods, etc.) injury to inflamed soft tissues;
• plentiful drink;
• rinsing with solutions of local antiseptics, phyto-collection;
• taking lozenges, lozenges, lozenges, sprays, aerosols containing antiseptic and analgesic components;
• taking antihistamines;
• the use of antipyretic drugs as needed.

In a severe course, with a pronounced intoxication syndrome, as well as in the case of complications, antibiotic therapy is indicated.

Drinking plenty of fluids and gargling are the mainstay of catarrhal sore throat treatment.

Preference in the treatment of catarrhal sore throat is given to semi-synthetic penicillins or cephalosporin drugs; in case of allergic reactions to these drugs, the appointment of macrolides or lincosamides is indicated.

Possible complications and consequences

Complications of catarrhal sore throat can be:

• purulent degeneration of inflammation (purulent tonsillitis);
• otitis;
• eustachitis;
• tonsillopharyngitis;
• paratonsillitis and paratonsillar abscess;
• chronic lymphadenitis;
• metatonsillar diseases (damage to distant organs, which has a pathogenetic and etiological relationship with angina, for example, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis, etc.).

Forecast

With timely diagnosis and complex treatment, the prognosis is favorable.

Prevention

In order to prevent catarrhal sore throat, it is recommended:

• refusal to visit places of congestion of a large number of people during the period of maximum incidence of respiratory infections;
• observance of personal hygiene measures (washing hands, using individual cutlery and household items);
• carrying out hardening, fortifying activities;
• timely treatment of ENT diseases.

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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author

Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".

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!